Like we actually need some over paid athlete or actor to tell us whats wrong with this world as if we don't know.It's like let me draw attention to something everyone already knows.I know how about you get off your knee and do something about it,,rather than take a knee and expect someone else to fix it.
I mean if your so concerned with the issue than why don't ya quit that high paying job and go into law enforcement and effect a change for the better from within...exactly

Truth is I could care less what they do because me saying anything about it here is gonna make a change about as much as ..um let's see ..taking a knee... ..I view them as nothing more than attention seekers..call it what you will.jmo

there are many roads to the same destination

He does get off his knee to do other things

the world is not all or nothing, athletes are citizens with a job who should feel as free to express themselves as any other citizen.

I call anyone doing anything on television attention seekers, even the ones standing for an anthem. Attention is attention. One persons actions in front of a camera are no more/less 'attention' seeking than anothers.

we could easily suggest that those standing for the flag do something MORE than display themselves for 'attention' to their patriotism, and DO something patriotic for fellow americans like join the service or run for office, but that suggestion would probably seem preposperous to the same ones suggesting that taking a knee should be replaced with actual 'action'.

My final thoughts: as I have said, at least Kaepernick knew why he was protesting (not that I agree with him).

Now players and fans have no clue. I have seen, everytime this comes up on fb and in real life) no one seems to know. Many supporters say it isn't about the anthem or flag. Then it is. Which is it? Nevermind....doesn't matter to me. Maybe I have a different definition of a job. Whether celebrity or flipping burgers or any where in between...if you are getting paid to do something, it is a job. Just because they are celebrities, doesn't mean it's not a job. When they go to the stadium...it's a job (workplace). When they put on the uniform...it's a job. When the step on the field (even sidelines)...it's a job.

These people don't hace special rights any more than a burger flipper does when they clock in in uniform.

These people have publicity already (more than the average person) and can do it on their time.

No one is saying they can't protest. Do it on their own time like everyone else. They aren't special. Fans and sponsors can ruin them. Where is Kaepernick now?

Football is a business like any other business. How many businesses have gone under or sued or whatever. Remember the bakery that wouldn't make a cake for a gay couple? The difference is the public opinion. Same with the NFL. The NFL is a business.

Do it on your own time.

The message is getting lost because of the controversy. Their message would be clearer if it wasn't during game time and disrepecting people

The message has become patriotism vs disrespect. What is the message? They are better off getting their message out away from their job

job1
jäb/Submit
noun
1. a paid position of regular employment.

2. a task or piece of work, especially one that is paid.

Just because the flag doesn't mean anything to one, doean't mean all feel the same. I still have the flag that was on my dad's casket. So, yes, it means something to me.

Again...opinion is an opinion not fact

It seems to me, that what you have here are a bunch of overpaid people living better than most, living the American dream better than most, who have either forgotten the people who made it possible, or simply do not care.


Had it not been for the men (and now women) who served this country, and many many servicemen who paid the ultimate price, what do you suppose would have happened?


And then, to disrespect the National anthem in such a manner, and might I add in front of impressionable children (not only at the game, but on television)?

I suppose there is a certain element in our midst, who do not know the meaning of respect or even care. Those people are free to move to another country for all I care.

personal anecdotes and private reasons to stand and respect the flag are legitimate reasons for an individual...

although it's really nobodies business what i CHOOSE to do,
i will say that, i stand and am proud to do so...

but, when a 2-bit draft dodging fortunate-son president
dictates that i stand because he says i MUST do so,
or says i should be fired and prevented from earning a living
at my trade, that is the moment i also, will take the knee..

And I will become a new viewer/NFL fan

Personally, I think that everyone should calm down about this.
Allow the players to take a knee for whatever reason
they feel out of sight. While the rest of us simply ignore them, including television cameras. They will stop if no one watches.

I tend to agree about the 'calming down"

its a knee, don't watch if it offends.

That's the most sensible post I've seen!

just a suggestion....

how about when the anthem is played, and the flag is
presented, TV's fade to black and everybody closes
their own eyes and just listens to the song while standing,
kneeling or whatever...then quit busying themselves about
what someone else is doing...

Incredible idea. No way to offend anyone that way and the gov still gets their money's worth of patriotism immersion.

but reporters would still be there like vultures, seeking out any 'controversial' deflection from the rules of 'flag etiquette' and 'respect' to earn their livings ....

i didn't say so specifically..but, my "everybody"
would include reporters and owners and peanut vendors too..

How about when you're anthem is played you all do the respectful thing as people have done for decades and the over paid sheep do there protesting on the street like everyone else has to!

It is my opinion that someone made a flag and then retailers mass produced it FOR PROFIT, someone else told people how to feel about it, and, like sheep, people obliged

It is my opinion that someone wrote a song and then someone told others what to feel about it, and, like sheep, people obliged

citizens and consumers, in my opinion, are all SHEEP being told what to adore/worship/respect and why


It is my opinion that being a 'sheep' is not the insult its meant to be because being told by others is pretty much how most learning is done, and then researching and/or having our own experiences enhances or negates what we have been told

some may feel that a quiet knee is 'disrespecting' a flag

others may feel that a quiet knee is 'respecting' the dead

it is my opinion that too much is made over symbols of America and not enough is cared about the actual living and breathing lives that make up America

If people didn't buy the flag then they wouldn't make them. Your anthem and flag is something you should be proud of not something there so some can disrespect when they want to make a point!
Ditto for us to!
Not sure why you would say to much is made of something that you're country used to stand for!

people could never buy a flag if it was not first being sold though Mikey.

priceless things are, by definition, not for sale.

And it is my opinion that one can choose to take 'pride' in anthems, or symbols or not. I would not tell someone else that they should or shouldnt if that is/is not their thing.

My opinion is that too much is being made of symbols. Which to me is something entirely different than what is being made of what the country 'stands for'.

To me, our country used to stand for the poor, the yearning to be free, the tired .... etc .. NOT ENOUGH is made of many things America used to stand for because that is replaced with idolizing symbols instead ... IMHO

Deep down the whole argument is moot.
In these United States of America, freedom of choice, speech, opinion, religion, to stand, kneel, show respect, is all about a person's individual right to do as that person so wishes.

With that said, being on the job, is actually up to the employer in it's written policies on how a person needs to behave while being on the job. If owners feel the need to "fine" employees, or let them go because of violation of policy, such is their right. But, until said written policy is actually instituted, owners or organizations such as the NFL, have NO say what their players do for the national anthem at this point.

Personally I feel the issue has gotten blown out of proportion because of President Trump's remarks, and he should actually concentrate on matters of actual importance. Such as trying to find a diplomatic means to an end of a possible nuclear war crisis with North Korea, or focusing on how his new policies are over burdening many Americans with his crap reform of the health Care act.


I might have gone a lil

Agreed to a point.
But nothing is for free msharmony someone has to make a flag so needs paying, as everything else does. that's how progress works. people make things, that brings jobs, those people in turn buy more things and so on.
In the caveman days it was different. you just caught what food you needed and chopped down a tree for fire wood.
Your freedom comes at a great price to everyone with defence, security and amenities. We are the same, in the ideal world of tree hugging and bible worship it's not like that but unfortunately the real world we live in will never be like that! Plus, it's those things I stated that enable you and others to live the life you do now.

It is my opinion that nothing MASS PRODUCED is of itself a thing to take 'pride' in, because it is MASS PRODUCED and replacable.

The 'pride' comes in what an individual PERCEIVES that mass produced thing to represent and what they should be doing to express that. And, as individuals go, not everyone will perceive that the same way, nor be forced to. IMHO.

How people perceive 'disrespect' of something will vary as well.

Its like being at an altar. Some may perceive that as something holy and feel strongly that you should kneel when you are there out of 'respect' for what it stands for, as they see it.

But some may instead stand and close their eyes, without kneeling or folding hands in prayer, and just remember someone who has died.

whether staunch altar goers will feel 'offended' by that means those altar goers may want to enforce their own perceptions of what that altar means and how to properly approach it.

the only difference between the two(kneelers and standers) is their perception of what SHOULD be 'etiquette' for what they perceive.

The stander may feel the altar is a safe place for all things spiritual, including remembering their deceased.

The kneeler may feel the altar is only a place to revere CHRIST and only properly by kneeling.

at the end of the day, its symbolism, and is not to take precedence IMHO over WHAT it is actually supposed to symbolize. The Flag symbolizes(to me and many others) America, that means the good and the bad.

The Flag (To me and others) is a safe thing to stand before to either 'respect' the good or 'remember' the bad. I feel too much is made of trying to guilt everyone into agreeing that it should only and always mean one or the other.

So, if everyone wants a flag how do you go about it?
Does everyone make their own?
Do you grow your own food, make your own house, make your own car?