Turn Off the NFL

[johnnylightnin]

Allow me to rephrase:

The stated message is that the country, its founding principles, and majority population, is racist.

If you haven't yet, look into implicit bias testing. The assertion is essentially that all white people are subconsciously racist. The tests are interesting. Harvard has a few available online.

Of course inequality exists. Inequality of outcomes will always exist in a free state. Inequality of opportunity is appropriately limited and in the realm of the state.

What more is being said in the protests than "we are oppressed by racism generally?". As I said before, point me to the offenders and we'll see justice done. I believe Americans have little tolerance for overt racism when identified.

Overt racism is not the problem. Further, you can't see justice done on the offenders because most have long been dead. Systemic racism doesn't necessitate an evil system head, just a discriminatory system once constructed and not yet satisfactorily addressed.

[Guisslapp]

I think the football players have every right to exercise their first amendment rights. Just don't do it on their employer's time.

I agree with the others in this thread that most real world employers don't encourage employee activity that the employer's customer base could find offensive. If I started wearing political t-shirts or handing out political flyers (candidates or causes) at work, I'd be asked to stop. If I failed to stop, I'd be asked to leave. And me dancing around singing first amendment wouldn't come into play.

Let the players buy advertising, march in demonstrations, hold press conferences, promote concerts, etc. But when in uniform a football player is on the clock and an employee. Unless they are protesting against their employer, take it somewhere else.

The message that was loud and clear from the NFL and owners today is that they support their employees, particularly in the face of a president that wishes he were a dictator that is trying to interfere with their business.

[johnnylightnin]

I think it's much deeper than that and that the shame felt by those who can't deny a cultural decline that continues to grow must be blame that on anything other than their culture. The problem is not racial, but those who are touched by it seem have no other response.

I've heard Watson and other black men say many times the problems are based on lack of family unit and or lack of father figures. This problem is now spreading to other races in a big way and has become the norm rather than the exception. We are in deep trouble as a nation unless we stop looking back and begin to face the real problems of breakdown of the family unit.

Cultures decline for many reasons. For instance, what is the #1 cause of marital strife in our country?

[johnnylightnin]

I think the football players have every right to exercise their first amendment rights. Just don't do it on their employer's time.

I agree with the others in this thread that most real world employers don't encourage employee activity that the employer's customer base could find offensive. If I started wearing political t-shirts or handing out political flyers (candidates or causes) at work, I'd be asked to stop. If I failed to stop, I'd be asked to leave. And me dancing around singing first amendment wouldn't come into play.

Let the players buy advertising, march in demonstrations, hold press conferences, promote concerts, etc. But when in uniform a football player is on the clock and an employee. Unless they are protesting against their employer, take it somewhere else.

That's their employer's call. Will market forces move the employers to punish the players?

I suppose we'll see.

[bleudog]

That's their employer's call. Will market forces move the employers to punish the players?

I suppose we'll see.

The huge sums of money involved have caused them, the owners and players, to have such a self-important opinion of themselves the real world left their circles a long time ago.

[techman05]

The best news of all is that we won't be discussing this subject tomorrow because some guys sat or kneeled during the anthem.

[Guisslapp]

So they are protesting unequal treatment of what? whom? I am hearing all kinds of stuff, I would bet many don't know why they are kneeling.. They do not have a consistent message...

Can't really paint with a broad brush. Every person has their own story, and it never hurts to listen. Some of their own words:

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap300...-during-anthem

[techman05]

https://www.senate.gov/reference/res...df/RL30243.pdf

Look at CSR-9 "Nature of Codification of Customs and Rules."

Makes sense. You win that one.

[LATechBanjo]

Overt racism is not the problem. Further, you can't see justice done on the offenders because most have long been dead. Systemic racism doesn't necessitate an evil system head, just a discriminatory system once constructed and not yet satisfactorily addressed.

Systemic racism requires organizations and institutions that exhibit racist behavior.

To the extent they exist, correct the behavior.

[Wade_Antley]

I get asked my thoughts on this a lot up here.

I say, I'd much rather stand next to someone who kneels for something he deeply believes in, than stand beside someone that beats on a woman. Those are the fools that don't deserve to be in the league.

I think PawDawg said something about the kneeling issue in college. It's not too far off before it starts happening, and then what. What happens in Ohio State, what happens in Alabama, what happens when players in Baton Rouge do it?

I actually really really want to see what happens when the team in Baton Rouge does it.

[brtransplant]

I think we will too.

Any Tech player that takes a knee during the anthem should be immediately and permanently dismissed from the team.

[brtransplant]

The boycott is on and it will cost the NFL owners and players a bundle. This protesting problem will soon be solved as the silent majority of the players in the NFL start kicking some protestor ass in locker rooms around the league. The last thing any of them want is to have to go get a real job.

[Bone_afide_Dawg]

The NFL will eventually falter into "who cares" some sort of second rate social program like all things Liberal. Besides the government phones, welfare checks, and food cards someday there will be free seasons tickets.

Don't look for the teams to do any differently than what you've seen so far because they're in major cities which are typically liberal. They'd rather deal with a mostly silent public than the ranting media (now including ESPN & NFL networks).

The greatest shame and it's probably already brewing is when fights start to break out in the stands among the team fans. When someone is insulted by what the guy beside him says or does when the anthem is played.

There are forces in this country, some participating in this thread who are anarchists and want to see American cannibalized through whatever avenues it takes, colleges, movies, tv and now sports.

[johnnylightnin]

Systemic racism requires organizations and institutions that exhibit racist behavior.

To the extent they exist, correct the behavior.

It's not that simple...too complicated to type on a phone. More tomorrow. I've enjoyed the discussion.

[HogDawg]

You suddenly believe in "trickle down"

Seriously, I think we will see some college players taking a knee soon. It will happen.

At WKU last weekend, neither team was on the field when the national anthem was played. I thought that was pretty smart.