We have some that reference it but none addressing it in particular so I thought I get one started based on a couple issues that occurred this weekend and flowed over to yesterday.
First we had Mike Pence show up to the Indy game then leave when the players knelt for the National Anthem. Sarah Spain, among others listed this as a "publicity stunt". I found this both odd and humorous. The players kneeling is to "start a conversation", one that has been started and going on for quite some time and is now nothing more than a stunt IMO yet when a statement is made in opposition its labelled a publicity stunt. So one sides act of defiance is a show of solidarity while the others side is a stunt.
Jerry Jones, an individual who is as two faces as they come, does his best Sybil impression by standing in solidarity with the players 2 weeks ago but now claim that players who don't stand will be benched. Hey, I'm fine with that but wish he had taken that stance from day one instead of bowing to what he thought was pressure until he realized he was on the wrong side of what most Americans feel. Of course many in the media criticized him, including Sarah Spain, for squelching the players First Amendment. Has the media even read or understand the 1st Amendment?
The first word is CONGRESS. Jerry Jones isn't part of Congress, nor is the Dallas Cowboys or the NFL. At least Frank Isola called her out on her ignorance. What an employer requires of their employees is not relevant to the first amendment. The Constitution makes no guarantee to allow you to make any expression on your employers time or platform. Why do people not understand this basic concept?Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Third, in case you missed it, our favorite race baiting ESPN anchor...Jemele Hill was suspended 2 weeks for calling for a boycott of advertiser of the Dallas Cowboys due to Jones stance. I guess she forgot that many of those sponsors also support ESPN. Of course the good Rev Sharpton is coming to the rescue, staging a rally in Bristol.... and Rosie O'Donnell is with her. GREAT!!! To bad America isn't.
This whole thing started because Colin Kapernick wanted to start a conversation. He achieved that. Good for him. It happened a year ago. That conversation has been ongoing for a year. Of course what exactly is a conversation? You tell me what you think, then tell me I'm wrong if I believe different and am a racist for thinking such? You label all cops bad and racist based on the actions of a few but if the right does the same to any group they are racist or (blank)-aphobes. Should our president have called out the NFL players as SOBs? Absolutely not. Personally I feel he did it as a private citizen but that is irrelevant. It was inflammatory and like so often he would have been better advised to keep his mouth shut. But its a lot less inflammatory than wearing Pig Sock, something Kapernick has done. In my book that is inexcusable. As a parent who's child is in law enforcement, this is akin to me wearing a shirt that has the "Nigger" scrolled across the front.
Personally I don't care if you kneel during the Anthem. In my book its disrespectful but that's your right. What I do find offensive is when you ask other to do the same. As an example, what Pittsburgh Alejandro Villanueva was made to feel like he threw his team under the bus... are you kidding me? His team required him to compromise his personal beliefs, as a veteran, somebody who was willing to put their life on the line. Sorry but that's wrong. IMO the team should not have thrown HIM under the bus and asked him to do something against his judgement. "I made my teammates look bad" was his quote. Really? No, your teammates made your teammates look bad. The ONLY person who didn't look bad was him.
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