Today is the last day to cancel DirecTV NFL TICKET

[TRnCO]

was real easy for me not to "tune in" for the game tonight. Won't be tuning into any other games in the future either. I got better things to do. Hope the NFL ratings tank. screw em.

[Martinjmpr]

OK, serious question: Except for a car and motorcycle race in Zimbabwe in 1995, I've never attended a sporting event in another country.

So for those who have, do they normally do the National Anthem? My guess is probably not. For one thing, in Europe it's common for teams from different countries to play each other. So who gets to have their anthem first? I doubt it. And yes, I know NHL games between US and Canadian teams always feature both anthems, but the US and Canada are culturally almost identical. Also the US and Canada never fought a war (do French soccer fans really want to hear "Deutschland Uber Alles" when the team from Cologne visits Bordeaux? Do the Spanish really want to hear "God Save the Queen?")

My point with all this is that there seems to be an assumption that every football game or baseball game will start with a national anthem and presentation of the colors. But I don't see it as something that always has to be that way.

As I stated earlier in the thread, I could very easily see NFL owners, broadcasters, sponsors, etc, all getting together and saying "look, this is a lose/lose proposition for us. If we allow the athletes to not stand, we anger 48% of the country. If we order them to stand or be fined, we anger the other 48%. What if we just did away with the national anthem, the presentation of colors, the soldiers/sailors/marines/airmen marching in and just started the game? Sure, some people would be pissed, but they'd get over it. More importantly, we wouldn't be caught in the middle of this political power struggle."

Before you say "that would never happen", consider that as recently as 25 - 30 years ago it wasn't common for many public events (not just sporting events but many, many types of events and even some that took place in public schools, colleges and universities, etc) to start with a prayer, most of them openly Christian.

But over the years people started bickering about it "you're ignoring my religion" "don't shove religion down our throats" "you're using this event to promote your religion at the exclusion of others" "Establishment Clause!" etc etc etc..

And what finally happened? They just largely did away with the whole thing, and pretty much nobody missed it.

So who's to say the same thing won't happen with the national anthem? Just come out, say "welcome to the game" and start playing.

[OtterbatHellcat]

My GF found this on Fox Insider under Judge Jeanie Blasts Goodell/ Anti Trump Players.....we both teared as she read this out loud to me.



Thought I would share

Not mine - I found this and find it profound....and yes, it's their right and these are a few examples of how we were privileged to receive this right. Just because it's your "right" doesn't mean it is right.

Just wanted to share this reply I read on Facebook this morning, after several NFL players took a knee during the National Anthem at the start at the game being played in London. Let us educate you, for those that protest the American Flag and Anthem.

TAKE A KNEE.
Take a little trip to Valley Forge in January. If you don't know where that is, just Google it from the sidelines. Hold a musket ball in your fingers and imagine it piercing your flesh and breaking a bone or two. There won't be a doctor or trainer to assist you until after the battle, so just wait your turn. Take your cleats and socks off to get a real experience. Then take a knee.
Then, take one at the beach in Normandy where man after American man stormed the beach, even as the one in front of him was shot to pieces...the very sea stained with American blood. The only blockers most had were the dead bodies in front of them, riddled with bullets from enemy fire.
Take a knee in the sweat soaked jungles of Vietnam. from Khe San to Saigon... Anywhere will do. REAL Americans died in all those jungles. There was no playbook that told them what was next, but they knew what flag they represented. When they came home, they were protested as well..and spit on for reasons only cowards know.
Take another knee in the blood drenched sands of Fallujah in 110 degree heat.. Wear your Kevlar helmet and battle dress... Your number won't be printed on it unless your number is up! You'll need to stay hydrated but there won't be anyone to squirt Gatorade into your mouth. You're on your own.
There's a lot of places to take a knee. Real Americans have given their lives all over the world. When you use the banner under which they fought as a source for your displeasure, you dishonor the memories of those who bled for the very freedoms you have. That's what the red stripes mean. It represents the blood of those who spilled a sea of it defending your liberty.
While you're on your knee, pray for those that came before you, not on a manicured lawn striped and printed with numbers to announce every inch of ground taken....but on nameless hills and bloodied beaches and sweltering forests and bitter cold mountains...every inch marked by an American life lost serving that flag you protest.
No cheerleaders, no announcers, no coaches, no fans...just American men and women...delivering the real fight against those who chose to harm us...blazing a path so you would have the right to "take a knee."
You haven't an inkling what it took to get you where you are; but your "protest" is duly noted. Not only is it disgraceful to a nation of real heroes, it serves the purpose of pointing to your ingratitude for those who chose to defend you under that banner that will still wave long after your jersey is issued to another.



Some religious stuff followed this that I left out, but this was the heart of the message. I also didn't try editing how it was typed or formatted, all of that is how it was originally posted.

[Great-Kazoo]

Anyone else see the hypocrisy of those taking a knee during the anthem and the ones who support them. They were the same ones condemning Tim Tebow when he took a knee and thanked god.

[KAPA]

One thing no one is talking about is how do they succeed? Even if everyone else gave in to the kneelers, at what point would they feel like they won and got what what they wanted?

You all realize they are protesting the treatment of Mike Brown and Travon Martin right? The cops should just let these thugs take their guns and kill them with it? I still think that Zimmerman guy is a POS human but Travon poked a bear that day and lost. This latest guy in Huntington Beach rushed the cop and tried to take stuff off his belt in a fight. What if the guy grabbed his tazer? The kneelers expect him to take a tazing, and drop his gun so the bad guy can get it?

This "protest" has no end game thus it can only die out over time so the NFL is going to have to figure out something here soon because November is coming with the salute to veterans month.

[Gman]

This "protest" has no end game thus it can only die out over time so the NFL is going to have to figure out something here soon because November is coming with the salute to veterans month.

They'll have to figure out something before November. The NFL is a business. Sponsors paid money to get eyes on their commercials. I think they're going to find they're not getting what they paid for...and they'll demand the NFL do something about it damn quick.

Most of what they seem to be protesting was predicated on lies and distortion of the truth.

[OtterbatHellcat]

Anyone else see the hypocrisy of those taking a knee during the anthem and the ones who support them. They were the same ones condemning Tim Tebow when he took a knee and thanked god.

Yes that is ironical, and I had not thought of that....but it's very true.

[KAPA]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8qCjz8Cjl4

I like how Derek Wolfe addresses white privilege at the end of the clip there.

[wyome]

I've never been to a pro, college or high school game that didn't start with the National Anthem. I used to stand with my hand over my heart, then after I enlisted I stood at attention, and continue that still.

Game tonight got off to a slow start, but got better in the end...glad to see my COWBOYS win

[GilpinGuy]

OK, serious question:

My point with all this is that there seems to be an assumption that every football game or baseball game will start with a national anthem and presentation of the colors. But I don't see it as something that always has to be that way.

I never really thought about the "why" of the Anthem before any game. Why is it done? It's just a game after all. Do they sing the National Anthem before a national ping pong match?