HaHa! Von Miller loses Phil Long dealerships!

[Dave_L]

They represent freedom, right? If you're being forced to do something to show how free you are, that's not freedom. Do you stand with your hand over your heart when the anthem is played on television?

Being expected to act a certain way at your job/while representing your company is nothing new.

This is not a freedom of speech/right to protest issue as its not being done on personal time. However, If NFL owners are ok with their employees doing it, then so be it. Its now up to you if you want to continue to support it or not.

However, having tax funded stadiums certainly adds some twists to this plot.

Over the past two decades, the NFL has raked in about $7 billion of taxpayer money to spend on stadium renovation and building.

[GilpinGuy]

IMHO, if you let these assholes ruin your day, they win.

I was explaining it to my son earlier. I used the burning the flag example. If someone burns the flag, they have the right to do it. But I also have the right to call them an asshole for doing it. I told him that the only reason to burn the flag or kneel during the Anthem is to try yo make someone mad. And if you do that, you're an asshole. Ignore assholes.

[Gman]

Ignoring an asshole and funding an asshole while you ignore his behaviors are completely different things.

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[theGinsue]

I stand!

As some of you know, I retired from the U.S. Air Force.

While serving, in the line of duty, I injured my lower back. When it happened it had me down for about a week, then I was back up like nothing ever happened. What I didn't know was the extent of the injury and how it would continue to plague me every day for the rest of my life. Usually the pain is manageable and to an untrained eye I'm feeling great and have no issues. At least once a year (more often as I get older) I go through serious pain and debilitation as the back problem really takes hold.

For the past 17 days I've been dealing with excruciating lower back pain related to that injury from years ago. I missed two days of work and have been unproductive at home. Only in the last 3 days have I been able to walk and stand for short periods without looking unnaturally twisted up and grimacing in pain.

I work on a military installation. For those of you who've never done this, the next thing I tell you will seem alien, but it's just daily life on a military base. Every weekday at 1630 the base signals the end of the day with "Retreat". On some occasions this is a formal ceremony with troops in formation as the Colors are lowered; most days it's just the National Anthem played over loud speakers across the installation. There is a preparatory bugle signal alerting everyone that the National Anthem is about to play. When this sounds, everyone outdoors the supposed to stop, face either the flag or if no flag is visible, face the music, and render proper customs & courtesy to the Colors (i.e. Nation). If you are driving, the Air Force expects you to stop your vehicle and sit quietly until the music ends (I understand that on Army installations you are to exit the vehicle and render proper customs & courtesy to the Colors.

Getting out of work late yesterday (Monday) I hobbled out to my car to go home - pain shooting across my lower back, down my right leg and leaving my right testicle feeling like someone was crushing it. I was feet away from my vehicle when the preparatory music began. I easily could have jumped in my car and sat it out. Instead, I opened my door and threw my pack into the car, closed the door and awaited what came next. As the National Anthem began to play I respectfully placed my hand over my heart (As a veteran I could have saluted instead). Throughout most of my Air Force career, and to this day, I get goosebumps when I hear the National Anthem. My mind flashes to friends I've known and lost, friends who were injured serving our country, images of parents or children returning home from deployments to loved ones and images of flag draped coffins of those who never got to return home alive. As the music continued to play my back reminded me why I shouldn't stand still, yet I WAS HONORED AND BLESSED TO HAVE THE PRIVILEGE to stand still at attention with my hand over my heart and recount the many blessings this country has provided to me. I am blessed, as is every other American, to enjoy life, freedom and the chance of prosperity on the sacrifices of so many other Americans who shared the same ideals I do - that this nation is bigger than me and knowing the blessings we have came at a cost. Twice in my life I've sat nearby and watched a loved one receive a folded flag at a funeral "on behalf of a grateful nation" and known the blessings I have because of someone else's sacrifices.

Yes, I STAND because someone else paid a price I'll never have to. Some say choosing not to stand in order to protest perceived slights is an individuals right. I say that standing is a citizens responsibility.

Ginsue out.

[Bailey Guns]

They represent freedom, right? If you're being forced to do something to show how free you are, that's not freedom. Do you stand with your hand over your heart when the anthem is played on television?

What a load of crap. They aren't being forced to do anything. Even league rules dictate how they should behave: on the field during the playing of the anthem, standing, holding helmet in left hand. I have rules to follow when I'm at work just like everyone else does. If I choose not to follow the rules I pay the price. These guys have all the freedom in the world to not follow those rules...and the owners have the freedom to fire them. As a player if you don't like it, follow the rules you agreed to. But the owners are too chickenshit to enforce the rules because they're weak-minded...just like the players.

What's worse are those who whine about the backlash against the players and league as if the rest of us are supposed to ignore their utter disrespect for the flag and country. They seem to think not only is it their right to behave in a particular way but they should also be free from criticism for that behavior. Well, choices have consequences. If they're free to protest I'm free to state my opinions. Protests don't occur in a safe space where everyone's gonna agree with that protest.

The NFL has chosen a side. That side is with those that don't honor or respect the country. They're free to make that choice. I find it contemptible.

[Gman]

I was pleased to find that I could uninstall the NFL app on my Verizon phone. My previous phone required me to disable the app. The ratings were a fun read this morning.

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[Skip]

It's not a freedom/free speech issue folks. Don't get confused.

If it were a freedom issue, Villanueva would have been just as respected as kneelers. It's the same Lib fascism we've seen behind "BAKE THE CAKE!" and "YOU'RE A RACIST IF YOU DISAGREE!" and "irredeemable." If you don't literally bend you knee to them, you're in trouble.

Can't wait until we see HR sessions full of corporate drones kneeling. What will you do then? Be a racist or support your family?


ETA: For anyone still confused...





Here is the piece that says if you respect (not love, just respect) this country you are a white supremacist...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/...b0f2df5e83afcd


So again, if it's an exercise in free speech and mutual understanding why are people who respect the Anthem called white supremacists?

[Zundfolge]

Your favorite "team" is comprised of prostitutes from every other team in the game...

[Dave_L]

Here is the piece that says if you respect (not love, just respect) this country you are a white supremacist...

I'm starting to think the goal of this is to turn the Flag and anthem into signs of "racism". That anyone that waves those proudly will be shunned and called a racist. Just another step in the erasing of American pride and values. Get rid of country pride and you can pretty much do what you want.

[Scanker19]

Not showing respect isn't the same as disrespect. Not standing isn't necessarily disrespectful. It's what you do while not standing that defines respect. That's everyone's right. And the kicker is you don't have to like it, in fact I would that's the point.

But here's the rub, it doesn't' matter at all. Events like these are the perfect thing to really unite this country. We could come together and Really try to UNDERSTAND one another, but no we'd rather just call everyone that doesn't agree with us names. Racist, trumptard, snowflake, liberal, deplorable, etc... It perpetuates this us vs. them mentality that is the definition of division. Neither side is right neither is necessarily wrong. Until we stop the silly names, our unwillingness to listen to one another, and the general bafoonary (looking at you twitter), everything, everything will further drive that wedge.