Would you take a knee?

[Aglaopheme]

you did not fight for the right to to silence someone with a car. you did not fight for the right to threaten or use physical force on civilians, because you disagreed. fuck you and your threats. go look in the fucking mirror. the only disgrace brought upon the service, the flag and the anthem is yourself. stand, kneel. everyone in the arena is paying respect to someone. let them pay their respects. when they take the knee, they take it for their children. for their nieces and nephews. they take it for the dead. they take the knee for their community. that is their story, and they have every right to tell their story on that field. to deny them that is to take away their story again. you don't get to do that anymore.

he plays his game just as hard as his brother who stood, because on the field everyone is equal.

Exactly.
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/710gs3YUWiL._UX385_.jpg

Yep

I'm sorry...it's not so simple. Racism exists on BOTH sides. The statement made was not about legislation.....the gist is "counter racism" by my behavior. It's not my first thought....but my second...my third...my fourth...and my action.
I don't agree with the knee, as it is silly, it's disrespectful and frankly to see grown men acting as brats.....embarrassing. What I would respect immensely, a group of these same men getting together, organizing a group to combat the racism via education, walks, sit ins, and quiet protests. The same men showing these hate groups they are wrong. These me , whether they like it or not are pillars in their communities and their words carry weight.
No one should ever feel hated because the color of their skin, their sex, their religion Or their sexual orientation.....and I mean NO ONE. But there is a right way and a wrong way to do things.
This way, the knee, it only serves to further divide the country. There is a problem, and I'm sorry. But it's on ALL sides. If it affects this country....it affects all those living in it.

Nice try, but it's not on "all sides, all sides".

Perhaps, you and others on this thread would like to spell out exactly how you feel people should protest. How many of you don't agree with kneeling, and do not support BLM?

http://images.gawker.com/ac6qxuw3ogsc6chngc5o/original.jpg

That affects all of us. What are you doing about it?

 

[Froya]

That's too much of a generalization.....

Not all of us.

Of course "not all". But a hell of a lot, and that's what white folks need to understand, particularly the ones who don't think they're racist, but....

That 'generalization' is what it feels like to a lot of people, and instead of getting defensive and thinking "but I'm not like that", just acknowledge it as a valid point of view and do what you can to improve the situation.

 

[Colonel Hogan]

I'm sorry, but you can't legislate racism away just as you can't legislate away crime. Murder is bad and illegal, but it still happens. Progress has been made only because people protested.

Also, you may not have noticed, but hate groups are on the rise, again.

"We are only as blind as we want to be."

Oh....really?

According to the following link, the Southern Poverty Law Center claims 917 hate groups were operating in the United States at the end of 2016 -- 101 less than the peak number in 2011. https://www.splcenter.org/news/2017/02/15/hate-groups-increase-second-consecutive-year-trump-electrifies-radical-right

That 917 number includes 193 black separatist groups. You know, NOT the Klan separatists, but the Black Panther Party kind who hates "whitey." But even better, that 917 figure also includes 623 anti-government "patriot" groups of whom SPLC admits:

Of these groups, 165 were militias, marked with an asterisk, and the remainder included “common-law” courts, publishers, ministries, and citizens’ groups. Generally, such groups define themselves as opposed to the “New World Order,” engage in groundless conspiracy theorizing, or advocate or adhere to extreme antigovernment doctrines. Listing here does not imply that the groups themselves advocate or engage in violence or other criminal activities, or are racist.

https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/intelligence-report/2017/active-patriot-groups-us-2016

Mostly tin-foil hatters or fat, beer guzzlers with a camo-utility fetish who think playing paintball will prepare them to overthrow the United States military if we ever have another black President someday. These people are a joke. A sick joke, to be sure, but the punchline is people like you viewing them as a serious threat.

In any event, my recalculation gives me 193 Black Separatist groups plus 623 John Birchers fighting mainly poison ivy and snakebite, for a total hate sub-population of 816 out of 917. Leaving about 100 Klan-type groups of REAL racist haters. That's your picture of hate groups "on the rise."

But "WAIT," you say. "What about the SPLC's analysis of a 197% increase in anti-Muslim hate groups"?

Yeah, what about them. Says SLPC:

Anti-Muslim hate groups are a relatively new phenomenon in the United States, with many appearing in the aftermath of the World Trade Center terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. Beginning in 2010, anti-Muslim legislation increased and opposition to the development of an Islamic Center in lower Manhattan made headlines. Few of the anti-Muslim groups in operation before 2001 still exist, but those that do are key players in the movement today.

All anti-Muslim hate groups exhibit extreme hostility toward Muslims. The organizations portray those who worship Islam as fundamentally alien and attribute to its followers an inherent set of negative traits. Muslims are depicted as irrational, intolerant and violent, and their faith is frequently depicted as sanctioning pedophilia, coupled with intolerance for homosexuals and women.

These groups also typically hold conspiratorial views regarding the inherent danger to America posed by its Muslim-American community. Muslims are viewed as a fifth column intent on undermining and eventually replacing American democracy and Western civilization with Islamic despotism, a conspiracy theory known as “civilization jihad.” Anti-Muslim hate groups allege that Muslims are trying to subvert the rule of law by imposing on Americans their own Islamic legal system, Shariah law. The threat of the Muslim Brotherhood is also cited, with anti-Muslim groups constantly attacking Muslim civil rights groups and American Muslim leaders for their supposed connections to the Brotherhood. Many of these groups have pushed for the Brotherhood to be designated a foreign terrorist organization.

Anti-Muslim hate groups also broadly defame Islam, which they tend to treat as a monolithic and evil religion. These groups generally hold that Islam has no values in common with other cultures, is inferior to the West and is a violent political ideology rather than a religion.

In recent years, the most influential groups — namely ACT for America and the think tank Center for Security Policy (CSP) — have sought to develop closer relationships with elected officials both at the state and local level. A shift in targets has also taken place recently with the Syrian refugee crisis, as anti-Muslim groups have increasingly directed their ire toward the American refugee program. Refugees are commonly depicted as potential terrorist infiltrators by these organizations. Small anti-refugee groups have popped up across the country and fought the relocation of refugees at the hyper-local level.

https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/extremist-files/ideology/anti-muslim

This latter category is heavily populated with members of the alarmist religious right which, despite the Islamophobia directed at the entirety of the Muslim religion, have displayed not the slightest propensity of actual crimes of violence directed at Muslims nor does any of their religious dogma advocate such extremism. Meanwhile, SPLC seems little concerned with the obviously small minority of Muslims in the United States who advocate militant jihad and openly agree with the very worst of fears and assumptions which the Muslim haters hold. You are aware such people actually exist, right? You've at least heard of ISIS and Al Qaeda, yes?

So how come? Is it just because they are not openly aligned in card-carrying member GROUPS? Or is it because they enjoy the same First Amendment rights of speech and association which the other groups -- the ones SPLC actually monitors -- enjoy? You know, as long as everybody behaves themselves.

But, hey. "We're only as blind as we want to be."

 

[BotanyBoy]

That's too much of a generalization.....

Not all of us.

Nope, white people are all racist and oppress POC with their evil whiteness.

Now say it's true or you're a Nazi.

 

[SalviaDivinorum]

Trump is trolling the NFL while the entire US territory of Puerto Rico is devastated. SAD!

 

[Hypoxia]

Trump is trolling the NFL while the entire US territory of Puerto Rico is devastated. SAD!

Why the fuck would Tromp fire-up this shitstorm now? Diversion. This nicely distracts attention from what's really going on. And no, I don't know what that is, although I suspect either Mueller's probe is involved, or TeamTromp is working some stealthy toxic nightmare scenario -- more agency slashings or executive orders or something. Maybe to cover that FEMA will do fuck-all for Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands.

 

[IrezumiKiss]

https://img42.com/xz-gx+

https://img42.com/thsE_+

https://img42.com/RB5TU+

https://img42.com/cp09A+

Why the knee is taken.

You don't like the knee being taken?

Make America better, then.

http://38.media.tumblr.com/786f5ca688291184e01ae3102b742fbd/tumblr_inline_nooeadoVc41qfa8wb_500.gif

Or keep bitching on a prurient-interest community board about your sports or your flag or your anthem being "ruined" by an act of nonviolent protest when this very country was created from acts of violent protests in order for the right to citizenry addressing grievances and injustices freely.

Either way, the bus of progress that keeps moving forward from every stop and makes winds of change happen in its wake is gonna keep on doing just that whether you decide to get on it or not.

https://media.giphy.com/media/l3vR6eSZ9bvU6CxkQ/giphy.gif

*insert harumph here*

 

[KimGordon67]

Uh, I just feel kind of obligated to point out that if you're dead, you really can't express your opinion any more, except maybe through a psychic.

As for the taxpaver v. soldier - the rights of citizens apply to anyone who has the franchise. Each can chose to protest or not protest according to their own conscience. Mine tells me I would not take the knee, but if someone's conscience tells them to take the knee, well then, good luck with that.

Life experience generally shapes us and our political views. The lack of shared experiences makes crossing that line difficult. What is the old adage - a conservative is a liberal whose been robbed and a liberal is a conservative whose been arrested?

To me it all circles back to that pragmatism - what are you trying to accomplish? Is the specific act of protest getting you closer to your goal or not?

If the NFL folks who are taking the knee are protesting the treatment of blacks by the police, then I would suggest a boots on the ground approach - what specifically is the anticipated outcome?

If the outcome of your protest is "for other people to do something", then I am just pretty much going to write you off. If the outcome is "to empower you to do more" (via education, fundraising, persuasion, etc.) then I am more likely to be impressed and perhaps influenced.

Is the intended outcome not to bring attention to the issue? In which case, the protest seems to be doing to the job. Yes, giving money to specific groups might 'do' something in a more immediate sense, but it probably wouldn't provoke national discussion in the way this has. If half the kids watching those games ask their parents why the athletes are kneeling, and the parents offer something vaguely approaching a valid explanation, that seems to be accomplishing something to me.

 

[Liar]

I'm on the side of the kneeles in this case when it comes to the issue they are protesting, but I would not take a knee myself. But I would also not stand for a national anthem of my own volition.

I just don't fetishize a nation's symbols to the extent that either would be meaningful to me. I'm a patriot for my home country as a society and would defend it to my last breath. But I don't give a flying fuck about it's anthem or flag. They're superficial nonsens and hold no moral values to honor and/or use in protest.

 

[4est_4est_Gump]

Since the race industry has no definable only, only constant grievance, is there no way now that the NFL players can ever stop protesting???



Will management eventually have to come to their emotional rescue?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTxQ601mlAY

 

[4est_4est_Gump]

Is the intended outcome not to bring attention to the issue? In which case, the protest seems to be doing to the job. Yes, giving money to specific groups might 'do' something in a more immediate sense, but it probably wouldn't provoke national discussion in the way this has. If half the kids watching those games ask their parents why the athletes are kneeling, and the parents offer something vaguely approaching a valid explanation, that seems to be accomplishing something to me.

What is the issue?

 

[KimGordon67]

What is the issue?

I think everyone knows the answer to that question.

 

[water505]

I still think this whole, "Trump is president" thing is a nightmare... Someone pleeeease wake me up...

How the fuck, does a reality TV star become the president of the United States.

I am a very proud citizen of the US of A. Am I proud he is our president? Good God no. Oops, now I brought religion into it...

The same way a US Senator who was in office for three years became president.

 

[4est_4est_Gump]

I think everyone knows the answer to that question.

That's funny, because the people at FOX keep asking the man on the street, the players, the ex-players, etc. and we have yet to get any single clear and coherent answer.

It's become a way of demonstrating your solidarity with the hard Left and the race-baiting industry, nothing more.

It is a reply to a myth.

 

[4est_4est_Gump]

The same way a US Senator who was in office for three years became president.

He was "present" only for important votes. All of the rest of the time he was campaigning and raising money, engaging in "community organizing."

 

[richard_daily]

I'm sorry...it's not so simple. Racism exists on BOTH sides. The statement made was not about legislation.....the gist is "counter racism" by my behavior. It's not my first thought....but my second...my third...my fourth...and my action.
I don't agree with the knee, as it is silly, it's disrespectful and frankly to see grown men acting as brats.....embarrassing. What I would respect immensely, a group of these same men getting together, organizing a group to combat the racism via education, walks, sit ins, and quiet protests. The same men showing these hate groups they are wrong. These me , whether they like it or not are pillars in their communities and their words carry weight.
No one should ever feel hated because the color of their skin, their sex, their religion Or their sexual orientation.....and I mean NO ONE. But there is a right way and a wrong way to do things.
This way, the knee, it only serves to further divide the country. There is a problem, and I'm sorry. But it's on ALL sides. If it affects this country....it affects all those living in it.

What are the "both sides" in your ridiculous argument?

 

[KimGordon67]

That's funny, because the people at FOX keep asking the man on the street, the players, the ex-players, etc. and we have yet to get any single clear and coherent answer.

It's become a way of demonstrating your solidarity with the hard Left and the race-baiting industry, nothing more.

It is a reply to a myth.

'Myths' can't usually be backed up by statistics.

 

[richard_daily]

I think everyone knows the answer to that question.

AJ knows, but he doesn't care. He ignores that the government committed genocide against native americans, ignores the human rights violations that occur today, and could care less if brown people are murdered by the state.

If Philando Castile had been a white rancher, AJ would have been up in arms over him being murdered for expressing his 2nd amendment rights, but since he was a black man, AJ doesn't give a shit.

 

[water505]

What is the issue?

In typical leftist fashion the “issue” is based on a lie. What are the real numbers of black men being killed by cops and how do they compare with other groups? How many protesters can answer that question honestly?

It’s a scam, and it’s out of control. The lemmings are being manipulated - again.

 

[richard_daily]

https://img42.com/xz-gx+

https://img42.com/thsE_+

https://img42.com/RB5TU+

https://img42.com/cp09A+

Why the knee is taken.

You don't like the knee being taken?

Make America better, then.

http://38.media.tumblr.com/786f5ca688291184e01ae3102b742fbd/tumblr_inline_nooeadoVc41qfa8wb_500.gif

Or keep bitching on a prurient-interest community board about your sports or your flag or your anthem being "ruined" by an act of nonviolent protest when this very country was created from acts of violent protests in order for the right to citizenry addressing grievances and injustices freely.

Either way, the bus of progress that keeps moving forward from every stop and makes winds of change happen in its wake is gonna keep on doing just that whether you decide to get on it or not.

https://media.giphy.com/media/l3vR6eSZ9bvU6CxkQ/giphy.gif

*insert harumph here*

Backed hard.

 

[richard_daily]

In typical leftist fashion the “issue” is based on a lie. What are the real numbers of black men being killed by cops and how do they compare with other groups? How many protesters can answer that question honestly?

It’s a scam, and it’s out of control. The lemmings are being manipulated - again.

One white rancher is killed by the FBI after drawing a gun on them, and the alt-right and their racist asshole buddies go nuts stating that they're going to start a "revolution" from their armchairs. Dozens of unarmed black men are killed for walking down the street by the state while minding their business, and the racist alt-right and your ilk have nothing to say about it.

http://www.doomsteaddiner.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Please-Send-Snacks.jpg

 

[water505]

AJ knows, but he doesn't care. He ignores that the government committed genocide against native americans, ignores the human rights violations that occur today, and could care less if brown people are murdered by the state.

If Philando Castile had been a white rancher, AJ would have been up in arms over him being murdered for expressing his 2nd amendment rights, but since he was a black man, AJ doesn't give a shit.

You’re a liar.

Explain how AJ ignores that the government genocide against Native Americans. Explain how he ignores civil rights violations and “brown people” are being murdered.

Lying comes as naturally to you as breathing, eating, and sleeping. You’re fucking pathetic.

 

[KimGordon67]

In typical leftist fashion the “issue” is based on a lie. What are the real numbers of black men being killed by cops and how do they compare with other groups? How many protesters can answer that question honestly?

It’s a scam, and it’s out of control. The lemmings are being manipulated - again.

Of the total incarcerated population in the world, the US has roughly 22%. Of those, 40% are black (while 13% of the general population are black) [source - various Wiki entries]. I'm pretty rubbish at maths, but that means roughly 10% of all the incarcerated people in the world are black Americans.

In 2016, 1,093 people were killed by police officers. 266 of them were black - so roughly a quarter (again, compared to 13% of the general population). [Source.]

I already knew most of the incarceration data. The police shootings data took about 30 seconds to find.

 

[water505]

One white rancher is killed by the FBI after drawing a gun on them, and the alt-right and their racist asshole buddies go nuts stating that they're going to start a "revolution" from their armchairs. Dozens of unarmed black men are killed for walking down the street by the state while minding their business, and the racist alt-right and your ilk have nothing to say about it.

http://www.doomsteaddiner.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Please-Send-Snacks.jpg

How many people “went nuts?”

Prove I belong to the alt right.

Who killed the dozens of black men and who specifically have nothing to say about it?

Lies, deflection, straw man arguments.

You’re in favor of people being killed by drunk drivers. Your ilk have nothing to say about it.

Fucking ignorant ass moron.

 

[water505]

Backed hard.

By Whoopee Goldberg, a high school dropout?