Stand For Our Flag · 4:12pm Sep 26th, 2017
Regardless of your views on President Trump, he is absolutely right on this issue. National Sports should be about unity, and disrespecting the flag only divides us and insults our men/women in uniforms. You can protest racial injustice without lumping the flag into it or politicizing a sport.
I despise virtue signaling but just couldn't take people abusing there platforms for one side. I'm coming out for the flag and hope that one day we can depoliticize movies, video games, and now sports.
I truly believe patriotism transcends racial, political, religious, sexual, or gender divides. We all have different beliefs and views on the world and that's okay. Our nation isn't perfect, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't be grateful to what it stands for or the people who bled to protect it. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
http://unpretty.tumblr.com/post/165703280058/yellowjuice-the-next-time-someone-tries-to-argue
I do have some arguments about this, so let me address them in a civil manner.
For one, I do not see that the NFL players are disrespecting the flag, as taking a knee is a known sign of respect (even though it is customary to put your right hand over your heart and stand up). It would be outright disrespectful to sit down while the national anthem is playing, so taking a knee is another way to show respect while also protesting.
Secondly, Trump is wrong in the fact that the NFL players should be fired for taking a knee, one because they weren't disrespecting the flag (as discussed previously) and two- it's their right to protest for whatever they want. The first amendment was made for this specific matter, and it talks about freedom of speech and expression. It doesn't say anywhere in the law to "not take a knee or sit down or salute with a salt bae motion", but that we're able to express ourselves freely.
Thirdly, I'm tired of the people saying that "they're disrespecting the flag that thousands of people have died for". They aren't disrespecting it, and this is actually proof that they're respecting the rights that thousands of people have died to protect. Protesting is one of those rights.
I understand that we may not see eye to eye with each other, and that is fine. I'd like to hear out everyone and what they have to say about this! I just want to insert some of my opinions here as a sort of bargaining chip.
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That's perfectly fine. This isn't a black and white issue and you make some fair points. Whether I agree with them or not I recognize the points you are making. I suck at debating because I always try to make sure things don't get too heated and then eventually they due and everyone feels like crap in the end. I got what I wanted to say out and I'm glad I did. Reading your post also helped me think of things from another angle and that's always good. So thank you.
One of the core tenants of our country, of our flag, is that of the right to be able to peacefully protest.
With that in mind, denying those the right to protest in such a manner I feel is more disrespectful to the flag and what it stands for than letting them exercise their constitutional rights.
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This
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The debate isn't about the right to protest, but where and when its happening. Alot players could work an awareness fund or rally there fans to any cause they they see fit. Plus, the NFL has interfered with activism and awareness in the past with regards to Breast Cancer, 9/11, and the Dallas Cop Killings.
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They could do different methods, but will they be as readily effective?
I would argue, with the amount of unrest this has caused, this method is more effective than the passivity of other ways.
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After some thinking and reading everyone comments, I think the best solution would be to let the protests run its course. Trying to force people to stop at this point will only make things worse, especially now that Trumps interjected. Wile, I agree with his sentiment, his routine combative approach is counterproductive and only adding fuel to the fire. It also makes it harder for the protests to have an end since he is such a controversial figure. If the kneeling were to stop now, people would just accuse the NFL of caving and then people on the other side of the debate would be pissed.
Background details are important so here's a quick summation of how this situation came about, please check this out for yourself and correct me if i get something wrong in how i lay out these facts.
The not standing for the flag thing started with Colin Kaepernick not standing for the flag during the anthem to protest the treatment of black people by police, such as the several cops who have shot unarmed black people on video in the past few years and were still let off without even being charged.
The kneeling thing started after a pregame talk between Colin Kaepernick and Green Beret Nate Boyer.
Taking a knee is something that soldiers do to show respect to a fallen comrade. Kaepernick taking a knee was to be in reference and deference to the black people who have been mistreated or even killed by police without cause. Here's Boyer's reaction to Trump and the protests.
As to why this blew up with Trump in the recent now rather than a year ago when Kaepernick first started doing this, Lawrence O'Donnell of MSNBC has come up with the theory: Trump makes these horribly outrageous statements to distract the mainstream media and the public.
These statements are so inflammatory and objectionable that everyone has to come out and condemn his morally abominable statements just to satisfy their own consciences or defend those the President is attacking. They (mainstream media and the public at large) thus spend less time and attention on some other much more damning or damaging reporting regarding Trump, his campaign, administration, business, or family.
Here's Lawrence's piece on what may have sparked this round of Trump outrage, skip to 5:24 to listen to the reason, but from the preview image you should be able to guess the problem President Trump is about to face.
This next part consists of my own opinions, and so will be more emotional:
As far as my own thoughts on this, if we allow ourselves to be consumed with debate on where and when is the appropriate time to exercise the First Amendment after a protest we're losing or outright ignoring the protest and the message those people were trying to convey. We should not allow the conversation to be changed from "Police are mistreating African Americans and are not being held accountable," to "Is not standing for the anthem dispectful to the flag/America/military/people?"
Trump is a master of changing the conversation. He does this by slash and burn tactics, setting one fire to distract everyone from another fire. Stop and think of all the horrible things we know Trump has said or done, the objectively false statements he's doubled down on, the lawsuits he's been apart of, the gross incompetence in himself and those he appoints, the disrespect and insults he's paid to people, public interests, laws, and even verifiable reality. And now think about why the entire country isn't opposing him or at least admitting he's a terrible person who shouldn't be in control of a Twitter account much less the U.S. nuclear arsenal. We can never fully process all the terrible and respond because he moves on to the next thing and we have to start over on a whole new outrage.
We can't let Trump distract us from talking about and working to solve real issues like institutionalized racism or actually helping people to get healthcare without bankrupting people, businesses, or the government.
The national anthem is not covered by the United States Flag Code. Saluting the flag cannot be compelled according to a West Virginia State Board of Education vs Barnette 1943 Supreme Court decision.
But let's get into law, shall we?
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"Regardless of your views on President Trump, he is absolutely right on this issue."
Excuse me? Soldiers die for our freedoms, one of which, is to be peacefully critical of our government without being wrongfully targeted by said government. This isn't a totalitarian state, and the players who take a knee are not in the intent of disrespecting our veterans. Nationalism can go off itself for all I care, it's a nasty ideology that only promotes xenophobia at its core. At the same time, the players are peacefully protesting a very serious issue that pertains to America right now. I am not a BLM activist, but I am an egalitarian who recognizes the need for such a protest. These players aren't burning flags, and being obscene during the anthem. They are not attacking others on their views, or picketing veteran's funerals. This country is far from perfect, and attacking those who are peacefully protesting the hatred is one of the reasons why Trump is yet again on the wrong side of history.