Once we get used to it, it will serve no purpose. It simply becomes an alternative way of listening to the national anthem. One could argue that kneeling is an expression of reverence. The point is not the act of kneeling itself, but the symbolism behind it. When people start thinking that the kneeling is just a bunch of black players letting off steam, the issue behind the kneeling becomes invisible.

No, it isn’t an act of terrorism, unless it scares you out of your white complacency.

Of course it is. If it weren’t, the US president wouldn’t be treating it as one. I mean, he would have to be completely unhinged to the point of being unfit to serve to react the way he has if it isn’t exactly as serious as he claims, and we all know that couldn’t possibly be true. ~

No. It’s obviously been blown far out of proportion, as far as people’s reactions to it. Clearly the POTUS enjoys stirring the shit. I never truly understood why people who are fucking certain people over can’t just let them be mad about it at least. They expect a “thank you sir, may I have another” attitude…

“The beatings will continue, until moral improves” strategy, isn’t a good one.

No. At first, IMO, it was an act to get attention to racism, past and present. Now it is just an insult to all Americans, racist or not.

^I’m not insulted. I’m American. And I love football.

Oh geez, did someone say it was? There’s nothing “terrorizing” about it, even remotely, so on that basis… definitely not.

I have heard the brouhaha about it being somehow disrespectful, which is also ridiculous. I had what’s below typed for a different response, then wound up holding it on my computer instead. But it seems applicable here:

The players are exercising their right to free speech in order to protest for equal treatment under the law. They are protesting under the flag and anthem of a country whose founding documents says it stands for free speech and equal treatment under the law. They’re not disrespecting national symbols (or terrorizing anyone). They’re standing for the very things those symbols are supposed to represent.

And the kneeling: If anyone’s heard of the origin story of taking a knee, they’d find that it’s actually a patriotic move itself. A teammate suggested to Kapernick that instead of sitting on the bench, he ought to take a knee—that soldiers take a knee to honor a fallen brother. He thought that would be good idea, because of the respect it showed.

Whatever someone thinks of the issue being protested itself (though I would argue that to disagree is to go against the statistical reality), they should at least recognize that there’s nothing wrong with the method.

The only disrespectful thing is the President trying to censor their speech (against the duties of his office) and trying to use his authority to pressure the NFL to do the same. I applaud the NFL for standing by its players, and I applaud the players for standing by each other.

@kritiper
That is what nationalism does to you.

@ragingloli Life’s a bitch, ain’t it???

@kritiper
Nope, just the people who feel offended by people kneeling.

Hilarious question.

No, exercising one’s constitutional rights is not domestic terrorism.

No more than caring your .44 Magnum (think Dirty Harry) on your hip into the supermarket, in North Carolina.

Been there, seen that!

@kritiper

In what way is it an insult?

Maybe when we reign in law enforcement, so that it is no longer standard practice to murder blacks for holding their mouth wrong, then this will no longer be an issue- ya think? And I’m not saying police should not do their job, only that when things go south on a traffic stop, they have other options for self defence..pepper spray, PR 24, stun guns, radios to call for backup. Shooting some guy 5 times should be the absolute, last, life or death option.

@Darth_Algar Because the act has gone on too long and is no longer making a statement about just certain things or certain people or certain past events. The point has been made! It’s time to move on…

Wrong. They should double down on it.
Because clearly people are not listening.

Or do you also think the French Resistance, after making a public proclamation that they are against Nazi occupation, should have disbanded immediately afterwards, because “they made their point”?

The real insult to all Americans, is putting up with 24/7 propaganda about,“freedom freedom freedom”, when we live in a society where people can’t even be sure if they can survive a routine traffic stop with out being beaten up or murdered by police. I’m a white guy, and even I get spooked when I see a cop car behind me. Police in this country are completely out of control. Time to shit or get off the pot, America.

Of course not. They aren’t hurting anybody.

No.
The act of humbly kneeling is the act of reverence and high respect to the Flag that represents Freedom and Equality for ALL .

@ragingloli Not all people need to listen because not all people are doing what the protests are about, although the kneelers make it sound that way. Some people get it. Many people have always gotten it. Some never will, and don’t want to, so why continuously fight it?
It’s like the kneelers are implying that the United States has a standing and acceptable policy for all who wish to do so to discriminate against minorities (or what-have-you), which it doesn’t. So why keep beating that poor long dead horse??

“that the United States has a standing and acceptable policy for all who wish to do so to discriminate against minorities”
When it comes to the coppers, they clearly do.

@kritiper

That you may be tired of hearing something does not mean it’s an insult.

@kritiper There are too many people who still don’t even know what the point is to say that it has been made.

@ragingloli Not all of them. To say they all do is discriminatory.
@Darth_Algar From my POV I take it as an insult. If you don’t see it as an insult, that’s your POV.
@Irukandji Yes, perhaps. But not all. To say they all do is discriminatory.

Within the next few days (soon, I believe is his favorite timeframe) Trump will be issuing an executive order officially establishing this administrations “War on Kneeling”. Which will not only bring this dire attack on patriotic Americans to a screeching halt, but will firmly secure Trumps standing in the roll of a “War” President.

Great! Any executive order on kneeling makes it a freedom of speech issue. To protest, all you have to do is kneel during the national anthem. You do not any reason to do so other than protection of your right to free speech. Let’s see if they arrest people. Oh, and for the cameras, I suggest raising hands in prayer and bowing one’s head. It will look good on TV and in newspapers.

@kritiper

Glad you acknowledge that you don’t speak for “all Americans”.

@Darth_Algar Never implied that I did. That would be ridiculous.

@kritiper Huh?

You: “The point has been made!”
Me: “There are too many people who still don’t even know what the point is to say that it has been made.”
You: “Yes, perhaps. But not all. To say they all do is discriminatory.”

What exactly are you trying to say, and how is it a response to what I said?

Or did you just lose track of the conversation and revert to your talking points instead of saying something sensible?