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Pence leaves NFL game after players kneel during anthem

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If Pence has a grievance against NFL players peacefully kneeling during the playing of the national anthem, then why doesn't he have a gripe against the many fans I see in the stadium who are being belligerent, loud, drinking, talking on their phones, and taking pics with it during the playing of the anthem as well? To me, being silent is much better than being obnoxious.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

These protests are childish and devisive. I personally consider them disrespectful. These guys are paid millions to play football, not make social comment. 

The social comment NFL players made in the '60's and '70's after PERSONALLY experiencing REAL racism like racial slurs, exclusion from clubs, intimidation etc was to boycott the game. If kneeling during the anthem is their way of moving the conversation about race relations in a more positive direction absolutely they should put their careers on the line for it.

http://blackhistorymonth2014.com/2401/boycott-of-the-1965-american-football-league-all-star-game/

Boycott of the 1965 American Football League All-star game : Lessons From 1965’s Football Boycott Against Jim Crow

0 ( +1 / -1 )

So you’re saying that all of the Blacks That are incarcerated are innocent?

Of course that's not what he said, and certainly not even what he intended to say. For roughly half of American History blacks were slaves. Do you honestly believe that after they were freed in the 1860s, that discrimination ended? That's what this is about. What do you think about Philando Castile? How about Flint Farmer? Do you feel those situations were handled well?

What about Blacks that commit crimes against other Blacks? Who’s at fault with that?

Of course its wrong, but those "blacks" aren't in charge. I think all of us reading this are taught to trust and respect the police, but when the police murder blacks in the streets, we can't expect them to.

The Irish, the Italians, the Jews, they didn’t have it bad?

None of those groups were systemically lynched and harassed the way blacks were. Do not use despicable behavior to other instances of despicable behavior.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Disproportionate imprisonment of black people? Attempts to take away votes from black people in several recent elections? Cops routinely shooting and killing black people?

So you’re saying that all of the Blacks That are incarcerated are innocent? The man is out to get them? What about Blacks that commit crimes against other Blacks? Who’s at fault with that?

I don't doubt that the marginalised poor white people in the US have been discriminated against by successive govts (up to and including Trump) but they never had it quite as bad as Americans of African heritage.

The Irish, the Italians, the Jews, they didn’t have it bad? Give me a break, slavery was bad, immoral, outright wrong, but Blacks aren’t the only people that went through a devastating experience, almost every race had its share of tragedies. All of them equally bad.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

You could say the same about members of all races. There's always someone who doesn't like you or doesn't want to associate with you for real or imagined reasons.

Was slavery, peonage, segregation, lynching, anti-miscegenation laws imagined?

Disproportionate imprisonment of black people? Attempts to take away votes from black people in several recent elections? Cops routinely shooting and killing black people?

I don't doubt that the marginalised poor white people in the US have been discriminated against by successive govts (up to and including Trump) but they never had it quite as bad as Americans of African heritage.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

These athletes are doing their best to bring attention to the issues that African Americans face. 

They are ? And what about African American discrimination changed in the last month or since last season ? The NFL made a decision to make an anti-Trump statement, Trump voters are responding in kind by not watching and boycotting league sponsors. We'll see where that goes...

0 ( +1 / -1 )

These athletes are doing their best to bring attention to the issues that African Americans face. Nothing wrong with that. If soldiers start kneeling at military parades, that would be a different thing. Pence knows this but has to look like he agrees with his moronic boss.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Blacklabel: "Yet racial inequality allows the supposedly aggrieved individuals to make millions of dollars playing a game and to be hired at a higher percentage than their representation in society?"

So, since they're black and might be a minority in some places, they should accordingly make only as much money as the percentage of their population? What about the 1% making most of the world's money?

"but I don't know why they insist to do it during the time before a game that we use to respect our country."

You don't respect your country if you demand people do things you want them to, and not what they are guaranteed under the Constitution when you don't agree with them. It's amazing the lengths that people will go to spit on the flag when they pretend to be defending it, even saying "people fought and died for this, and these players disrespect it!" when military vets are protesting the anthem as well, and the people speaking on their behalf have never been off to fight.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Yes and they can deal with the consequences of disrespecting the flag and the anthem

Talk about hypocrisy. The same people whining about this are the same people who support the yellow star family and former prisoners of war insulting, draft dodger. Got it.

They have every right to make a point. but I don't know why they insist to do it during the time before a game that we use to respect our country.

Because they know it'll get your attention. Why protest behind closed doors?

 Why do we never see any of them on television or social media telling us how they feel, why they feel that way and what they want to see happen?

Maybe because you aren't paying attention? https://www.sbnation.com/2017/9/29/16375378/nfl-players-charity-donations-jj-watt-hurricane-harvey-patrick-peterson-foundation

https://www.sbnation.com/2017/9/23/16354502/donald-trump-nfl-players-reactions-national-anthem-protests-twitter

http://variety.com/2017/digital/news/nfl-trump-protests-twitter-social-media-social-media-analytics-1202569818/

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2017/09/denver-broncos-shane-ray-powerful-explanation-why-nfl-players-kneel-national-anthem

Maybe because they don't even know why they doing it?

Incredibly condescending coming from a poster who complains about Trump supporters being called stupid. Look through the links, perhaps it is you who does not understand why they are doing it.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Black people from all walks of life face discrimination, whether rich or poor.

You could say the same about members of all races. There's always someone who doesn't like you or doesn't want to associate with you for real or imagined reasons.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

“I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag.”  

Molly Ivins

4 ( +4 / -0 )

These athletes have a media and social media platform 24/7. Why do we never see any of them on television or social media telling us how they feel, why they feel that way and what they want to see happen?

Maybe because they don't even know why they doing it?

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

Yes and they can deal with the consequences of disrespecting the flag and the anthem as it relates to their contracts, endorsements and fan support.

They have every right to make a point. but I don't know why they insist to do it during the time before a game that we use to respect our country.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

An NFL game isn't the place for this,

Yes, protesting is very "vulgar." Tell me, where is

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Doesnt sound unjust to me.

It doesn't matter if it sounds unjust to you. They think it is unjust and are within their rights to make a point.

That is the point.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Pence stole the spotlight from the man of honor, Peyton Manning, and focused it on himself. Was that a proper place for his social commentary? Pot, meet kettle. Typical of this administration.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Yet racial inequality allows the supposedly aggrieved individuals to make millions of dollars playing a game and to be hired at a higher percentage than their representation in society?

Doesnt sound unjust to me.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

No matter what Mike Pence says, no disrespect took place. He is so completely out of touch that he does not even realize that the protest is actually about RACIAL INEQUALITY IN THE USA. Mike Pence represents a small minority group -- evangelical radical right wingers. He and his massively off-base views are easily dismissed.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

The right to participate in such a protest is protected by the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment.

Yep.

The right to freedom of conscience is one of the the marks of a civilised society. Sometimes people get offended by displays of dissent. You have the right to be offended just as people people have the right to display dissent.

Get over it.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

These guys are paid millions to play football, not make social comment.

I wonder how much people here are paid in their jobs, not to make social comment

(Simply because one is paid less doesn't give one the greater right to make social comment - that goes against everyone is created equal. And let's not forget not too long ago that Trump was a celebrity paid handsomely and still made social comments)

Besides, most of these players are just in their 20s - they didn't even earn these monies until they left college - that wasn't that long ago in their lifetimes

They could've been poor starving college students just couple years ago, before getting paid in the NFL - a privilege which they earned

Most of them didn't grow up with a silver spoon in their mouths - does that invalidate what they experienced how they grew up before they got rich? They weren't always rich

Many people here now are doing well in Japan - does that invalidate what ya guys experienced before ya guys got to Japan?

5 ( +5 / -0 )

A staged event intended to promote division among Americans to distract them from issues that really matter. When Pence made the tweet, he posted a picture of himself at a Colts game 3 years ago. Trump then tweeted that he instructed Pence to walk out before the game even happened.

Trump is counting on his followers being too dominated by white supremacists outraged that black people dare to express opinions, to notice that this is all panem et circenses. And he's probably going to be right.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Good riddance. It's obviously a publicity stunt. I hope the NFL waved goodbye and told him to try not to cry himself to sleep.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Why isn't the anthem sung at weddings? If that's strange question, remember it's in the same category as singing at sports events. Let that sink in for a while!!

4 ( +4 / -0 )

I don't see the connection between a ball game and military veterans.

If you don't want political gestures at sports events, maybe it would be a good idea to stop the political gesture of flag-waving and anthem-singing, and just get on with the game.

Kneeling is not disrespectful.

Refusing to honour other folks' right to peaceful protest/freedom of speech - that's disrespectful of the country and the constitution. It flies in the face of what those military veterans in two world wars were supposedly fighting to defend, and the people doing it ought to be ashamed of themselves.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

If the NFL doesn't have specific rules against this form of protest, then the players can do it. I disagree with it. An NFL game isn't the place for this, so my family will not attend any NFL games while this continues.

The VP (or anyone else) is free to leave the game, if they like. It would be better if the players planning to do this would announce it a few days PRIOR to the game so that any people disinterested in their little protest could re-sell their tickets.

-8 ( +0 / -8 )

Professional "victims" always need a crutch.

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

Black people from all walks of life face discrimination, whether rich or poor.

Pence has legitimised their protests.

One day, America will be free.

9 ( +9 / -0 )

@Kurt

So society might be manifestly unjust, with one group of people treated badly because of their skin-colour, but I’m making millions, so I should shut up and suck it up.

I’m all right, Jack, or what?

9 ( +9 / -0 )

Good for him. These protests are childish and devisive. I personally consider them disrespectful. These guys are paid millions to play football, not make social comment. Maybe the future of football, really means soccer?

-9 ( +2 / -11 )

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