Hey guys, going on a little info rant. It's meant to be respectful and non-political. To me this is a moral issue, and while I'm not afraid to offend people by speaking truth, I don't want to purposely do it if there's no point to it. To me, football, or any sport, and this hobby, should be something that can bring all fans together, whether a kid, or an adult. I'd love to see dads with their sons trading cards in the local LCS on a Saturday morning, bringing a love for the sport and it's history to a new generation. This leads me to jump on people in card groups who use profanity or inappropriate content as I know that there are a few kids in the groups. Yes, I get ridiculed and made fun of for that. Whatever. I'm veering off topic.
The issue I want to focus on today is the National Anthem, and the Flag of the United States. From the looks of it, we are in for massive player protests kneeling. It makes me sick. But what the past few weeks have shown me is that those against protesting during the Anthem in front of the flag don't seem to really grasp what they stand for either, which leads to a lot of confusion. I'm very sick, and my brain is cloudy today, so I hope I can put forth a compelling explanation that leads us all to stand as one.
The protesting players constantly say their protests have nothing to do with the anthem or the flag. My question to them then is, why there? They have multiple avenues to use their inflated status and voices to impact and attempt to bring about change. I can think of a few ways they could still get their protests seen on live TV, and in ways that, while I may not agree with their stances, logic, or ideology, I could be fine with their free speech.
Those against the protesting seem to base if all off of disrespect to the military and police. I think they are wrong as well, though to a lesser degree. It is indeed insulting to some military members and first responders, but there's a bigger reason to not be protesting.
The Anthem and Flag do not stand for the military or police. They stand for all the values that make America the greatest and most free country on the planet. Those values are enshrined in the Declaration of Independence, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights..." They are further expanded upon in the Bill or Rights. While some of these fell short at the original ratification, they have since been amended. This is what the American Flag and Anthem stand for. So by using this platform to protest, the message they send is that they are protesting the very things that they say they want more of. They can say it's not about the flag all they want, but that's the platform they are using.
The bowing down of players that I have long been fans of and looked up to, like J.J Watt and Drew Brees are extremely frustrating to me. Granted, I believe ignorance of the true meaning of the Flag and Anthem are what is driving the vicious attacks and capitulations against and by players who would normally lead their team, their communities, and their fans as examples to follow and emulate. But I am finding it very difficult to justify supporting the NFL in any capacity right now. It's killing me. Football has always been my thing. I love the game, the fantasy football, the cards, everything! But now I'm being put on the spot as to whether I, personally, have to choose to either accept and comply with the ignorance, or make a stand for what I believe in. It's too early yet for me to say I'll quit football. Maybe reason will triumph before the season starts.
Like I said, I don't mean this to be a political statement, but merely my thoughts, and a piece of what the Flag and the Anthem actually stand for, and why its ironic and hypocritical to use it as a protesting platform. I hope that my explanation can help anyone uncertain of what is going on, or on the fence, to understand what they really represent, and why it is not a place to protest. There are many ways we can all work together and use our voices to change the injustices that we still see today without disrespecting the very values that have changed the course of the world.
God bless the USA!
SavageNate
The issue I want to focus on today is the National Anthem, and the Flag of the United States. From the looks of it, we are in for massive player protests kneeling. It makes me sick. But what the past few weeks have shown me is that those against protesting during the Anthem in front of the flag don't seem to really grasp what they stand for either, which leads to a lot of confusion. I'm very sick, and my brain is cloudy today, so I hope I can put forth a compelling explanation that leads us all to stand as one.
The protesting players constantly say their protests have nothing to do with the anthem or the flag. My question to them then is, why there? They have multiple avenues to use their inflated status and voices to impact and attempt to bring about change. I can think of a few ways they could still get their protests seen on live TV, and in ways that, while I may not agree with their stances, logic, or ideology, I could be fine with their free speech.
Those against the protesting seem to base if all off of disrespect to the military and police. I think they are wrong as well, though to a lesser degree. It is indeed insulting to some military members and first responders, but there's a bigger reason to not be protesting.
The Anthem and Flag do not stand for the military or police. They stand for all the values that make America the greatest and most free country on the planet. Those values are enshrined in the Declaration of Independence, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights..." They are further expanded upon in the Bill or Rights. While some of these fell short at the original ratification, they have since been amended. This is what the American Flag and Anthem stand for. So by using this platform to protest, the message they send is that they are protesting the very things that they say they want more of. They can say it's not about the flag all they want, but that's the platform they are using.
The bowing down of players that I have long been fans of and looked up to, like J.J Watt and Drew Brees are extremely frustrating to me. Granted, I believe ignorance of the true meaning of the Flag and Anthem are what is driving the vicious attacks and capitulations against and by players who would normally lead their team, their communities, and their fans as examples to follow and emulate. But I am finding it very difficult to justify supporting the NFL in any capacity right now. It's killing me. Football has always been my thing. I love the game, the fantasy football, the cards, everything! But now I'm being put on the spot as to whether I, personally, have to choose to either accept and comply with the ignorance, or make a stand for what I believe in. It's too early yet for me to say I'll quit football. Maybe reason will triumph before the season starts.
Like I said, I don't mean this to be a political statement, but merely my thoughts, and a piece of what the Flag and the Anthem actually stand for, and why its ironic and hypocritical to use it as a protesting platform. I hope that my explanation can help anyone uncertain of what is going on, or on the fence, to understand what they really represent, and why it is not a place to protest. There are many ways we can all work together and use our voices to change the injustices that we still see today without disrespecting the very values that have changed the course of the world.
God bless the USA!
SavageNate
Rodgers/ Nelson combos
SB MVPs
Burfict Plates
https://www.flickr.com/photos/savagenate/
Sports card collecting (rumble.com)
Hobbies - YouTube
SB MVPs
Burfict Plates
https://www.flickr.com/photos/savagenate/
Sports card collecting (rumble.com)
Hobbies - YouTube