I didn’t watch much NFL football this weekend, but I certainly heard about every single one of those players who made the decision to stand or kneel during the national anthem!
One thing I’ve heard from a lot of people is that football players (and celebrities in general) should stick to playing football, and stay out of politics. This is usually told to me by someone who is not a politician, but giving me all of their political commentaries!
Freedom of speech is one of the fundamental pillars of our nation.
You may or may not support a Football player not standing for the national anthem. It doesn’t really matter. They have a stage and they’re going to use it in a way they see fit. If you don’t like it, stop watching football. It’s silly we pay millions of dollars to men to play a game, to begin with, and idolize them for playing kid’s game (see what I did there with my commentary!).
We’re the idiots, not them. They’re just using the stage we’ve given them.
What I don’t like is this concept that people should stick to doing what they know. We were all idiots at most stuff at some point in our lives. Someone we gained knowledge of something, and within that thing, we felt like we were no longer idiots.
We added to those things, and soon we had a number of things we could speak on and not be sound like an idiot.
If an NFL player wants to talk politics, or social injustice, or whatever, good. That’s what America is truly all about, deciding what you no longer want to be an idiot about, and changing it. I was an idiot when it came to technology. I studied. I asked for help. I got involved. I now feel like I’m way less an idiot when it comes to technology.
That NFL player who wants to get involved is no different. Some might just be starting. Good for them! Some might be further along. Some might never have any interest in any of this. Also, good for them.
I believe America is the greatest country on the planet. I love it here. Some might not, and want to make it even better. I totally understand that. I love America, but it’s not perfect, and we have some big room for improvement.
Should NFL players demonstrate their political and social views on the field? Should your employees at your place of work? We are all having to grapple with these issues, and one thing is clear, this will not be going away anytime soon, or will it go away easily and quietly.
For me, I don’t take my political or social views from celebrities. I take my political and social views from people who have put the time into truly understanding what these issues are from all sides. That actually might be a football player, it might be a politician, it might a teacher, it might be my postal carrier. That’s my America.
I don’t get what military service has to do with this. I served, and I don’t expect recognition or fealty. I just served. All this ballyhoo about the national anthem. Let’s remember we didn’t have an official anthem until 1931. There was quite a debate as well over the selection of the song. Many wanted “God Bless America” as the anthem, and it was almost chosen until the DAR said they would never support a song written by a Jew as America’s national anthem. Yeah, God bless America, indeen.
You almost hit the point. We pay them to play football. When we are paying them to play football I want them to play football, not politics, not protest, not anything else but football. When they are not “on-the-job” they can protest, politic, etc all they desire. The problem here is these well known, highly paid athletes are really doing NOTHING productive to fix the problems. Because of their fame and fortunes they could be. Could be contributing part of their millions to organizations that could generate that change. Speaking to groups, running for office, organizing communities, supporting candidates, writing legislation, etc, etc. But, no, just bend the knee and expect change.
Thank you Tim for your wise words – America has been (and I hope it will always be) built on the thought and dreams of all people.
I have two problems with our current state of events – not just in football, but also the “woman’s march”, BLM, the riots at Berkley – and here they are:
1) We do not listen to those who have a different opinion then we do. Do we no longer understand before taking a stand you should know all sides of the issue? It has become common that if I disagree with you – instead of pausing to understand why – shout me down, call me names to shut me up, and worse yet use violence.
2) I ask those who are taking a knee, or shouting the loudest, what have you done to fix what you are protesting? Have you served your country? Have you helped those in need? Have you gone to the inner cities to give your time (and money) to prevent the poverty and the violence you kneel to protest?
You have the right to speak your beliefs in the USA – but let us not forget why we have that freedom. The founders of our county (yes those white men you hate so much) believed we should. The soldiers (who you disrespect during the singing of our national anthem) have fought to keep it.
Enjoy your freedom my fellow Americans – I pray that we will not lose it for the generations to come….
Jacquelyn – Look at this video. This is how it should be. Its a little long but very good.
I really like the concept that we give them the power. If we watch it then speak about it it will stay around. If we ignore it and stop watching it the power goes away.
Tim – I agree with you that these players are using the stage we gave them to make their voices heard. Personally, I can’t and won’t question their patriotism; I don’t know them. However, let’s get real, they weren’t “protesting” social justice or the flag, they were retaliating against the President and his speech in Alabama a couple of days before. Politics is very emotional; just like our sports. When people display actions purely on emotion, that’s when we get in trouble. Making decisions on emotions is never a good thing. That is what these players are doing. If they have respect for those that gave us the freedom for them to exercise their 1st Amendment rights then don’t disrespect the very symbol that unites us.
Love this