Protests During National Anthem...

[Jules Galen]

The recent wave of protests during the National Anthem that was sparked by Colin Kaepernick's "taking a knee" before San Francisco 49 'ers football games has become a hot issue around the country as thousands of other fans and athletes across the country are starting to do the same thing. Every week the protest spreads and so does the vitriol against it. In fact, I'm starting to believe the vitriol is feeding the movement, and what has started out as a protest against the oppression of Black Life is going to eventually take on a larger set of social issues as the vitriol mounts.

If this is true - that vitriol is feeding the protest movement - then this movement is going to become a monster, because the likes of Donald Trump have clearly demonstrated that a lot of Americans are frustrated and hate-filled. As a result, the people who line up against the movement may risk being on the wrong side of history.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Thermal]

The trick will be to convince people filled with vitriol to see reason. With K's 'protest', I think he is making a rookie error, in that he is blaming the entire country, as represented by the flag, for the actions of a few. Lots of us are as incensed, as he claims to be, about injustice, but we relish the flag that also represents the right to protest, demonstrate, and use the rule of law to prosecute criminals. The vitriol crew may be aligning themselves against the wrong image.

 

[jaydeehess]

Instead of knee jerk reaction to the action of the protest, one should wonder at the reason for the protest.

IMHO

 

[ponderingturtle]

Instead of knee jerk reaction to the action of the protest, one should wonder at the reason for the protest.

IMHO

That would be crazy. We have famous great responses to illegal protests like the polices perfect response to Martin Luther King jr. criminal march on Selma. The cops showed up and put a stop to is as they are supposed to, and there was a movie made about their heroism recently. There is a lot to learn from those great american heroes.

 

[Pterodactyl]

The NFL and sports media in general loves this stuff.
Despite the ostensible conflict of interest(s) with one of the NFL's biggest advertisers being the military and their overly patriotic, thinly-veiled recruitment efforts, this type of controversy is great for ratings.
The NFLs own network has been playing this up for weeks, interviewing players about their thoughts, their own planned protests, etc. If they wanted to quash it they could easily just not film the players involved.
Personally, I think it's fine.

 

[Jules Galen]

The NFL and sports media in general loves this stuff.
Despite the ostensible conflict of interest(s) with one of the NFL's biggest advertisers being the military and their overly patriotic, thinly-veiled recruitment efforts, this type of controversy is great for ratings.
The NFLs own network has been playing this up for weeks, interviewing players about their thoughts, their own planned protests, etc. If they wanted to quash it they could easily just not film the players involved. Personally, I think it's fine.

Good insight. I don't know if it would "Quash' the movement, but I do agree with you that even publicizing the protests is good for NFL ratings and furthers the movement.

Thanks.

 

[TragicMonkey]

Symbolic gestures to protest symbolic gestures? What a wonderful way for people to feel they are accomplishing something without having to do any work! I heartily approve of every side of this controversy, and I shall show my support by making a symbolic gesture.

 

[Pterodactyl]

Symbolic gestures to protest symbolic gestures? What a wonderful way for people to feel they are accomplishing something without having to do any work! I heartily approve of every side of this controversy, and I shall show my support by making a symbolic gesture.

Well, exactly.
And that's why the NFL loves it.
Doesnt slow down the game or affect revenues in any way. All it does is draw viewers.
If you had players refusing to play or stopping the game somehow, then you'd see the corporations acting differently.

 

[Jules Galen]

Well, exactly.
And that's why the NFL loves it.
Doesnt slow down the game or affect revenues in any way. All it does is draw viewers.
If you had players refusing to play or stopping the game somehow, then you'd see the corporations acting differently.

And the Corporations would really be angry if some players wore socks - or something - that said "McDonald's makes Kids Fat" or "Budweiser Kills" or something to that effect. I mean, protesting the National Anthem or the Flag is one thing, but jeopardizing the profits of Corporations is just unacceptable.

But...I think we're kind of getting off topic.

 

[Crossbow]

Considering that flag burning can be considered to be a legitimate form of free speech, then I would say that protests during the national anthem could also be considered to be a legitimate form of free speech.

However, if one is a public figure (such as a famous athlete) who is making vast amount of money via sponsors and/or public adoration, then one could easily loose those lucrative ties by making a protest during the national anthem.

Therefore, I would advise such a person to carefully consider the numerous ramifications of such a protest.

 

[Pterodactyl]

Considering that flag burning can be considered to be a legitimate form of free speech, then I would say that protests during the national anthem could also be considered to be a legitimate form of free speech.

However, if one is a public figure (such as a famous athlete) who is making vast amount of money via sponsors and/or public adoration, then one could easily loose those lucrative ties by making a protest during the national anthem.

Therefore, I would advise such a person to carefully consider the numerous ramifications of such a protest.

Kaepernick has the best selling jersey in the league since he started with the protests. That is pretty good business for a marginal player who lost his starting position and many thought would be cut from his team before the year started.
Now both the team and the player are profiting from his presence.

I an cynical by nature, but considering the league's actions, media coverage jersey sale angles, etc. I am left to believe that this is more a compelling storyline to increase profits than a vehicle for social change.

 

[ponderingturtle]

Francis Scott Key was clear about how to deal with rebellious blacks, you kill them. That is a major part of the Star Spangled Banner after all, how British Colonial Marines comprised of former slaves who sided with the British for the freedom died in great numbers to much rejoicing.

It is the american way to kill uppity blacks and the national anthem celebrates that, so why are people shirking away from the clear response to these protests? It is what the writer would have wanted.

 

[Donal]

However, if one is a public figure (such as a famous athlete) who is making vast amount of money via sponsors and/or public adoration, then one could easily loose those lucrative ties by making a protest during the national anthem.

Therefore, I would advise such a person to carefully consider the numerous ramifications of such a protest.

If one is a person of color (including a famous athlete) who is walking around as a black person, then one could easily lose their freedom or life by not complying with government employees fast enough.

Therefore, I would advise such a person to carefully consider the numerous ramifications of waking up black.

 

[Crossbow]

Kaepernick has the best selling jersey in the league since he started with the protests. That is pretty good business for a marginal player who lost his starting position and many thought would be cut from his team before the year started.
Now both the team and the player are profiting from his presence.

I an cynical by nature, but considering the league's actions, media coverage jersey sale angles, etc. I am left to believe that this is more a compelling storyline to increase profits than a vehicle for social change.

While I am sure that there is some money to be made with jersey sales, I expect that the really big bucks come in personal endorsements and movies like Michael Jordan does.

 

[Crossbow]

If one is a person of color (including a famous athlete) who is walking around as a black person, then one could easily lose their freedom or life by not complying with government employees fast enough.

Therefore, I would advise such a person to carefully consider the numerous ramifications of waking up black.

What are you talking about?

One can decide if one wants to protest something or not protest that something. However, one does not have such an option in regards to the skin that they were born with.

 

[Pterodactyl]

While I am sure that there is some money to be made with jersey sales, I expect that the really big bucks come in personal endorsements and movies like Michael Jordan does.

Players who ride the bench don't really get endorsement deals.
Especially not players like Kaepernick who are generally unpopular.
That being said I just did some research and it turns out that the player doesnt really even get a cut from individual jersey sales.
On the other hand, if Trump has taught us anything, it's that no matter whether the publicity is good or bad, it is publicity, and will get you attention and followers no matter what you claim.
Kaep might just be a warrior for social justice. Or he might just be an attention seeker who wants money.
My larger point about the protests overall is that they're a money maker for the league. The anthem is not considered sacred by the league and so long as something increases revenue, they'll pretty much go along with it. Their shameless merchandising of breast cancer awareness and military service illustrate as much. These protests, while maybe well intentioned by the players, are not disruptive as many think. Cynically, these players (black mostly) are yet again being exploited.
I would consider protests that disrupted the actual game play more substantive.

 

[Donal]

What are you talking about?

One can decide if one wants to protest something or not protest that something. However, one does not have such an option in regards to the skin that they were born with.

One can also decide if they are more concerned with someone not standing for the flag or people being disproportionately arrested and killed due to their race.

Kaepernick, like all NFL players, most likely understands his precarious employment situation. Those contracts aren't worth the paper they are printed on. He doesn't need any of us concerned about it. Let's focus on the issue being protested over, shall we?

Sent from my XT1096 using Tapatalk

 

[Crossbow]

Players who ride the bench don't really get endorsement deals.
Especially not players like Kaepernick who are generally unpopular.
That being said I just did some research and it turns out that the player doesnt really even get a cut from individual jersey sales.
On the other hand, if Trump has taught us anything, it's that no matter whether the publicity is good or bad, it is publicity, and will get you attention and followers no matter what you claim.
Kaep might just be a warrior for social justice. Or he might just be an attention seeker who wants money.
My larger point about the protests overall is that they're a money maker for the league. The anthem is not considered sacred by the league and so long as something increases revenue, they'll pretty much go along with it. Their shameless merchandising of breast cancer awareness and military service illustrate as much. These protests, while maybe well intentioned by the players, are not disruptive as many think. Cynically, these players (black mostly) are yet again being exploited.
I would consider protests that disrupted the actual game play more substantive.

You may be right.

However, in my bit of experience, such as with the 'Dixie Chicks', the sponsors who really hold the purse strings tend to withdraw from public figures who are controversial.

 

[Crossbow]

One can also decide if they are more concerned with someone not standing for the flag or people being disproportionately arrested and killed due to their race.

Kaepernick, like all NFL players, most likely understands his precarious employment situation. Those contracts aren't worth the paper they are printed on. He doesn't need any of us concerned about it. Let's focus on the issue being protested over, shall we?

Sent from my XT1096 using Tapatalk

By all means, let us talk about the issue being protested.

I never tried to say that he did not have a right to protest whatever it is that he wanted to protest. Instead, I simply pointed out that if he does protest, then it may cause him some serious money to do so.

Such things have been know to happen before to athletes: just look at the Muhammad Ali case for example.

 

[Pterodactyl]

You may be right.

However, in my bit of experience, such as with the 'Dixie Chicks', the sponsors who really hold the purse strings tend to withdraw from public figures who are controversial.

Agree (depending on the controversy anyway).
And that's probably why no real star players have taken any kind of major role with these "protests".