(09-06-2019 10:36 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(09-06-2019 10:23 AM)Rice93 Wrote:  

(09-06-2019 10:11 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(09-06-2019 09:59 AM)Rice93 Wrote:  

(09-06-2019 08:33 AM)tanqtonic Wrote:  Just take a look at the wide range of reasons given. They range from 'police brutality' to 'criminal justice discrimination' to 'LGBTQ' to 'Trump sucks' along with probably at least ten or twelve other individualized reasons.

The kneel has seemingly devolved into a protest for anything and everything that the individualized protester seemingly wants it to be.

Most 'kneel downs' have zero accompanying statement of why, so one could use this as such evidence. Not to mention as evidence of the efficacy of the 'statement' of the kneel.

The Texans had an uncommented 'kneel' only after the owner made a comment about 'the inmates running the prison' -- please do tell us how that adds to any cogent, directed point.

Considering the Saints' 'kneel down' had zero comment, Drew Brees tweeted "As a way to show respect to all, our #Saints team will kneel in solidarity prior to the national anthem & stand together during the anthem." That...... doesnt tell me very much at all.

Perhaps they 'dont know the reason why' may not be accurate. Perhaps the statement of 'because any number of varied and random reasons, some stated, and many not, and confusing as all sin to the outside world' is a better descriptor. Does that do it better for you?

Don't have time to go through all this at work but to say that players are protesting without having a clue why they are doing so paints them as relative dullards. When I hear Kaepernick, Stills, Martellus Bennett, etc. speak on the topic it is clear that they are thoughtful and informed.

When Kaepernick started this whole thing, he said it was because he would not honor the flag of an oppressive country. HE said it. He SAID it.

Here are his exact words:

“I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” he told NFL Media in an interview published on Saturday.

What I hear most often is "police brutality".

What I hear most often is team solidarity. As in, I will support this, whatever it is, because i don't want my teammates mad at me.

Must still be 1952.

Since you have listened when Kaepernick, Stills and Bennett spoke on the subject, and they were thoughtful and informed, tell us what they are protesting.

And tell us if you think the USA is an oppressive country.

Again... busy so will respond more later but of course the USA has a long history of injustice when it comes to black people. Does injustice = oppression?

Tell me if you think black people are treated equally in the US in 2019.

Pretty much.

I know of no restaurant that excludes black people. I know of no apartment complex or house seller that excludes black people. I know of no college that excludes black people. I know of no restroom they are not allowed to use. I do know of Affirmative Action. This is all 2019. In 1952, there was a lot of oppression. heck, I remember when black people really were oppressed. I remember lunch counter sit ins at Woolworth's. do you remember Woolworth"s? Or lunch counters?

So tell me how those three people you named are oppressed. Are they not allowed to make a great living? better than yours, I warrant. Where are they not allowed to go that you are allowed?

Glad to hear you are busy. Busy is good, usually.

I will be leaving here soon. But we can piece together this discussion over time. I am eager to hear how you think the USA is an oppressive country. I think it was in 1952 - not so much now. But "now" is what Kaep is protesting. And most of the rest of them have no idea why they kneeling or what they are protesting, just some idea of team solidarity. What is Drew Brees protesting?

I think Tanq pointed out that Brees explained that he participated in an act of solidarity rather than an act of protest.