Hello There, Guest! (LoginRegister)

Post Reply 
SEAL Explains Exactly Why Many Americans and Veterans Disagree With Anthem Protests
Author Message
CrimsonPhantom Offline
CUSA Curator
*

Posts: 41,328
Joined: Mar 2013
Reputation: 2371
I Root For: NM State
Location:
Post: #1
SEAL Explains Exactly Why Many Americans and Veterans Disagree With Anthem Protests
[Image: giphy.gif]

Quote:Eli Crane, Navy SEAL combat veteran and CEO of Bottle Breacher, indicated to IJR that the love he had for the country had won over the love he had for the game:

After hearing the news that many NFL players are thinking about new ways to protest during the national anthem I know that I am not alone when I say I am so over the NFL and don’t care if I ever watch another game. Thirty years ago, I doubt anyone would have ever predicted my level of disgust with the game I have loved my entire life, seeing as how I was addicted to the sport for most of my life.

I’ll never forget the feeling of being the only kid wearing a Broncos jersey after three major super bowl let downs. Two-a-day practices in my home town of Yuma Arizona, often the hottest place in the country taught me a thing or two about mental toughness and team work.

“I knew at the time that taking my game to the next level would be a long shot, what I didn’t know was that much later in life I would turn my back on the game that consumed much of my time and passion in favor of the country and flag I loved so much more,” he added.

The pain of seeing players protesting while the flag was on the field — the same flag that had been draped over friend's caskets — was what made Crane stop watching games:

It wasn’t Commissioner [Roger Goodell] who made me stop watching games, Colin Kaepernick didn’t do it either. It was the pain I felt inside as I watched so many of these players protest something they can never see through the eyes of someone who has said “Send me.” Some sat on the bench while Old Glory waved on the field while others took a knee.

It doesn’t help that several of my brothers will never watch another game either. Not because they are pissed like I am, because they are dead. They came home covered by this very flag. If you’ve never stood up and said “send me,” you might not understand how it feels to see others take a knee.

The reason I think it bothers me so much is because we weren’t fighting for one group of people. We fought for the freedoms and liberties of all Americans. We didn’t care if your name was Mohamed, Jerome, or Juanita. We could care less if you originated from Nigeria, Mexico City or Sweden. We fought so that more Americans wouldn’t die in sky scrapers or anywhere else going about their daily business trying to live in peace.

“Like these players we were not allowed to say whatever we wanted without consequences. If their employers allow them to hang out in the locker room and protest then have at it. I won’t be tuning in to see it,” Crane continued. “I believe that the most important time to protect and defend the 1st Amendment is when we disagree with others. It’s really easy to preach freedom of speech when we are all in lock step.”

Part of me wants to be angry about what I saw last season and the rumbles I'm hearing about similar protests coming this year. Part of me wishes it didn’t bother me so much, but most of me wishes I could transport these talented young athletes oversees and imbed [sic] them within a combat unit made up of men from all backgrounds and all walks of life to show them what real brotherhood looks like, that freedom isn’t free and that were [sic] all on the same team when we wear that flag on our shoulder.

“I am not sure what my brothers who came home in caskets under that flag would say if they were here to discuss it. What would Charles Keating, Patrick Feeks, JT Tumilson, Adam Smith, and all the rest of them think about this? Would they understand? Would they be angry and feel the hurt,” Crane pondered.

“I know for one thing is sure they would all stand up again and say, 'Send me,'” he said.

Link
(This post was last modified: 07-27-2018 03:03 PM by CrimsonPhantom.)
07-27-2018 03:02 PM
Visit this user's website Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Advertisement


SuperFlyBCat Offline
Banned

Posts: 49,583
Joined: Mar 2005
I Root For: America and UC
Location: Cincinnati
Post: #2
RE: SEAL Explains Exactly Why Many Americans and Veterans Disagree With Anthem Protests
Protesting the Anthem/Flag which can also be a representation of the 1st Amendment is stupid.
07-27-2018 03:40 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Advertisement


UCGrad1992 Offline
Legend
*

Posts: 31,770
Joined: Sep 2013
Reputation: 2265
I Root For: Bearcats U
Location: North Carolina
Post: #3
RE: SEAL Explains Exactly Why Many Americans and Veterans Disagree With Anthem Protests
I think the saddest thing in all of this is the fact that a veteran has to even explain it. That and those protesting the anthem don't care and won't listen anyway. I agree that fans can "vote with their feet" if they so choose and walk away from the NFL.
07-27-2018 04:32 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
olliebaba Offline
Legend
*

Posts: 28,100
Joined: Jul 2007
Reputation: 2149
I Root For: Christ
Location: El Paso
Post: #4
RE: SEAL Explains Exactly Why Many Americans and Veterans Disagree With Anthem Protests
I'm proud to say that I didn't even watch one game last year. The Cowboys, who by the way are America's Team and for good reason will not take a knee. The boss has spoken and I'll wait until the season starts to see if they stick to their guns. If yes, I might just watch ONLY cowboys games. Problem is the other side will have these suffering snowflakes probably kneeling. That's gonna burn.
07-27-2018 07:49 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Post Reply 




User(s) browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)


Copyright © 2002-2024 Collegiate Sports Nation Bulletin Board System (CSNbbs), All Rights Reserved.
CSNbbs is an independent fan site and is in no way affiliated to the NCAA or any of the schools and conferences it represents.
This site monetizes links. FTC Disclosure.
We allow third-party companies to serve ads and/or collect certain anonymous information when you visit our web site. These companies may use non-personally identifiable information (e.g., click stream information, browser type, time and date, subject of advertisements clicked or scrolled over) during your visits to this and other Web sites in order to provide advertisements about goods and services likely to be of greater interest to you. These companies typically use a cookie or third party web beacon to collect this information. To learn more about this behavioral advertising practice or to opt-out of this type of advertising, you can visit http://www.networkadvertising.org.
Powered By MyBB, © 2002-2024 MyBB Group.