*** The Official MAGAposting thread ***

[BananaStand]

Being made to feel like a bad person for refusing to sing the national anthem is disgusting. Am I a bad person for refusing to sing a song about an imaginary dude in the clouds protecting the legacy of a priviledged elderly woman of German heritage? Or would I be an utter hypocrite if I did sing the fucking song?

Dude, I think you kinda missed the point raised by of both sides of this issue.

Football, or anything like it, only happens because we live in a free and prosperous society that allows for such comforts and luxuries. That society didn't just create itself. It exists because of the efforts and sacrifices of the people sworn to protect and defend America. We recognize those efforts and sacrifices by playing the national anthem before community events like this. This mini-ceremony to remind us of our shared history, helps to strengthen us as a culture.

No one is ever forced, or even asked, to sing. The vast majority of people remain silent actually. You don't have to salute. You don't have to take off your hat. You don't have to put your hand over your heart. We just ask that you stand, along with everybody else, and show some respect for the sacrifices that are part of all of our shared heritage.

If you can't support that, then you're oblivious to history, delusional, or both. But STILL, in America, we respect your right to be oblivious, delusional, and not support gestures of respect for the flag. If a player doesn't want to salute the flag, he doesn't have to. He can stay in the locker room getting his ankle taped, taking a piss, or playing computer solitaire.

Let people make their choices, and respect them. By casting moral judgement on those who refuse to sing a song based on the concept of compulsary patriotism, one becomes an even bigger arsehole than the person they critisise.

WHOA!!! slow down on the contradiction there buddy.

Sure, let people make their own choices. So how about we let the stadium full of people enjoy their mini-ceremony? There are thousand of people all taking 30 seconds to celebrate their common history. "Let them make their choices and respect them"

If you can't do that, then it is definitely time for some moral judgement. Instead of letting those tens of thousands of people have their 30 seconds, some under-educated over-night millionaires come out and thrust THEIR activist cause onto center stage. You don't feel like there is a moral judgement to be made there? You don't see why some of those tens of thousands of people might be a little miffed?

Beyond that, there are other issues I have with this whole situation.

First, it's so hopelessly misguided that the act undermines itself with its own ridiculousness. Exercising freedom of speech by disrespecting the symbols and history that gave you that freedom of speech seems kinda retarded.

Second, with thousands of TV stations, dozens of social media outlets, and the relative fame that comes with being a professional athlete, all of these guys have many many many better ways to get their message out. Instead, they chose a method that insults the ideals of most of their fan base.

Third, these guys are supposed to be "working". Every company I've ever worked for goes out of their way to keep a lid on any kind of political activism in the workplace. It's disruptive, divisive, and has nothing to do with your job. Go ahead, tomorrow at work send out a company wide email rooting for your favorite cause. Even if it's something seemingly benign like "support the troops" or "yay freedom", I can almost guarantee you that HR will be calling you and telling you to shut it down.

Yet when league and team owners try to protect the integrity and mass appeal of their brand by stifling these protests....they are cast as racists. That kind of baseless accusation should certainly evoke some kind of moral judgement.

And fourth....it's obviously FAILING. Sure these protests are headline news in the sports world. But what is all the talk really about? All the questions seem to be asking "Is this the right venue for this activism?" or "what do you think about so-and-so's protest?". I have barely heard a word about the meaning of the protest or its cause. I haven't heard of any specific action that these players are calling for. I haven't heard of any goal that they might have other than to call attention to themselves.