What Else... the NFL Part 2

Again… coming in hot… just like this Fall day.  

Back tracking to yesterday… I received some feedback on what I wrote. To be honest, it was 50/50 mixed bag. So after some additional pondering and input from some friends, let's add to what I wrote. An evolution if you will. People, things and feelings change. It's not easy, if it was, it wouldn't be called progress.

The NFL and the Anthem ---

This isn’t about people being disrespectful to the military or Veterans. Protesting has always been a constitutionally protected right through peaceful demonstration. The demonstration or protest is against racial inequality.

“Kaepernick used a strong vehicle to voice being against police brutality and the killing of unarmed blacks. If it divided the nation even more, it was truly a wakeup call to the division that hidden and now right in front of us. Regardless of what FS Key meant when he wrote the anthem, and regardless of what the flag stood for back then, until people of color can truly feel equal, this will not go away...it will take ALL of us to admit all wrongs, not just white ones, not just black ones, not just native American ones, or any other ones, but ALL...and that may not happen in our life time, or until Jesus return.”

“So much has been exposed of the accomplishments of blacks that they did not get credit for. Ok, give us credit and fix it, so we can move on! There are many great things that whites did, ok, take the credit and move on! If only it was that easy....can you imagine the work and time it would take to rewire our thinking? Blacks are not exempt in their actions either. They have the power to change, as a people, but there passive racism within even our own! Ridiculous, isn't it?”

~Dawn D. --- Mom, Friend, Veteran, Preacher’s wife, Strong, black woman.

My friend, Dawn is amazing. She once sang the National Anthem at a nationally televised NFL game years ago. (I can’t say how many years ago though, because she’d hit me with her old lady purse) She did this, even though she already knew then what the anthem was about. She did it because she had pride and honor in her and her fellow Veteran’s service.

This is why the anthem issue is so hard for many of us Veterans. It’s not about the rights of people to protest. It’s that these protests happen in a moment where all, are supposed to be honoring ours/their friend, relatives, and Brothers/Sisters in Arms. When athletes are choosing to use that sacred moment, in order to demonstrate, it is hurtful to us in uniform.

I’m being told from my friend Clint S., it may have something to do with evolution… specifically the: Amygdala  

The other reason it is hard to swallow now, is the fact that prior to this weekend… only a handful of players had taken a knee to protest racial inequality. Two days ago, almost the entire league did so.  Why? Was it because they were the President called them a bunch of “sons of bitches”; or because they genuinely felt this was the time to take a stand, along with those who’ve historically been racially discriminated against?

I honestly think many of them did take a knee or abstain from the Anthem because they felt "Hey, it's time. We can make an impact"; or they felt that they could finally d o so without repercussions. I also honestly think however that the NFL played a part. The league wanted to send a big, collective “fuck you” to the President after his remarks; and this was a perfect way to do so.

Racism

Can we fix it??...not until communities, people, rich and poor make an effort and get rid of racism in their hearts...

Racism is taught... soon as people stop teaching it then maybe things may slightly changes

But realistically no it’s never going to change as long as the rich keep getting richer and poor keep getting poorer and the middle class remain stagnant

And as long as our government remains evil, corrupted to the core and not giving a fuck about its citizens things will not change...


~ Steven H. --- Dad, Friend, Raider Fan, Strong Black Man

My guy, Steve, is a honest, hard working guy. We met years ago through work and I can honestly say he is one of my best friends. (Setting aside that he is a Raider fan) More importantly he has, along with Dawn, experienced racism first hand in a way I never would... that is to say because I'm white and treated differently by both police and a patriarchal society. That isn't something I can do much about it... other than to not abuse that privilege, make sure my friends are protected, and in genral be a good person.

The divide in America is strong… he knows it, Dawn knows it, I know it. All of us know it. The problem is with education and economics. It will only get better when all people admit the failings and truths of the past (good and bad). This holds true even if that means that for some we will to re-learn and accept some harsh truths about ourselves and our ancestors. Nobody should expect perfection, as none of us our perfect beings.

We as a Nation honestly can’t right the wrongs done in the past, as those mistakes have already been made. All we can do is to learn from those mistakes and move forward. We each have to stand up and stop blaming each other. We have to empower each other as equals, regardless of race; so that the Founding Father’s intent of equal rights for all is fully realized.

Munch

Because what else... the NFL

Coming in hot today. No preambles or "hi, how are you" today... because fuck it, I'm done with this.

America

§301. National anthem (a) Designation.-The composition consisting of the words and music known as the Star-Spangled Banner is the national anthem. (b) Conduct During Playing.-During a rendition of the national anthem- (1) when the flag is displayed- (A) individuals in uniform should give the military salute at the first note of the anthem and maintain that position until the last note; (B) members of the Armed Forces and veterans who are present but not in uniform may render the military salute in the manner provided for individuals in uniform; and (C) all other persons present should face the flag and stand at attention with their right hand over the heart, and men not in uniform, if applicable, should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart; and (2) when the flag is not displayed, all present should face toward the music and act in the same manner they would if the flag were displayed.

It says to stand the fuck up... period. One would assume if someone does not stand-up, it is reasonable to assume that they're guilty of breaking US Code (the law)

Now here is the tricky part... The 1st Amendment or the 1st Article of the Bill of Rights, which includes or discusses the right to free speech, along with religion, petition and assemble.

Is silence the same as free speech? (and oh by the way, it totally doesn't mean you can say anything you want. It doesn't cover profanity or defamation of a person/people... like calling a group of people "sons of bitches".) Anyway, I digressed. So again I ask:

In order to be heard, is a group or person's silence the same as free speech?

Is expression a form of protected speech?

Is kneeling a form of expression?

If the above is all true, why in the wide, wide, world of sports is there a US law which contradicts a basic right of the 1st Amendment?

I thought I knew what my opinion on this subject was, when I posted a clever little meme on Facebook last week... but now, I just don't know. The playing of the National Anthem (at least now and at sporting events) is to done to honor service members both alive and dead, who've guaranteed through their service contracts or with their lives, the freedoms and rights we all enjoy. Yes, the playing of the National Anthem started when the Department of Defense gave a lot of money to the NFL.... but still it's not a bad thing. It is something we should be doing. Honoring our Vets should never be called in to question by a citizen of this nation. While I can say without doubt that kneeling is not something I would do, or will ever do... (That will never change) I'm not so sure, or as sure as I was last week, that the 1st amendment gives people the right to protest in this current form. I know lots of people who think they're constitutional scholars, but that's not the same as a ruling from SCOTUS. If any of you know of specific rulings, as it pertains to protected speech/silence... etc., please share, because I'm listening and facts influence me, as they should all of us.

I know what the kneeling in silence or standing in a tunnel out of sight is being done. Players are doing it to call to attention racial inequality, as it pertains to police brutality and profiling... at least that's why it started. Now it seems the "protest" is being done to call to attention the racial divide that still exists. My thought is that this is due to the "racist lines" of the anthem.

O say can you see, by the dawn's early light, What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming, Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight O'er the ramparts we watch'd were so gallantly streaming? And the rocket's red glare, the bomb bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there, O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore dimly seen through the mists of the deep Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes, What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep, As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses? Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam, In full glory reflected now shines in the stream, 'Tis the star-spangled banner - O long may it wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore, That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion A home and a Country should leave us no more? Their blood has wash'd out their foul footstep's pollution. No refuge could save the hireling and slave From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave, And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

O thus be it ever when freemen shall stand Between their lov'd home and the war's desolation! Blest with vict'ry and peace may the heav'n rescued land Praise the power that hath made and preserv'd us a nation! Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just, And this be our motto - "In God is our trust," And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Per Wiki... "The Star-Spangled Banner" is the national anthem of the United States of America. The lyrics come from "Defence of Fort M'Henry", a poem written on September 14, 1814, by the 35-year-old lawyer and amateur poet Francis Scott Key after witnessing the bombardment of Fort McHenry by British ships of the Royal Navy in Baltimore Harbor during the Battle of Baltimore in the War of 1812. Key was inspired by the large American flag, the Star-Spangled Banner, flying triumphantly above the fort during the American victory.

Key was a lawyer, who was a slave owner, and yes there are words which reference slaves and freemen. While I don't believe he was specifically celebrating slavery in this instance, that's just my opinion. Slavery was the normal at that time. While we know better... it doesn't change the fact that slavery was the norm,which was accepted by whites for the first 100 years in our Nations history. The next 100 were spent ensuring the same rights for blacks as whites. The last 50... well it's difficult to say. Something positive? President Obama. A black man in the White House. Progress is awesome!

Something negative? The continuing lack of educational opportunities and disproportionate incarceration rates for young black men... because weed.

Take weed and minor drug convictions off the table... crime stats of who/what gets done to how doesn't really favor one demographic over another.

I'm tired.

I'm tired of defending my views.

I'm tired of defending other's views.

I'm tired of friends fighting.

I'm tired of families fighting.

I'M TIRED OF ALL THE FUCKING "ADULTS" WHO CANT ACT LIKE IT AND CAN'T REALIZE CHANGE DOES NOT COME BY WAY OF YELLING AND SCREAMING...

Change comes with talking; and more importantly LISTENING. When there are civil tongues and civil discussion... it's much easier to make decisions and implement legislation on what's best for everyone, when people are listening to one another.

Munch

P.S. Also... please tell your friends to stop using the stupid flag etiquette clothing meme. The US code references flags. Flags, not apparel to be worn to cover our naked asses. In other words:

You or I can wear a garment with a flag or even a clothing piece designed to be look like a flag...

You or I just can't wear an actual flag as a piece of clothing.