Football, the Flag and the Right to Speak Our Minds by Jared Odrick
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Very impressive. Excellent essay, Jared.
I haven't walked in a black person's shoes, so I choose not to judge.
Sorry...don't buy it. Do we know the people behind the UPS uniform or the wearing the hat of the golden arches? Perhaps we don't WANT to know them. I don't, sorry.
CK disrespected everything about the USA along with the high schoolers and gay soccer players this last week. Why have a protest that alienates good cops, black cops, everyone who is doing a great job? Now, we have lost our standards.
If you want to protest, how about doing it the way the Seahawks did? They stood for the anthem, locked arms to show they are united in a commitment to improvement. Or the guys who raised a black power fist? I am good with that; no problem. It says, "yeah, I am happy to be living in the USA, but we have ongoing issues that need to be resolved." Check.
CK disrespected everything about the USA along with the high schoolers and gay soccer players this last week. Why have a protest that alienates good cops, black cops, everyone who is doing a great job? Now, we have lost our standards.
If you want to protest, how about doing it the way the Seahawks did? They stood for the anthem, locked arms to show they are united in a commitment to improvement. Or the guys who raised a black power fist? I am good with that; no problem. It says, "yeah, I am happy to be living in the USA, but we have ongoing issues that need to be resolved." Check.
He's wrong about one thing:
It can be.
I think he's also assuming that there should be no consequences for exercising First Amendment rights. Any one who is (a) married and/or (b) has kids, knows there are often consequences to free speech. And there is no inherent requirement in free speech that anyone is required to agree with what is said. This seems to be misunderstood these days. If someone wants to slam what you say while exercising your free speech, that's every bit a part of free speech as the original statement. All free speech does is guarantee that the government cannot punish you for it.
He also commented on the current college system. I think he's wrong there too.
A college education, not to mention room and board, costs upwards of $100K in today's market--for essentially apprentice work. Were this not associated with colleges but was a minor league system (and no fan pays hundreds of dollars for tickets to a minor league game), the average players would not get a lot of money and they certainly would not get an education. Yes the system has systemic issues. Lots of players end up without a job and without that education and are ill-used. That's where a player should get a 4 year scholarship (maybe 5, given how much time football sucks out of a schedule), that could only be lost by failure to maintain reasonable academic progress.
"Exercising a First Amendment right isn’t an affront to our military."
It can be.
I think he's also assuming that there should be no consequences for exercising First Amendment rights. Any one who is (a) married and/or (b) has kids, knows there are often consequences to free speech. And there is no inherent requirement in free speech that anyone is required to agree with what is said. This seems to be misunderstood these days. If someone wants to slam what you say while exercising your free speech, that's every bit a part of free speech as the original statement. All free speech does is guarantee that the government cannot punish you for it.
He also commented on the current college system. I think he's wrong there too.
"We are handpicked from an unpaid labor pool that purports to provide an education in exchange for services rendered, though the value of that education pales drastically to overall football revenue for institutions of higher learning. Ignoring our value is a prerequisite for turning pro, so we pledge allegiance to the sport in lieu of a free market and keep our heads down."
A college education, not to mention room and board, costs upwards of $100K in today's market--for essentially apprentice work. Were this not associated with colleges but was a minor league system (and no fan pays hundreds of dollars for tickets to a minor league game), the average players would not get a lot of money and they certainly would not get an education. Yes the system has systemic issues. Lots of players end up without a job and without that education and are ill-used. That's where a player should get a 4 year scholarship (maybe 5, given how much time football sucks out of a schedule), that could only be lost by failure to maintain reasonable academic progress.
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Sorry...don't buy it. Do we know the people behind the UPS uniform or the wearing the hat of the golden arches? Perhaps we don't WANT to know them. I don't, sorry.
CK disrespected everything about the USA along with the high schoolers and gay soccer players this last week. Why have a protest that alienates good cops, black cops, everyone who is doing a great job? Now, we have lost our standards.
If you want to protest, how about doing it the way the Seahawks did? They stood for the anthem, locked arms to show they are united in a commitment to improvement. Or the guys who raised a black power fist? I am good with that; no problem. It says, "yeah, I am happy to be living in the USA, but we have ongoing issues that need to be resolved." Check.
You really see a difference b/w raised fists (w/ their heads very deliberately facing the ground) and taking a knee? Seem pretty equivalent to me
He has every right to say what he wants. He just does not want us to have the right to be free from his political statements when attendees pay $400 to take their families to a game
Peter, Paul and Mary were great social justice warriors of my generation. They refused to politicize during any performance.
Peter, Paul and Mary were great social justice warriors of my generation. They refused to politicize during any performance.
I know the above tweet wasn't from Odrick but whoever initiated it is a moron and part of the problem. It implies ALL white people act and think in a certain way and ALL black people act and think in a certain way. That's just stupid.
Paul Simon is another. Folks were after him to say something political as a concert I attended during the Bush era. He refused to do so--but sang one of his "protest" songs. I found that to be appropriate.
yes...huge. when you kneel during the anthem, you say 'all of America sucks'. If you stand, with a gesture, you say "I am solid with America but we have issues".
is the gay gal, the one playing for USA soccer, saying "hey, USA sucks so lets go play soccer in Saudi Arabia?" How about the NBA taking their all star game out of NC but playing games in China?
lets get real here, people. my point is, it IS american to make political statements. But do it on your time...don't insult me.
Conversely, several people walked out at a George Carlin gig when he started to talk about america killing brown people after we attacked Pakistan (after 911). Carlin stopped the show and complained and said he has his right to his view. The old guy that started the walk out said "So do I, and am exercising it. Your problem is that I pay your salary, you don't pay mine."
I knew the gal managing the theater at the time (in Akron). She told me that Carlin was testing material for an HBO special. Guess what? Carlin didn't use that material.
But, the time during the game is their time also. Not exclusively yours.
Taking a knee is less aggressive than standing, with your head down, and raising a black gloved fist.
Sorry...don't buy it. Do we know the people behind the UPS uniform or the wearing the hat of the golden arches? Perhaps we don't WANT to know them. I don't, sorry.
CK disrespected everything about the USA along with the high schoolers and gay soccer players this last week. Why have a protest that alienates good cops, black cops, everyone who is doing a great job? Now, we have lost our standards.
If you want to protest, how about doing it the way the Seahawks did? They stood for the anthem, locked arms to show they are united in a commitment to improvement. Or the guys who raised a black power fist? I am good with that; no problem. It says, "yeah, I am happy to be living in the USA, but we have ongoing issues that need to be resolved." Check.
So very pampered insulated white of you Obli. I'm surprised ....
Obviously in your day to day life you have not experienced racial profiling from the perspective of the stalked victim. My family is filled with white detectives and police officers.....they understand these problems.... we understand that it is not everywhere.....but it is for people of color ... Especially young white males that travel. You and yours get to freely move about in what is supposedly a free country without ever being stalked....or profiled if you prefer that term for it..... Heck ...you and yours could likely go out into a street in America to save an autistic kids life without getting fingered as a black man acting strange by some old blue haired Biddy and shot by a police officer.
.
And now you want to limit these folks right to free speech. Seems a little bit too pre WWII Germany to me.
I am surprised
When did I say it wasn't a problem? If you did, you were wrong because I've never said that there wasn't a problem. In fact, on the test board, I have been VERY critical of cops for a lot of different reasons.
But criticizing all of america is off putting, and will end up being counter productive. Its not the way, time or place. As I stated, I thought the Seahawks did a nice job of creating awareness without offending.
That was really a well written piece. Signifcantly better than we see from the media nowadays.
People pay $500 to bring their family to a game. They have a right to be free from political statements that denigrate them, their loved ones or thei country. The league must step in and protect the fans v
Protect the fans? From what - A non violent expression of their beliefs? Are you crazy or just daft?
There is a reason for the free speech amendment being the first amendment to the Constitution. Thomas Jefferson and I agree....sometimes a nation fast asleep needs put off....in order to save itself from civil war and destructive acts of civil violence.
The fire alarm is going off....sorry that it outs some people off... it's their right to ignore it and stay asleep if they think that is a good idea.
He's not limiting CK's right to free speech. He's critiquing that speech. As is his right in a free society.
This is so wrong. Free speech protects you from government entities, only. did Chic fil a have a right to free speech when the founder said he supported marriage between a man and a woman and people boycotted them?
The funny thing is I think it's disrespectful and an attention grab by those doing it, but you can't tell people how to peacefully protest...and they are peacefully protesting. I served for the flag and last time I checked they had every right to do what they are doing even though I feel it's very fake at this point in time.
Yes....football games are exempted from the rights afforded our citizenry under our Constitution. The founding fathers are rolling in their graves.
well, as the communicator that is the message most people are hearing...so that't their problem. As i said, there are better ways and used the Seahawks as an example.
That's because many people have trouble with nuance and only see things in black and white. All or nothing. Hate or love.
Nobody is talking about the Seahawks "protest", so what good is it? If it doesn't cause people to think and talk about these issues, then the protest is futile.
They would have, had it been first (talk about the Seahawks). Football is entertainment, it is a choice that people make. I 100% support their cause. Clearly there is a problem, I don't think that is debatable. What is debatable is the solution, got that too.
I just don't think the protest was appropriate in time and place. For example, i listened to Steve Kerr who is a huge gun control advocate. (his father was shot and killed) He made a statement at the end of an interview on a radio talk show. Perfect..got it...all the more power to him. Steve Kerr didn't use an NBA tool. I talked to several people, diminishing their interest in the NFL for all kinds of reasons from the violent game to domestic violence have told me they are no longer going to watch the NFL.
So let me be clear, again, I totally support his right. I totally support his message. I don't support using the NFL as a tool during the game. And, I will not watch a game where a player does this. Why? I simply don't want my entertainment time being infiltrated with people protesting cookie dough ice cream, chickens being killed for food, leather shoes, lack of sanitary napkins in men's bathrooms, people who are christians, or whatever. i am sick of it. If you want to have that message, use your celebrity platform before or after the game, not during.
Since WW 2, do you think the American military has defended our country and its citizens or protected and supported the interests of big business? Do the powerful invoke national security as the reason/excuse for military action? Have we, and most importantly, our troops, been hoodwinked for decades?
Oh yeah, that classic Steve Kerr statement. Game changer. Everyone knows about that.
1. Viewers will not leave the NFL for a significant time. They may say they will, but they won't.
2. If someone is going to not watch the NFL because 4 or 5 individuals kneeled during the national anthem, they are being silly. Probably the same people that think all Muslims are bad people because of extremist terrorists.
3. I ask you again. What will you do if a PSU player protests the anthem. Will you turn it off? Leave the stadium? What is it is a player on the other team?
I agree with you on the college system. No one forced him to play football in college. And look at baseball...many of the guys who opt to not go to college spend many years in the minors getting paid less than nothing. Compared to the minor leagues, college is a pretty valuable way to go.
I knew nothing about Steve Kerr's thoughts on gun control (and I'm a pretty big basketball fan). People that know nothing about football know about the players kneeling for the national anthem. So...Whether you agree with the method or not, it's certainly more effective than the method that Steve Kerr used in bringing attention to an issue.
I found it offensive and have used my freedom to protest that freedom. I've stated my objection and my support of the underlying issue.
i am not sure what I'll do if a PSU player is does it. i hope they do not. I know Cabinda has been very supportive on Twitter. So we'll see.
If you are that offended and sincere about your own protest, you will turn off any PSU game where any player kneels during the anthem - or leave the stadium. Otherwise, your protest is hollow.
Thanks for the advice Grant...I'll take that under advisement. Fact is, I am not used to people disrespecting the flag and the national anthem in a country where they have considerable opportunity than 99.99% of other countries.
How about they go to Saudi Arabia and protest there, were it really means something. Hey, because, if not, their protest rings hollow.
I still don't get all the hullabaloo. I also don't get how this got twisted into an anti-military stance.
A guy kneels during the National Anthem. He has his hat/helmet off, he is not making obscene gestures, he is not talking to his team mates or coaching staff or trainers, he is not walking around behind the bench. He is motionless, looking straight ahead (or maybe turning his head a bit).
That's it.
He never said a bad word about the military, and has even gone so far as to engage in discourse with a former member of the military on this subject matter. He has donated 8.34% of his pre-tax income to charitable outlets.
How many people in the stands at an NFL game even pay attention to the sidelines during the National Anthem? (Before Kapernick's actions?). I would venture to guess not a high percentage.
This is really not that big of a deal. And his salary/income have absolutely NOTHING to do with the situation. None.
A guy kneels during the National Anthem. He has his hat/helmet off, he is not making obscene gestures, he is not talking to his team mates or coaching staff or trainers, he is not walking around behind the bench. He is motionless, looking straight ahead (or maybe turning his head a bit).
That's it.
He never said a bad word about the military, and has even gone so far as to engage in discourse with a former member of the military on this subject matter. He has donated 8.34% of his pre-tax income to charitable outlets.
How many people in the stands at an NFL game even pay attention to the sidelines during the National Anthem? (Before Kapernick's actions?). I would venture to guess not a high percentage.
This is really not that big of a deal. And his salary/income have absolutely NOTHING to do with the situation. None.
jin·go·ism
ˈjiNGɡōˌizəm/
noun
derogatory
noun: jingoism
extreme patriotism, especially in the form of aggressive or warlike foreign policy.
Great label. Seems like you just did what you are protesting other people doing.
