(10-19-2017, 09:27 PM)Jest101 Wrote:

(10-19-2017, 08:23 PM)hb1148 Wrote: Better chose a better analogy. Like the NFL players, King exercised his constitutional rights to peaceful, non-violent protest.  Also like the NFL players, his positions (on Vietnam and southern institutions) were looked upon at the time as un-American and un-patriotic. His enemies hated him for it every bit as much as the Trump followers hate the NFL today. The mail he received looked almost exactly like the hate-filled rhetoric you see directed towards black players on social media today.

Way to play the race card

You're the one who brought up MLK and the civil rights movement. I hope you realize that was about race.

(10-19-2017, 10:36 PM)MalabarJag Wrote:

(10-19-2017, 07:02 PM)hb1148 Wrote: It's patriotic to exercise your constitutional rights. Unquestioned allegiance to a symbol is how fascist dictatorships start.

That's ridiculous. I have a constitutional right to own a gun, but I wouldn't call myself patriotic for owning one. A traitor has a constitutional right to not bear witness against himself; does that make him patriotic?

The problem here is that the players involved are protesting the USA in general by their actions, rather than the actual problem they perceive. But maybe I'm wrong. Please explain to us how the anthem (or the country it represents) is the problem that needs to be addressed.

Read my whole message and apply a little context. It's patriotic to exercise one's constitutional rights in the face of the people who'd like to oppress them. Kneeling for the anthem is a very public way for the players to use their celebrity to bring attention to racial injustice and police brutality in a society where 30% of the people won't even acknowledge there is a problem. Personally I don't agree that's the best way to bring about change but let's face it, if they just went out after a game and set up a picket line, no one would pay much attention.

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(10-20-2017, 02:44 PM)flsprtsgod Wrote:

(10-20-2017, 08:04 AM)raptor6581 Wrote: You nailed it. There is actually nothing more patriotic and respectful that properly utilizing constitutional rights..... THIS is what our service members fought to earn, and fight to preserve. We all show our patriotism and respect for the service members in different ways. Too many have failed to realise this.

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So exercising your rights to advocate for Nazism is patriotic? I expect we'll see you supporting then next Klan rally on here then.

The true test of a core principle like freedom of speech is standing up for that principle even when it's uncomfortable. That's what people on the alt-right or extreme left seem to have so much difficulty understanding.

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