(10-20-2017, 05:46 PM)hb1148 Wrote:

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