American gold medalist kneels during national anthem at the Pan Am Games

Sparagmos said:

Lol, there you go. He doesn’t have free speech “in the place he was at.” There is no protest against police brutality that republicans have said is in the right place.

I’m not even sure what “we have the right to respect our government “ means in this context. No one is trying to stop your....feelings of “respect.” The government is people. Nancy Pelosi and AOC are “the government. Do you feel deeply offended when someone insults or makes rude jokes about AOC and Pelosi?

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You bet he doesn't have free speech in the place he was at. If there is a right to protest there is a right to uphold. I don't like all the police do myself, but I am not going to kneel at the flag because I am not an opponent of it. I will still respect it. There may have been a time when I would have considered his grievances, but no more. His cause is as nothing to me and I hope he suffers because of his actions. This is how enemies are made. AOC and Pelosi are not the problem. The fact that they are able to even be where they are in the first place is the problem.

NothingIsImpossible said:

I remember when the football guy Kapernecky (spelling?) kept kneeling at football games. Since I am part of a VFW Aux Post, all of the vets were mad and yelling about it. They understood freedom they fought for meant freedom to kneel, but they also felt by kneeling that they were being hurt because they fought for the country. They said the flag and anthem is the one thing you respect. No ifs, ands or buts.

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They have every right to have opinions like that. Good on them.

section9+1 said:

There may have been a time when I would have considered his grievances, but no more. His cause is as nothing to me and I hope he suffers because of his actions.

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Interesting. The assertion here seems to be that yeah, police brutality towards minorities is bad and all, but now that someone brought attention to it at the wrong time it is OK to just ignore it and let the police do whatever they want.

I'm not particularly convinced. Anyone else?

I was ignoring it before this happened. If someone has a issue, they can deal with it. There's no requirement for me to get on board.

NothingIsImpossible said:

They said the flag and anthem is the one thing you respect. No ifs, ands or buts.

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Back in the good old days.
Before deception crept in.
M-Bob

CRAZY_CAT_WOMAN said:

Yes , I remember pledging about Michael Jackson one year . The pledge of allegiance really means nothing.

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Sad. I bet you value your freedom, though. People who are too weak to take a stand for any thing, will be the death of the American ideal. They talk favorably about socialism while benefiting from freedom

renniks said:

Sad. I bet you value your freedom, though. People who are too weak to take a stand for any thing, will be the death of the American ideal. They talk favorably about socialism while benefiting from freedom

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What does the pledge have to do with freedom?

Ironic how the people taking a stand are the people kneeling.

renniks said:

Sad. I bet you value your freedom, though. People who are too weak to take a stand for any thing, will be the death of the American ideal. They talk favorably about socialism while benefiting from freedom

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And others talk favorably about capitalism while benefiting from freedom. So...

comana said:

What does the pledge have to do with freedom?

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You might want to look it up. I do believe there is something in there about liberty...

Speedwell said:

And others talk favorably about capitalism while benefiting from freedom. So...

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Capitalism is the result of have that freedom. Socialism is it's opposite.

renniks said:

You might want to look it up. I do believe there is something in there about liberty...

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It is just a pledge. Again saying the pledge does not give us our freedoms as that would be the Constitution. If the pledge was never written or adopted as a daily recitation for school children, we would still have the Constitution.

renniks said:

Capitalism is the result of have that freedom. Socialism is it's opposite.

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And for that political opinion you invoke a pledge of allegiance written by a Socialist.

Sparagmos said:

Lol, there you go. He doesn’t have free speech “in the place he was at.” There is no protest against police brutality that republicans have said is in the right place.

I’m not even sure what “we have the right to respect our government “ means in this context. No one is trying to stop your....feelings of “respect.” The government is people. Nancy Pelosi and AOC are “the government. Do you feel deeply offended when someone insults or makes rude jokes about AOC and Pelosi?

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Kaepernick used his work place to protest a personal issue that had nothing to do with his working conditions. That was "not the right place". The "right place" to conduct protests like this is in places where it is legally permissible. Happens frequently in cities all over the US. Your pot shot at republicans is weak and unfounded.

KCfromNC said:

Interesting. The assertion here seems to be that yeah, police brutality towards minorities is bad and all, but now that someone brought attention to it at the wrong time it is OK to just ignore it and let the police do whatever they want.

I'm not particularly convinced. Anyone else?

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Except no one on here said or is advocating to "just ignore it and let the police do whatever they want". But yay for you for getting a "Winner".

Speedwell said:

And for that political opinion you invoke a pledge of allegiance written by a Socialist.

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Actually, the OT was the National Anthem.

comana said:

It is just a pledge. Again saying the pledge does not give us our freedoms as that would be the Constitution. If the pledge was never written or adopted as a daily recitation for school children, we would still have the Constitution.

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Nobody said we wouldn't.

renniks said:

Actually, the OT was the National Anthem.

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LOL! Francis Scott Key was an Episcopalian--just as bad in today's political climate.

Speedwell said:

LOL! Francis Scott Key was an Episcopalian--just as bad in today's political climate.

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I wasn't the one making this political. Liberty and Justice should cross political lines. Well, you would think. But some on either side seem willing to give up liberty for false security.

SummerMadness said:

American gold medalist kneels during national anthem at the Pan Am Games

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Meanwhile in Hong Kong protesters risk arrest and abuse to sing our national anthem because they admire our freedom. While our spoiled rotten celebrities can't even rise to their feet and put their hand over their hearts. Trump often embarrasses me but this is beyond a simple political statement. Use your brain your getting a world class education for and find something more effective and lless pointless.