NFL sucks!

[grendl]

OK I hear and understand most of the above a a counterpoint please.
The NFL players kneeling was NOT about disrespecting the Flag or the anthem ! Trump changed the point of the display. They did not ceremoniously Burn the flag or turn there backs or make any drastic display. The point and the WHOLE point was and is the way Police are killing and disrespecting Black Americans -for no reason. Children being shot dead with no question or hesitation playing in the park. Family men being killed in front of their families with no question or reason. A black man being choked to death for selling loose cigarettes with his last words being'I cant breathe'. A young black woman on her way to a new job,pulled over for a traffic stop dies in her jail cell overnight. Travon Martin stalked and shot dead for no reason at all and all the people that did this are FREE ! A guy gets pulled over ,asked for his ID even though he was not the driver and is shot dead in front of his Wife/girlfreind and their child for reaching for it. Guy pulls into a service station demands the kids turn their music down, they tell him to piss off and he kills one of them.(He did go to jail though)
Gentlemen, thats what this is about.There are more but the point is made hopefully . That was Colin's stated reason,but it kept(keeps) happening ! Law abiding citizens ! We can march and protest but that is met by military armed police and National guard and doesnt end well typically.
We needed to draw attention in a peaceful manner and I respect that method. It got everybodys attention but then the reason was obscured under this 'patriotism' facade.
I am one of 5 american men that dont watch football-I go riding,or do something else.I dont care and have always considered that this person is paid how much to play a frickin' game !?? However enough people do and were shocked at the display but dont change the point to have a vehement debate.It wasn't/isnt about that. IF you want to have a debate let's keep it real.

[Davidk]

OK I hear and understand most of the above a a counterpoint please.
The NFL players kneeling was NOT about disrespecting the Flag or the anthem ! Trump changed the point of the display. They did not ceremoniously Burn the flag or turn there backs or make any drastic display. The point and the WHOLE point was and is the way Police are killing and disrespecting Black Americans -for no reason. Children being shot dead with no question or hesitation playing in the park. Family men being killed in front of their families with no question or reason. A black man being choked to death for selling loose cigarettes with his last words being'I cant breathe'. A young black woman on her way to a new job,pulled over for a traffic stop dies in her jail cell overnight. Travon Martin stalked and shot dead for no reason at all and all the people that did this are FREE ! A guy gets pulled over ,asked for his ID even though he was not the driver and is shot dead in front of his Wife/girlfreind and their child for reaching for it. Guy pulls into a service station demands the kids turn their music down, they tell him to piss off and he kills one of them.(He did go to jail though)
Gentlemen, thats what this is about.There are more but the point is made hopefully . That was Colin's stated reason,but it kept(keeps) happening ! Law abiding citizens ! We can march and protest but that is met by military armed police and National guard and doesnt end well typically.
We needed to draw attention in a peaceful manner and I respect that method. It got everybodys attention but then the reason was obscured under this 'patriotism' facade.
I am one of 5 american men that dont watch football-I go riding,or do something else.I dont care and have always considered that this person is paid how much to play a frickin' game !?? However enough people do and were shocked at the display but dont change the point to have a vehement debate.It wasn't/isnt about that. IF you want to have a debate let's keep it real.

“Travon Martin stalked and shot dead for no reason at all”. You just lost all credibility.

[Old N Grumpy]

“Travon Martin stalked and shot dead for no reason at all”. You just lost all credibility.

Thanks David...you beat me to the punch.

[Heatnbeat]

Grendl, with all due respect:
Hundreds of young black men are murdered by other young black men for every one that is killed by the police. And those young black men are murdered outright, not while struggling with a police officer and trying to take his firearm.
I find it totally bogus that these players are trying to draw attention to a small number of police shootings (many of which are fully justified) and make no attempt to draw attention to the murders commited by other young blacks.

[Davidk]

Grendl, with all due respect:
Hundreds of young black men are murdered by other young black men for every one that is killed by the police. And those young black men are murdered outright, not while struggling with a police officer and trying to take his firearm.
I find it totally bogus that these players are trying to draw attention to a small number of police shootings (many of which are fully justified) and make no attempt to draw attention to the murders commited by other young blacks.

+1

[grendl]

+1

Totally correct,David and that fact grieves me . Growing up where I did I have lost friends to that insanity - people I grew up with from childhood. I took classes and used my on experience to try to comprehend why that happens.I think I got it but I still struggle with why we wont stop it,staying in a situation that promotes it.It's not enough for me to say "I got out" when I have to look back and see it more prevalent now than it was when I was a 'kid' Toward that end whenever I can have the opportunity I pull these youngsters aside and if I can get a conversation I try to give the fruit of my experience to them. I am in a position where I can hire people and although I have to respect the law I do try to attempt to give opportunity for a decent job and income to get people off the streets and that culture.I have many stories about that and would be it's own post that I am not willing to start.Understand that I do not and cannot hire every black person that applies-that approach is wrong on a few levels.
I want to be clear - I do the same for any person that comes in,presents themselves properly and shows that they want a better life
That said it becomes more greivious to see innocent people (regardless of race) treated like that. Which brings me back to the point of this discussion.
The point of kneeling is to bring attention to when this happens. Thats it.The terrible fact of how many of each other WE kill does not excuse innocent people being shot at will for no reason.I am not trying t disparage all police.I also have friends and acquaintances that are police.In my youth I applied and was accepted to become a cop but by the time they called I had a better paying job which led me to where I am now.
On the Travon issue what I have read was the kid went to a 7/11 was followed by a neighborhood watch guy with a gun who accosted him then attacked him,lost the fight and then shot him. Travon wasnt selling drugs,had nothing on him and had no criminal history.
Guys,I walk my neighborhood,wear a hoodie(I shave my head and it's cold) and yes if anyone jumped out at me would be met with swift and devastating resistance.(I dont want to carry and shouldn't have to just to grab a gallon of milk from a 7/11 a half mile away.)
If my facts are incorrect on this feel free to correct me.
David I get your point. A couple of years ago there was a little girl who was selling chocolate for her school.Two "gangsters" came up on her claimed she wasnt supposed to sell anything on 'their' corner which they will never own and shot her. A little girl selling chocolate for a school outing.
That still tears me up inside....but thats another subject.

[Retired Army]

In my opinion the point is freedom. If an individual is not happy residing in America they are free to leave.

[opas ride]

In my opinion the point is freedom. If an individual is not happy residing in America they are free to leave.

100% correct my friend...No country in the world is without issues...Move somewhere else if your not happy here and don't shove your "BS" little boy issues down my throat!!!...JMHO

[dadeo]

In my opinion the point is freedom. If an individual is not happy residing in America they are free to leave.

Good god man, I thought that sort of attitude went out in 1965.

Are you seriously happy with everything our government does? I could have said the same thing back in 2011 when the Repbulicons were all about taking down Obama. If you were so unhappy with how America voted in 2008 and 12, then you too were free to leave.

What a moronic thing to say.

[willtill]

Good god man, I thought that sort of attitude went out in 1965.

Are you seriously happy with everything our government does? I could have said the same thing back in 2011 when the Repbulicons were all about taking down Obama. If you were so unhappy with how America voted in 2008 and 12, then you too were free to leave.

What a moronic thing to say.

I think he meant that for the long haul.

I also believe that the unfair treatment that minorities purportedly endure from law enforcement is hugely blown out of proportion. Getting pulled over and not cooperating; and demanding “respect” is not going to fly well.... for anyone... black or white when encountering law enforcement.

Go with the drill... and move along.

Applicable to anyone.

Over 305 murders this year eight miles north of my local. Mostly black on black. And no one says “boo” about that. Been going on for years... maybe other municipalities don’t want that crap moving in on them. Hence the heightened scrutiny of the very subjects that represent that carnage.

Do I agree with that? No, not at all. But it is what it is. Take that with a grain of salt.