Posted on 10/26/2017 9:09:20 AM PDT by Kaslin
Daily Beast columnist Jay Michaelson is unhappy with America's football fans.
In a thoughtful column, he argues that "kneeling for the anthem is a sign of respect, not disrespect, for our country and the values it stands for." He adds that "To protest -- for whatever cause, left or right wing -- is to make real the best ideals of America: freedom of speech, democracy, the rule of law. Protesting brings those ideals into reality."
But as players kneel in protest, America's football fans have not been pleased. Ratings and attendance are down while public perceptions of the NFL have fallen dramatically.
There are many reasons for this, but the fundamental problem is that the message any audience sees and hears is often different than what the messenger meant to convey. That's true in any form of communication on any subject. Michaelson has a clear idea of what he thinks the players taking a knee are trying to say. But others hear something else entirely because we all tend to view the world through our own filters and perceptions.
Many fans (or former fans) enjoy football and other sports as a space free from blatant political commentary. These fans are probably just irritated that political activists have invaded their weekend entertainment. In their view, the players are entertainers and should do what they're paid to do.
Others have come to see the kneeling as a sign of disrespect for the flag, the nation, and the military. That may not be the intent, but that's the perception. Michaelson recognizes this and wants us to "stop talking about their form of protest, and engage with what they're trying to say." But, in the eyes of many, the form of protest has become the central message of the effort.
I happen to agree with Michaelson that the freedom to protest and call attention to our nation's shortcomings is essential to progress. Additionally, I devoted an entire chapter of "Politics Has Failed: America Will Not" to the tragic legacy of institutionalized racism. It is a serious issue that needs to be addressed, and the NFL's celebrity voices could play an important role in that process.
But it is also time for the protesters to recognize that their efforts may be doing more harm than good. As long as there is nothing in their employment contract to prevent kneeling for the anthem, they certainly have the right to protest in this manner. That's what freedom of speech is all about.
But freedom of speech does not come with a guarantee that you will be understood on your own terms. Players and others may think fans are misinterpreting their intentions, but that doesn't mean the fans are wrong. Instead, it means that the protesters must find a better way to communicate their message.
I don't know what that might look like, and I definitely do not think the players should give up and remain silent. But it's probably time for the protesters to declare victory and develop a new approach that can win broad support from their fans and the public at large.
Kneeling could be respect or it could be submission to the flag. Howeveer, the stated reasons are other than that and not respectable or relevant to the Flag and patriotism.
The fan exodus is not a ‘misunderstanding’. These former fans understand the ‘meaning’ quite well.
Freedom of protest doesn’t mean that people have to agree with you. Understanding has nothing to do with agreeing with it.
These guys are highly paid icons not just because they are good at what they do, but because people identify with them, and people think that somehow these guys represent them. Hence, the fierce rivalry and support for the home team versus the team from the next city over.
Once these guys break that illusion, that bond of loyalty is gone. I don’t think these guys are smart enough to understand that, but they will learn it and so will the team owners. Without that illusion, they are just millionaires throwing a ball around and who cares who wins.
Lies upon lies. Kaepernick told everybody what he was doing and the rest of the kneelers were following him. They cannot change the story becuase the internet does not forget.
“I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses Black people and people of color,” Kaepernick told NFL Media
“stop talking about their form of protest, and engage with what they’re trying to say.”
The only articulation of “what they’re trying to say” is something generally considered stupid & offensive (blaming police for doing something they’re not).
At this point the only apparent purpose of the protest is defending the right to protest - which is odd, because they’re paid performers contractually obligated to not embarrass themselves & team, nor otherwise do anything to piss off paying customers.
Or agreement individually or in mass!
Hey Michaelson, I’m protesting too by NOT watching! Stick that in your dope pipe and smoke it you moronic imbecile!
Complete B.S.
The author is like Humpty Dumpty in Alice in Wonderland.
Words and actions have meanings. You do not get to define them to what you want, any time you want.
The player are highjacking an event of respect for flag and country for political purposes. That is clear.
The obvious, objective take is this is meant to degrade respect for flag and to delegitimize the country.
"I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color. To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder."
That pretty much defines what is actually going on, not what some doofus thinks about trying to define it. There's not much doubt about WHY they're trying to do it, and it's not meant as respect for anything American.
“What I say is more than, and less than what you hear” (and vice-versa). One of the basic rule of semantics.
“Telling America what to think is our job.” The MSM
I kneel only to God. I stand and salute the flag as a free citizen.
As you said, Colon K has made it very clear what the kneeling means.
If they were truly wanting to show their actual belief in protesting, these entertainers should withhold themselves from the spectacle and go on strike. By choosing the use the National Anthem is this way, they are focusing on the meaning of the anthem itself, not the so-called problems within American society.
Go ahead, Sparky ... put your money where your mouth is and go on strike until the problems that you are protesting about are "solved".
When the salary cap goes from nine figures to eight, they'll stand.
I'm good with that off duty and not in the workplace, and not during the national anthem.
During the playing of the anthem is not a time to be a liberal-American or a Conservative-American; it's time to be an American. No political signs, actions, or obscene gestures of any sort are appropriate.
These guys don't think so...
I always believe it’s best to think before you open your mouth. You would not want anyone say something to you that is not only hurtful but also not true.
Their “freedom to protest”, and, “freedom of speech” is what they’re using to try and defuse the colossal mess they’ve created.
While virtually no one is saying that they don’t have those “rights”, but that we - the people - don’t have to agree with what they’re saying.
Speak all you want, protest all you want, IF you’re ready to bear the consequences of those who do not agree with you. If your “free speech” is insulting to the public, then, your speech is NOT free...it’s costing you dearly.
Lower income, declining brand loyalty, and eventually, and possibly, a big crash of careers and fortunes.
The first amendment is meant for people to redress the government, it doesn’t mean that you have those rights over your private employer. It doesn’t mean that people don’t have the right to ignore, and even boycott, you.
Actions have consequences, something these pampered millionaires have not matured into. These high school antics are based on misinformation about cops, and blacks. The statistics show the opposite from their claims. It seems that every weekend death toll, in Chicago should show them SOMETHING.
The NFL is truly becoming “No Fans Left”. Even a dog is smart enough not to poop is his own bed.
If it keeps going, they’re going to be jobless, and then they’ll shout “racist” even louder because of it. They’ll swear it’s because the protestors are mostly black players. The fools can’t see that Kaepernick is killing all their cushy jobs for them.
The Bell Curve keeps on turning.
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