The NFL, etc., etc., etc.

 

I’m going to try to make this the only post I write on this gaudy, stupid subject.

As regards the rights of these players who feel justified in showing disrespect for our country, that’s a matter of employment law and the terms of their contracts. I don’t care whether they are allowed to stay in the game or not: I won’t watch the NFL as long as they’re doing it, but I wasn’t watching the NFL anyway so it hasn’t impacted my life.

As for the rightness of what they’re doing, I think they are, at best, fools. At worst, they’re spoiled, thankless fools.

The implication of kneeling during the national anthem is that the country does not deserve their respect. The further implication is that America is a racist nation, a nation that tolerates and even encourages institutional injustice, perhaps a nation in which, as Black Lives Matter puts it, black people are “systematically targeted for destruction.”

That’s stupid. We just elected a black man to two terms in the White House. The statistical evidence for institutional racism is at best tenuous. America is self-conscious to the point of paralysis over questions of racial discrimination.

America doesn’t have a racism problem. America has a racism industry. And these self-righteous young men are its tools.

More than virtually anyone at any time, these wealthy young fools have the means to publicize their causes in a well-informed and thoughtful way, without denigrating the country as a whole. But they lack the patience, humility, common sense, and grace to do that. Instead, they insult a nation peopled by better men than themselves.

I have no interest in football, so there’s no dilemma here for me. If you’re a football lover, I guess you have to decide for yourself if you’ll let these arrogant clowns ruin it for you.

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  1. She Member
    She
    @She

    Strong letter to follow?

    • #1
  2. livingthehighlife Inactive
    livingthehighlife
    @livingthehighlife

    I’m a Texan, therefore football is my first love (well, other than my wife and kids).  Football is a way of life here.

    But hard as it was, my TV remained dark yesterday afternoon.  I’m not the boycotting type, so I’ve make no promise to never watch the NFL or anything like that.  But for one afternoon I chose not to have this obnoxious behavior tossed in my face by men who make millions to play a game, men who make more in one year than most fans will make in their lifetime.

    I’ll also say this:  Trump is a damn fool.  All sides of this kerfuffle, Trump, the NFL, the player and their union, look like childish morons.

    On the plus side, my desk at home is much cleaner and more organized.

    • #2
  3. Henry Racette Member
    Henry Racette
    @HenryRacette

    She (View Comment):
    Strong letter to follow?

    I’m not sure I follow you, my dear third-person feminine pronoun.

     

    • #3
  4. She Member
    She
    @She

    Henry Racette (View Comment):

    She (View Comment):
    Strong letter to follow?

    I’m not sure I follow you, my dear third-person feminine pronoun.

    Ha!  At least I’m not confused about that!  Not yet, anyway.  Just give the SJW’s time.

    I’m not sure of the exact genesis of “strong” (sometimes quoted as “angry”) “letter to follow.”

    The story I grew up with was that it was the postscript remark of one of Mark Twain’s apoplectic letters to the Hartford Gas Company, most likely this one:

    Dear Sirs: Some day you will move me almost to the verge of irritation by your chuckle-headed G——d fashion of shutting your G——d gas off without giving any notice to your G——d parishioners. Several times you have come within an ace of smothering half of this household in their beds and blowing up the other half by this idiotic, not to say criminal, custom of yours. And it has happened again today. Haven’t you a telephone?”

    But I’ve never been able to pin that down for a fact.

    There’s also a (probably apocryphal) story that the phrase was used in the culminating Western Union Telegram of what might be thought of as the nineteenth-century equivalent of a modern Twitter war, in which the final blast ordered the unfortunate recipient to perform an anatomically impossible act, and was followed with the phrase “Strong letter to follow.”

    Either way, or whatever, it’s usually the coda to an admirable rant.

    • #4
  5. EDISONPARKS Member
    EDISONPARKS
    @user_54742

    While it would certainly not help their cause, I would like to hear it articulated exactly why some players are “taking a knee” or not coming out for the National Anthem.

    I suspect you would hear a lot of mushy inarticulate nothingness, and then sympathetic (emphasis on pathetic) commentators will then attempt to give the athletes comments context and meaning in situations where the athlete was unable to provide any.

    It seems to me at this point many teams (players, coaches, and management) are in a weird position of taking the side of the “protesters” because it appears to be the path of least resistance.   While probably not a strongly held position of most of the new “protesters”  (which makes sense because I’m not ever sure what it is being “protested”), these follow alongers I surmise are hoping for team unity so they go along with some ambiguous “protest”  that has gained an unfathomable cultural acceptance on the Lefty side of the culture battle.

    Which is to say that since Trump has taken one “side”, to at least half the country,  the obvious play is to take the other “side” …. no matter how asinine that “side” is.

    • #5
  6. Misthiocracy Member
    Misthiocracy
    @Misthiocracy

    Henry Racette: I won’t watch the NFL as long as they’re doing it, but I wasn’t watching the NFL anyway so it hasn’t impacted my life.

    There has never been a boycott of a product or service that I actually use.

    It’s dang annoying.

    I want to boycott something too!

     

    • #6
  7. Misthiocracy Member
    Misthiocracy
    @Misthiocracy

    Ok, that’s not entirely true.

    I stopped buying Mark Millar’s comic books because he said something stupid.

    The funny thing is, I forget what it was that he said. Something about Scottish independence, maybe?

    • #7
  8. Henry Racette Member
    Henry Racette
    @HenryRacette

    She (View Comment):
    Either way, or whatever, it’s usually the coda to an admirable rant.

    LOLing out loud, as I like to say (to my children’s chagrin).

     

    • #8
  9. Henry Racette Member
    Henry Racette
    @HenryRacette

    EDISONPARKS (View Comment):
    I would like to hear it articulated exactly why some players are “taking a knee” or not coming out for the National Anthem.

    I agree. And that was the general point of my post, not to recommend a course of action, but to offer an evaluation of their conduct.

    • #9
  10. JcTPatriot Member
    JcTPatriot
    @

    livingthehighlife (View Comment):
    I’m a Texan, therefore football is my first love (well, other than my wife and kids). Football is a way of life here.

    But hard as it was, my TV remained dark yesterday afternoon. I’m not the boycotting type, so I’ve make no promise to never watch the NFL or anything like that. But for one afternoon I chose not to have this obnoxious behavior tossed in my face by men who make millions to play a game, men who make more in one year than most fans will make in their lifetime.

    I’ll also say this: Trump is a damn fool. All sides of this kerfuffle, Trump, the NFL, the player and their union, look like childish morons.

    On the plus side, my desk at home is much cleaner or more organized.

    Same here – my yard has many fewer weeds now than it did the day before. It was a good way to spend a day without football, :)

    The question for you, Texan, is what will you do tonight? Yesterday was easy, tonight’s game is the true test.

    • #10
  11. Misthiocracy Member
    Misthiocracy
    @Misthiocracy

    What’s so galling is that it’s such a nonsensical way to protest the president, and there are so many different things they could be doing that would be so much more effective.

    “In order to protest a particular person we’re going to protest the national anthem of the country.”

    Sooo… Donald Trump = The National Anthem?  Donald Trump = America? What?

    Here’s just one better idea: Make a symbolic protest gesture before the anthem, then stand for the anthem, then make the symbolic protest gesture when the anthem is over. Get the message across that you’re protesting the man, not the country.

    Americans don’t hate protest. Americans hate nonsensical protest.

    If your audience has to ask, “wait, what are you protesting, exactly?”, it means you’re doing it wrong.

    • #11
  12. livingthehighlife Inactive
    livingthehighlife
    @livingthehighlife

    JcTPatriot (View Comment):

    livingthehighlife (View Comment):
    I’m a Texan, therefore football is my first love (well, other than my wife and kids). Football is a way of life here.

    But hard as it was, my TV remained dark yesterday afternoon. I’m not the boycotting type, so I’ve make no promise to never watch the NFL or anything like that. But for one afternoon I chose not to have this obnoxious behavior tossed in my face by men who make millions to play a game, men who make more in one year than most fans will make in their lifetime.

    I’ll also say this: Trump is a damn fool. All sides of this kerfuffle, Trump, the NFL, the player and their union, look like childish morons.

    On the plus side, my desk at home is much cleaner or more organized.

    Same here – my yard has many fewer weeds now than it did the day before. It was a good way to spend a day without football, :)

    The question for you, Texan, is what will you do tonight? Yesterday was easy, tonight’s game is the true test.

    There’s been some encouraging news from America’s team.

    I’m told that the Joneses’ request comes with an offer: At any other time, at any other place, management is available to support a player’s cause … but that it prefers the moments during the Anthem to be “sacred’’ (coach Jason Garrett’s word) and uninterrupted.

    But I’m not sure I’ll watch, but that’s also because Jon Gruden has always annoyed me.  Maybe I’ll organize my garage while listening to the game on the radio.

    If this protesting keeps up, my house will be so clean and organized my wife won’t recognize it.

    • #12
  13. Larry Koler Inactive
    Larry Koler
    @LarryKoler

    I’m anxious to have this debate — the anti-Americanism of these wealthy people comes from the media and their education. I feel sorry for them like I do for the North Korean citizens — they really don’t know any better. Everyone they have talked to their whole lives have told them that this country hates them just because they’re black and so what can they do?

    I’m convinced that Trump just reflexively sides with the pro-American side of most debates with the left and the media and so he feels comfortable in wading into this.

    Here’s a way to deal with the hate rhetoric spewed out by the left and bringing it into sharp relief without fanning (too much) the charge of racism. Rather it’s on anti-Americanism. Let’s see who wins.

    • #13
  14. Larry Koler Inactive
    Larry Koler
    @LarryKoler

    Misthiocracy (View Comment):
    What’s so galling is that it’s such a nonsensical way to protest the president, and there are so many different things they could be doing that would be so much more effective.

    “In order to protest a particular person we’re going to protest the national anthem of the country.”

    Sooo… Donald Trump = The National Anthem? Donald Trump = America? What?

    I think you might have shown what I’m talking about in #13 above. Thanks.

    Trump gets the pro-America side in this and all the others have to line up against America and then try to explain the nuance of their stands. I love it.

    • #14
  15. Concretevol Thatcher
    Concretevol
    @Concretevol

    livingthehighlife (View Comment):
    I’ll also say this: Trump is a damn fool. All sides of this kerfuffle, Trump, the NFL, the player and their union, look like childish morons.

    Yep, this is a classic case of “both sides are idiots”.  Really, the entire “kneeling before the anthem” thing had pretty much died out.  Then, when I heard about Trump spouting off at that rally I knew the weekend was going to be a total preening crapfest.  So yeah, the players are for the most part ignorant rich children but the are going to take up for the other kids in their class against the mean president now I guess.  Just stupid as hell.

    • #15
  16. Henry Racette Member
    Henry Racette
    @HenryRacette

    PS The hyperventilation about President Trump’s crowd-pleasing comment is tiresome. If anyone hasn’t figured out by now that President Trump shoots from the hip and plays the crowd, they’re never going to figure it out. He correctly assumed that they’d like to hear a “throw the bums out” comment, and so he made it.

    Predictably, it made President Trump the subject, not these young dopes with their inchoate protest. I don’t think that’s good for us, but it’s classic Trump and, as near as I can tell, the President doesn’t listen to me.

    • #16
  17. Misthiocracy Member
    Misthiocracy
    @Misthiocracy

    Larry Koler (View Comment):

    Misthiocracy (View Comment):
    What’s so galling is that it’s such a nonsensical way to protest the president, and there are so many different things they could be doing that would be so much more effective.

    “In order to protest a particular person we’re going to protest the national anthem of the country.”

    Sooo… Donald Trump = The National Anthem? Donald Trump = America? What?

    I think you might have shown what I’m talking about in #13 above. Thanks.

    Trump gets the pro-America side in this and all the others have to line up against America and then try to explain the nuance of their stands. I love it.

    Exactly. They should be doing something that says, “we are America, and we don’t like Donald Trump.”

    • #17
  18. Patrick McClure Coolidge
    Patrick McClure
    @Patrickb63

    Henry Racette: More than virtually anyone at any time, these wealthy young fools have the means to publicize their causes in a well-informed and thoughtful way, without denigrating the country as a whole. But they lack the patience, humility, common sense, and grace to do that. Instead, they insult a nation peopled by better men than themselves.

    Henry, perfectly put.

    • #18
  19. JcTPatriot Member
    JcTPatriot
    @

    Larry Koler (View Comment):
    Trump gets the pro-America side in this and all the others have to line up against America and then try to explain the nuance of their stands. I love it.

    Wow, good comment, Larry.

    “Uh, I am NOT against America, uh this racism thing, and uh, the Cops! Yeah man, the cops, and uh, racism and all that is what I am protesting.”

    “So, you hate the Police and you’re protesting that by being against America?”

    “Naw man, look, you just don’t get it. It’s a statement! The uh, shootings, you know the police, man, they uh, man, racism! You dig?”

    “Yeah, thanks Coach Tomlin. Back to you, Jane.”

    • #19
  20. dajoho Member
    dajoho
    @dajoho

    Henry Racette: And these self-righteous young men are its tools.

    Nice double entendre HR.

    • #20
  21. cdor Member
    cdor
    @cdor

    Henry Racette: America doesn’t have a racism problem. America has a racism industry. And these self-righteous young men are its tools.

    I just had to quote that small paragraph once more.

    • #21
  22. Manny Coolidge
    Manny
    @Manny

    Good post.  I completely agree with you.  I have still some interest in football, but I have to admit it seems to get less every year.  Sure these pampered jocks have a right to disrespect the nation, but their employer has a right to let them go.  And more importantly I have a right not to watch or support who I don’t like.  I won’t support any team that as an entire team take a knee.  Good riddance.  I have better things to do with my time.

    By the way, follow baseball.  It’s way better.  ; )

    • #22
  23. JcTPatriot Member
    JcTPatriot
    @

    Manny (View Comment):
    Good post. I completely agree with you. I have still some interest in football, but I have to admit it seems to get less every year. Sure these pampered jocks have a right to disrespect the nation, but their employer has a right to let them go. And more importantly I have a right not to watch or support who I don’t like. I won’t support any team that as an entire team take a knee. Good riddance. I have better things to do with my time.

    By the way, follow baseball. It’s way better. ; )

    I gave up MLB when they chose a Strike over the World Series. Never went back.

    • #23
  24. Ralphie Inactive
    Ralphie
    @Ralphie

    EDISONPARKS (View Comment):
    It seems to me at this point many teams (players, coaches, and management) are in a weird position of taking the side of the “protesters” because it appears to be the path of least resistance

    This behavior reminds  me of Vaclav Havel’s the Poster Test from the Power of the Powerless.

    Most people, even big strong guys do not want to pay the costs of being a person of integrity.  There are probably a few fellow travelers who believe in his cause, but a lot of them have calculated what is good for them, personal character be damned.  It is why Hayek said the worse rise to the top; they don’t mind doing in public what they don’t believe privately.

     

    • #24
  25. James Gawron Inactive
    James Gawron
    @JamesGawron

    Henry Racette:America doesn’t have a racism problem. America has a racism industry. And these self-righteous young men are its tools.

    More than virtually anyone at any time, these wealthy young fools have the means to publicize their causes in a well-informed and thoughtful way, without denigrating the country as a whole. But they lack the patience, humility, common sense, and grace to do that. Instead, they insult a nation peopled by better men than themselves.

    Henry,

    Summed up nicely. What I would like to see is next weekend when the anthem is over and the kneejerks have done their thing, people stand up and walk out of the stadium to protest this stupid pseudo-protest. The NFL spits on the country then the country should spit on the NFL.

    BTW, when you lose the Rushbo you’re in big trouble. His resonance with the grassroots is still there.

    With Great Sadness, I Did Not Watch the National Football League on Sunday

    Regards,

    Jim

    • #25
  26. James Gawron Inactive
    James Gawron
    @JamesGawron

    [Editing error]

    • #26
  27. ToryWarWriter Coolidge
    ToryWarWriter
    @ToryWarWriter

    Let me get this straight, some of the richest and most priviledged people in America (NFL football players. How more priviledged can you get!?), are virtue signaling.  Far easier to take a knee, but I wonder how much all of them combined have contributed in time or money to a real cause.

    • #27
  28. Misthiocracy Member
    Misthiocracy
    @Misthiocracy

    cdor (View Comment):

    Henry Racette: America doesn’t have a racism problem. America has a racism industry. And these self-righteous young men are its tools.

    I just had to quote that small paragraph once more.

    “I am afraid that there is a certain class of race-problem solvers who don’t want the patient to get well, because as long as the disease holds out they have not only an easy means of making a living, but also an easy medium through which to make themselves prominent before the public.

    “My experience is that people who call themselves “The Intellectuals” understand theories, but they do not understand things. I have long been convinced that, if these men could have gone into the South and taken up and become interested in some practical work which would have brought them in touch with people and things, the whole world would have looked very different to them. Bad as conditions might have seemed at first, when they saw that actual progress was being made, they would have taken a more hopeful view of the situation.

    “But the environment in which they were raised had cast them in an-other world. For them there was nothing to do but insist on the application of the abstract principles of protest.”

    – Booker T. Washington (1911)

    • #28
  29. Manny Coolidge
    Manny
    @Manny

    JcTPatriot (View Comment):

    Manny (View Comment):
    Good post. I completely agree with you. I have still some interest in football, but I have to admit it seems to get less every year. Sure these pampered jocks have a right to disrespect the nation, but their employer has a right to let them go. And more importantly I have a right not to watch or support who I don’t like. I won’t support any team that as an entire team take a knee. Good riddance. I have better things to do with my time.

    By the way, follow baseball. It’s way better. ; )

    I gave up MLB when they chose a Strike over the World Series. Never went back.

    I understand.  It is a business for them though.

    • #29
  30. James Gawron Inactive
    James Gawron
    @JamesGawron

    Misthiocracy (View Comment):

    cdor (View Comment):

    Henry Racette: America doesn’t have a racism problem. America has a racism industry. And these self-righteous young men are its tools.

    I just had to quote that small paragraph once more.

    “I am afraid that there is a certain class of race-problem solvers who don’t want the patient to get well, because as long as the disease holds out they have not only an easy means of making a living, but also an easy medium through which to make themselves prominent before the public.”

    – Booker T. Washington (1911)

    Mis,

    Thanks for the great quote. This really comes under the heading that there is nothing new under the sun. The race hustlers have been with us a very long time.

    Regards,

    Jim

    • #30
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