"A Nation Divided, Sports United" ~ The Equality & Other Issues Thread

[Parliament10]

"Athletes Are Not Going to 'Stick to Sports' and That's an Admirably American Thing"


https://twitter.com/i/moments/912697075455971328


https://www.si.com/nfl/2017/09/25/anthem-protest-donald-trump-colin-kaepernick?utm_campaign=sinow&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&xid=socialflow_twitter_si

Read on Twitter

[truth18]

Let's not forget about the guys that got us here.

Tommie Smith and John Carlos in the 1968 Olympics:



Love the protests. God bless our beautiful country.

[Parliament10]

God Bless America

[Parliament10]

Watch on YouTube

The Greatest - Muhammad Ali

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_Ali

In 1966, two years after winning the heavyweight title, Ali further antagonized the white establishment by refusing to be drafted into the U.S. military, citing his religious beliefs and opposition to American involvement in the Vietnam War.[12][14]

He was eventually arrested, found guilty of draft evasion charges, and stripped of his boxing titles. He successfully appealed the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court, which overturned his conviction in 1971, by which time he had not fought for nearly four years and thereby lost a period of peak performance as an athlete.

Ali's actions as a conscientious objector to the war made him an icon for the larger counterculture generation.[15][16]

[SichtingLives]

Sounds like another football problem smh. Not really a fan, incredibly overrated sport imo but good luck to them and those who are afflicted by Roger Goodell or Tom Brady or those other guys doing this fad. Is it like the dougie? I liked that. How come nobody dougies anymore? better than whip your nae nae imo.

[djFan71]

I absolutely support the right of anyone to protest the gross racial inequality in this country. Kneeling is about one of the most respectful ways it could be done, imo. Way more respectful than the treatment being protested.

Spoiler:

Mods, I'm assuming it's cool to post in this thread, but if not, sorry. And, do what you gotta do.

[FlatearthZorro]

I absolutely support the right of anyone to protest the gross racial inequality in this country. Kneeling is about one of the most respectful ways it could be done, imo. Way more respectful than the treatment being protested.

Spoiler:

Mods, I'm assuming it's cool to post in this thread, but if not, sorry. And, do what you gotta do.

Honestly, is inequality that bad, I lived in the US for 4 months and I didn't see it. I guess it was some time ago, but I didn't see much of it. There will always be rotten tomatoes regardless of where you live. Have you experienced it? I'm just wondering.

[ParticleMan]

I absolutely support the right of anyone to protest the gross racial inequality in this country. Kneeling is about one of the most respectful ways it could be done, imo. Way more respectful than the treatment being protested.

Spoiler:

Mods, I'm assuming it's cool to post in this thread, but if not, sorry. And, do what you gotta do.

Honestly, is inequality that bad, I lived in the US for 4 months and I didn't see it. I guess it was some time ago, but I didn't see much of it. There will always be rotten tomatoes regardless of where you live. Have you experienced it? I'm just wondering.

overt discrimination is generally illegal so it is typically subtle and systemic, and not so noticeable unless you are the one being discriminated against or it's pointed out to you as it happens.

but in the end the statistics are overwhelming:
http://inequality.stanford.edu/publications/20-facts-about-us-inequality-everyone-should-know
... and sadly they have gotten worse over the decades not better.

it's not just a few rotten tomatoes, it's endemic. i've seen many instances how, in similar situations, my experience as a light-skinned indian-american is shockingly different from my wife's experience as an african-american woman. in each case you might say "oh well it was just that one person" or "you're misinterpreting" or whatever, but after it happens time after time you start to realize it's systemic.

it's hugely important that leading sports figures have stood up to be heard on this, given their outsized voice in our society. props to lebron and steph and those guys, and coaches too like pop and kerr. i might hate on them as players and teams but in this aspect i'm very proud of them.

[SmartWentCrazy]

I'm assuming this is the politics thread, so everything is kosher.

Last Friday, when the President insulted the mothers of NFL players peacefully expressing their first amendment right, was abhorrent. The right to speech free from government persecution is the most sacred right of Americans, and the orange ass attempted to take it away. Utterly disgusted that he's leading (dividing, really) our nation.

Extremely happy so many are taking a stand to better our country. I really hope this wasn't a one time thing by the players and that it continues and can spur people to finally have a discussion on how to fix our systemic issues.

[KGboss]

All I know is Cheeto head is still talking about the NFL and has still not helped Puerto Rico.

.....

[SmartWentCrazy]

All I know is Cheeto head is still talking about the NFL and has still not helped Puerto Rico.

.....

The sad thing is that Puerto Rico needs a hell of a lot more help than just hurricane relief. The island is being decimated by an incredible debt burden and is losing its people to emigration at an alarming rate as they search for employment. Very sad situation that's been terribly under reported for years in the states.

[Scarletfire81]

I hope the whole kneeling thing doesn't make its way to the nba. It's really a bummer politics is mixing with sports. Also it's bad business.

[sam_I_am]

I honestly can't understand choosing the national anthem as your vehicle to protest. It is divisive and where does it lead? Certainly cements the us and them mentality which is at the root of the problem. That said, there is no more peaceful and respectful way to protest than kneeling. In the end, we are seeing what is great about America in action. You can visibly protest our flag, our anthem and our president and you are free to get so angry about this protest that you can be part of a grassroots campaign to boycott the NFL.

My only partisan political commentary on this is that I am sorry for my conservative friends who love football. They are being played by their leader who has ruined Sunday football for a lot of them so he can divide this country with hateful rhetoric even further.

[SmartWentCrazy]

I hope the whole kneeling thing doesn't make its way to the nba. It's really a bummer politics is mixing with sports. Also it's bad business.

Truth18 said it in another thread, but there is a difference between social issues and political issues.

Trying to start a discussion on the systemic issues in our country that disadvantage minority's isn't political. People aren't kneeling to say "screw republicans/democrats" and I guarantee you that it wasn't only liberals or conservatives that booed those taking a knee at Gillette on Sunday. It's unfortunate that people use this as a stepping stone to preach politics, though, but in today's climate people inevitably get there.

JFK once said "ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country". In effect, he was arguing for patriotism. I'd argue that those players taking a stand are being patriots, and are trying to start a conversation to better our country in a peaceful manner. It's not intended to be an anti-America or anti-military statement-- hell, google Rishard Matthews views on his kneeling and you'll see that he kneels even though his brother died fighting in Afghanistan-- it's intended to say that they're going to peacefully demonstrate against something that isn't right to hopefully spur a conversation that will help better our country.

[Banks2Pierce]

My only partisan political commentary on this is that I am sorry for my conservative friends who love football. They are being played by their leader who has ruined Sunday football for a lot of them so he can divide this country with hateful rhetoric even further.

I find it very funny to see them having meltdowns on Facebook. A ton of my 'friends' through sports in HS and college seem to have similar politics and are in law enforcement in some capacity.

[fallguy]

I'm confused. This thread is stickied but it begs for political discussion.

[Celtics_History_Lesson]

Kneel down and honor him.



You must excuse me, gentlemen, not being English, I sometimes find your sense of humor rather difficult to follow. To protest someone, a few football players are kneeling down in reverence to celebrate and worship someone, just as loyal subjects have kneeled in the presence of their great leaders for many centuries before?

Next time I see LeBron James or Isaiah Thomas, I bow down to them to insult them and their team? How do I bow down to Thomas, I would still be looking down on him. I guess I could ask him to stand on a chair or something, but with his hip that could be risky.

[Froob]

Lol Rodgers and Goodell on the cover but not Kaepernick?

[Fidel Sarcasmo]

I pledge a knee since
The Divided States of America
And I say to thee 'Repugnant'
Whom 'Ignorants' stan
You've parted Nation, defiled God and made visible
The good work left undone

[Curmudgeon]

Popovich also belongs in the SI collage.