Comments on: President Donald Trump, This Black Fan Turns Off NFL.

By: Marshall

Marshall — Fri, 29 Sep 2017 15:41:51 +0000

Sir, although I do not and never will agree with your thoughts and opinions, I will defend your RIGHT to express them in a manner you feel appropriate, BUT I WILL not defend your right to OPPRESS another’s RIGHT to express their thoughts and opinions in a manner they feel appropriate. The REASON: I am a Veteran, a Disabled Veteran who served this country with honour to uphold the Constitution and ALL its Amendments, not some of them, BUT ALL OF THEM. As a Veteran, I am not offended by the NFL players kneeling during the National Anthem … They didn’t do this until 2009 when DoD began paying the NFL owners to promote the military to boost enlistment. Think back to the years before 2009 and remember if the players ever stood on the sidelines for the National Anthem – I remember, they did not. Not the NFL. Not the NBA. Not the MBL. Not the NHL. None of them until 2009. Donald Trump began his campaign in a divisive manner and has continued to do so. Why concern yourself with who stands and who doesn’t for the Flag when there are vastly more important issues to consider, such as Healthcare for the Elderly and Children, the massive damage to Puerto Rico and Florida from Hurricanes, the lack of confidence around the world in the United States and a man who is playing with your life … This should concern you – not the distraction of The NFL, the Flag, and kneeling. Pay attention to a man who has the attention span of a two year old who only cares if he’s causing destruction in his wake. Remember, this is the same man who inferred that the White Supremacists in Charlottesville had some “fine people in it”. Conquer and Divide equals Defeat … They teach that in the Military and in Business Schools. It comes from an Book named The Art of War written by a Chinese Philosopher/Soldier centuries ago who assisted the First Emperor of China to conquer all of it. Check it out and learn something about tactics.
Enjoy Football – Life is too short. I know.

By: L Anthony

L Anthony — Fri, 29 Sep 2017 15:11:20 +0000

I will always stand, with hand on heart for bour national anthem; however I totally understand the players’
message. Trump doesn’t have a clue. Racism has never died in this country and we have a president
that is too oblivious to understand the kneelers message. Trump has coddled white Supremicists,
lied about President Obama’s place of birth, and focuses on immigrants who are in this country to do
the work that most Americans would never do. I would like to see Trump spend some time kneeling in
fields to bring food to his hotel restaurant table. Instead of coddling the white Supremicists, criticize
NFL players, trying to build a wall, he should get down himself and get something done. All the money
and time that he spends twittering and trying to build a wall, monitor the free press, and play golf, should be spent working to really make truly make America better!
He should work to shrink the divide and help those that really need it, like the disabled (veterans and others), the kids who need education and health care, and those suffering under what is no doubt, a climate change. Help the hungry, the poor, hard working huddled masses that desperately need life saving assistance. It is embarrassing to have a billionaire president who has little comprehension about what this country really needs! Ego, racism, sexism, ignorance is not what people want to see in a President for the greatest Country on earth! I seriously doubt that Trump can stop the American sport of
Football. He is wasting his Time,

By: Jim

Jim — Fri, 29 Sep 2017 10:55:36 +0000

Earlier this week, a woman said the “F” word quite loudly, right behind my two little girls and me in a line to enter an event. Did she have the “freedom” to use that type of language? Yes. Was it APPROPRIATE to use that language when two elementary school girls could easily hear it? I hope you will agree that it was not.

Falling back on the freedom of speech argument is a diversion from the real argument of whether the NFL players’ actions are APPROPRIATE. There are many things that we have the RIGHT to do but may not be APPROPRIATE. That is what the NFL debate is about. I do not think what the players are doing is APPROPRIATE, even though they have the RIGHT to do it.

Additionally, it is questionable whether they even do have the RIGHT to do it *in that particular forum*, the same way my employer can limit my ability to conduct political protests in my own place of employment. Where was the “freedom of speech” argument when the NFL prohibited players from including 9/11-related insignias on their uniforms, or wouldn’t permit the Dallas Cowboys to include on their helmets an expression of support for the police officers killed in their city??? Why was the NFL allowed to prevent those expressions of free speech? Because as a private organization they have the RIGHT to enforce rules and standards, just like they can with the National Anthem protests.

By: Skip Squire

Skip Squire — Wed, 27 Sep 2017 17:54:16 +0000

Friends,
The writer of this article has said that Colin” Kaerpernick’s kneeling during the national anthem should have been nipped in the bud, not tolerated.” As I understand the first amendment to the constitution it says.”Congress shall make no law…abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or of the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
We may or may not agree with Kaerpernick’s position on racism in America, or how, where, and when he chose to expresss his views, However the constitution has guaranteed his right to do so. Thus we may say that his right to protest is the constitution in action.
When any president takes the oath of office, he raises his right hand, puts his left hand on the bible and swears “to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”
Sadly, our president has not defended Kaerpernick’s constitutional right to free speech, and therefore has violated the oath that he swore to on inauguration day.
As for myself, I agree with Evelyn Beatrice Hall who said, “I do not agree with what you have to say, but I’ll defend to the death your right to say it. Thank you.