[Woodworkers] I'm done with the NFL

Al Shields al at shieldsworld.com
Mon Sep 25 11:08:55 PDT 2017


This settles it.  The defense department pays the NFL to have players come
out for the national anthem.  No patriotism intended, pure money motive.
 $12.5 million to date.

On Mon, Sep 25, 2017 at 1:12 PM, Dave Heitstuman via Woodworkers <
woodworkers at lists.sawdusters.org> wrote:

> Brian, in context I might agree with some of your points , mainly I get
> the protest, I really do.  If the NFL players want to support other players
> that feel they have been wronged great.  Present it to me in such a way
> that I can choose to support the cause if I decide it is worthwhile.
> I purposely did not drag Trump into my rant.  Do I agree with his off the
> cuff comments?  In theory maybe but typically I do not agree with the
> delivery.   Rocket man cracks me up :)  it really does.  But it should not
> have been said out loud.
> The sooner people figure out that Trump does what most people would like
> to do the better off this country will be.  Face it he wears his emotion on
> his sleeve and he calls them like he sees them just like we would to a
> friend or coworker, just not the whole world.
>
> The issue is one of respect.  Maybe I do not recall what I was taught so
> many years ago about the flag, the pledge of allegiance and the national
> anthem.  But what I choose to remember is that we respect our flag and what
> it stands for.  I was taught you stand when the flag goes by in a parade.
> I was taught that you stand for the pledge of allegiance and the playing of
> the national anthem.  Plain and simple.  I place my hand over my heart
> others do not.  That is their choice but at least they stand and remove
> their hats.
> The supreme court is a bunch of spineless sissies that don't want to
> offend anyone so they support the most vocal path.  I'd bet that if more of
> us red blooded Americans had protested the stance they took on the burning
> of the  flag it would have never passed, but too many do not say anything.
> Freedom of speech or not, burn the flag, there should be consequences.
>
> The argument is getting old but, if it was not for that flag these
> overpaid crybabies could very possibly not be allowed to protest.  They
> would be told to play or not, or worse be thrown in a jail somewhere and
> forgotten.  They think they are being treated unfairly now?
>
> But more importantly let's take it one step further.  Professional
> athletes are role models.  A vast majority of children look up to these
> athletes.
> What happened at school today when the pledge of allegiance was read?
> What is going to happen at an assembly when the national anthem is played.
> And most importantly what is going to happen in 20 years?  That is what
> scares me.  If our children and grandchildren do not respect the flag and
> what it stands for, Rocket man just might win..................
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Brian Johnson [mailto:serversage at gmail.com]
> Sent: Monday, September 25, 2017 9:15 AM
> To: A place where woodworkers talk about woodworking
> Cc: Dave Heitstuman
> Subject: Re: [Woodworkers] I'm done with the NFL
>
> Hey Dave -
>
> So I'm going to play a bit of Devil's Advocate on this one.
>
> As Americans we are given a set of innate rights. The first of which is
> "Freedom of Speech". This freedom includes the right to protest, and isn't
> limited to the poor, downtrodden, nor the rich and successful.
> It's a right we all share. This includes NFL players making WAY, WAY too
> much money (on that we totally agree).
>
> The NFL, as an organization, is also awarded this Freedom. If the NFL were
> to start limiting the freedoms of it's players they would be stomping on
> the rights that so many have fought and died to protect.
> While I don't agree with what Kaepernick started, I don't have a problem
> with him protesting in his own way. It's his right. There is nothing in the
> constitution that states we MUST stand and MUST place our hand on our heart
> during the anthem or we will be forced to leave the country.
> In fact, the right to NOT do so is protected under that first amendment.
>
> When our President stepped up onto his podium (twitter) and directly
> attacked the right to that protest, he was stepping outside the rights of
> the office he was elected to. He has the privilege to represent the United
> States and the Freedoms we all value, but he instead decided to throw dirt
> on those Freedoms. While the entirety of the NFL (players, staff, C-levels)
> likely don't agree with what Kaepernick was doing, they do agree that he
> has the right to protest in his way. The NFL decided to take a stand behind
> that Freedom. They aren't backing Kaepernick and what he stood for. They
> are backing his RIGHT to do what he was doing.
> They are showing a unified front against tyranny, the tyranny of our
> President directly stating that Kaepernick shouldn't be allowed to do what
> he was doing.
>
> Kaepernick's actions are not dissimilar to the right to burn the flag.
> That right has been upheld by the Supreme Court. Most of us don't agree
> with it, but it's being done as an extreme measure to bring attention to
> something that somebody believes strongly in. In this case, Kaepernick
> believes that African Americans are mistreated in the United States. Is he
> right? Probably. Is his form of protest the way to go about it?
>
> Consider this: We are all talking about it. He has forced an entire
> nation, even the world, to have a conversation about something that nobody
> was talking about previously. If 50,000 people from Harlem march in
> protest, it's briefly mentioned on the news and we all move on. But when a
> couple thousand rich folks link arms in solidarity? Funny how there is
> suddenly tons of attention on the subject.
>
> I, for one, applaud the NFL for not stomping on the rights of it's players
> and giving them the opportunity to institute real change, to be role
> models, to show that the voice of one person really can make a difference.
> I come from a family of veterans. My Grandpa was in WWII, my Dad was in
> Germany during Korea, both his brother served in the military during
> (relative) peacetime, my brother was in the Air Force during 9/11 and for
> years after, I was unlucky enough to not be able to serve. I respect every
> single individual that makes the choice to put on that uniform and make a
> stand for Freedom in the world. But, this is exactly what they fight for
> every single day. The right to do what Kaepernick, and subsequently the
> entirety of the NFL, have done.
>
> That said, you also have the right to turn off the TV and make a stand
> against the NFL. :)
>
> -Brian
>
>
>
>
>
> Dave Heitstuman via Woodworkers wrote:
> > First I am not a gotta watch it type of football fan. But I do pay
> > attention and when NASCAR is over I will watch the SeaChickens. If
> > they have the early game I generally will have the second game on.
> > Although I am not allowed to watch with my wife as I have a tendency to
> yell at the TV.
> >
> > Kappernick started my disdain for the NFL when they said nothing. Then
> > Bennett started his little protest, which made me start thinking about
> > not watching the SeaChickens.
> >
> > This weekend the NFL takes a stand. Well guess what NFL. Take your
> > stand. I am too. There will be no football on any TV in our household.
> > I hope your sponsors appreciate this.
> >
> > I have said for years that the players are paid way too much. If they
> > feel that they need to protest then take some of that money and start
> > a worthwhile endeavor to get your message out. Who knows maybe I'll
> > even support it.
> >
> > In the meantime, when the national anthem starts, stand your ass up
> > and respect the flag.
> >
> > Better yet take a lesson from NASCAR, sure it is basically a bunch of
> > southern boys and hillbillies but guess what they stand with their
> > hats off and hands over their hearts during the singing. At the end
> > the cheer. Why? Because they are true Americans.
> >
> > At our local track the Canadians come down a couple of times a year.
> > The Canadian national anthem is played first, we stand and respect
> > their flag. And they stand and respect our flag. Respect, that is what
> > it is about.
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > I want to be one of my friends for a day so I can see how cool it is to
> hang out with me.
> > Woodworkers at lists.sawdusters.org
> >
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> >
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> _______________________________________________
> I want to be one of my friends for a day so I can see how cool it is to
> hang out with me.
> Woodworkers at lists.sawdusters.org
>
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