You’d have a stronger point if this verse were ever sung at baseball games. It isn’t, so, while you’re not wrong, you don’t really have a winner here.
Probably in France. My take? If you’re upset about this guy not standing for the anthem you’re probably a racist asshole.
(post shortened)
Does that mean that you can’t answer it?
-Jim Trotter (My Cousin Vinny)
Uh, Mr. Gambini? All I ask from you is a very simple answer to a very simple question. There are only two ways to answer it.
-Judge Haller (from the same movie)
IN the NFL, you can beat your wife unconcious, rape, or fight dogs, but you’d better fucking stand when the white folks sing.
From what I understand, some have considered it. Eagles LB Mike Tavarres says he will join Kaepernick.
No you can’t. All those things lead to quick unpaid suspensions.
And also numbingly racist to insinuate that people of color aren’t as patriotic as white people. Leave your basement once in a while and notice how real people live.
Your confusing jingoism for patriotism. Taking a stand to make America better: patriotism; standing for a song because it’s what you’re supposed to do: jingoism. Have you ever noticed that every one of these controversies about whether an athlete is sufficiently patriotic involve,people of color? We insist that they adhere to a script and any sense that they’re getting uppity must be immediately put down.
I believe the next line is “It’s a bullshit question”. Which it was.
Except that, as stated previously, it’s a bullshit question, so there is actually no reasonable answer. In any event, I will assume by your total non-response that you withdraw the claim that you are boing ‘shouted down’ here. Glad we could straighten that out, at least.
Here’s a simple piece of advice, folks.
Instead of whining about being shouted down on a message board, which can’t really happen, consider this alternate thought;
“Wow, a lot of people on this board disagree with me.”
The first is a delusional persecution complex. The alternative I’ve presented is just accepting reality.
Symbols are only important to the symbol-minded.
(with apologies to George, may his soul rise and get stuck on the roof)
Wow, one other person. How bout the other 1000 or so?
[QUOTE=madmonk28]
If you’re upset about this guy not standing for the anthem you’re probably a racist asshole.
[/QUOTE]
Every man a racist. If he were white, I’d still be calling him an unpatriotic and disrespectful POS, similar to Michael Moore lauding Castro/Cuba.
*‘No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:’ *
The consensus was that Francis Scott Key, an unrepentant racist ( as were most in his time ) was here sneering at the American slaves that had joined the British after being given promises of freedom if they enlisted. It’s really kind of a shit song IMHO. America the Beautiful works better.
I think people should just show some respect, it’s not a big deal, it’s just the right thing to do. IMO of course. It doesen’t burn my ass either way, but my folks and I show respect.
I show my respect for the country by working for the good of the people in it. That’s my patriotism.
Respect for what? the song? The flag? The cops? The people shot by cops?
And you know what? Kaepernick would probably agree with you. What is his refusal, but a symbolic act? It would be the easiest thing in the world to just go along to get along, but he’s chosen not to do that, to highlight an issue that he considers to be of national importance.
Some random dude in the audience not standing wouldn’t get noticed, but the highly paid guy on the field? That’s powerful symbolism, and probably kind of his whole point.
Sure, you might still think he’s an asshole, but at least he’s being an asshole for a cogent reason, unlike so many of the other assholes discussing this.
As another vet, I agree with you. Standing for the anthem is traditional. Not doing so is not disrespectful; it merely does not conform to expectation dictated by that tradition.
I remember being outraged when I was in 'Nam and read about people burning the flag. As a young man, I was naive and didn’t understand the protests, only that people were shooting at me and people back home didn’t support us. Now that I’m old, I realize that patriotism doesn’t mean chanting “USA” or singing the anthem or any other meaningless gestures. If someone wants to sit during the anthem, burn the flag (or use it for an adult diaper), it’s their business. I may think it’s tacky and worthy of an eye roll, but in terms of patriotism, it’s meaningless.
People don’t die for a flag; they defend a way of life (generally speaking). If all you do is sit in your armchair, regurgitate patriotic slogans, bitch about the government and do nothing to make sure that that way of life works for all Americans, then you’re far less patriotic than a man who chooses to sit during the anthem. Instead of bitching about a sports figure sitting on his ass, how about getting off your own tired ass and making a difference.
The full stanza is,
He’s wishing for their death or retreat, along with the white mercenaries also fighting on the British side. So that America wins, and endures as “a home and a country.” It’s a war song; of course it wishes for victory.
FSK may have been stung by how his patriot comrades had fared against the black, former-slave Colonial Marines at Bladensburg, but he’s not calling for killing them for being black. The black and white among the enemy are treated exactly equally, here.
I don’t read that as racist. He viewed those that joined the British as traitors. How is this different than the North viewing the South as traitors?