CP3 takes on Trump

[PhDeac]

The fact that flying the Confederate flag doesn't piss of Americans is troubling.

 

[warak]

The fact that flying the Confederate flag doesn't piss of Americans is troubling.

Exactly, this is more upsetting that the confederate flag still is around. It is dissrespect to the American flag and what it represents.

 

[2&2 Slider To Leyritz]

It's targeted perfectly, IMO. The fact that you can't understand the connection between the anthem and the systemic racism Kap is protesting by kneeling during it means you don't understand the breadth and depth of the problem.

Well that's great. So apparently you are the target of his message, so please fix your racism and brutality. Feel free to report back when you're done.

 

[tigerswood]

I have a family full of them, though my family is from the midwest and northeast and considers most confederate sympathizers (and southerners) to be rubes. They also hate Trump, though loved them some Cruz and Bush. I believe they were write-in voters in the election.

Are you a military man? I'm questioning your defense of the confederate flag.

Fair enough. We're in similar boats, although mine are from the South and voted for Trump. I was a write-in.

I had a confederate flag in my bedroom until my junior year at Wake. Grew up around it, and viewed it as a sign of southern pride and thought it was cool for some reason. Eventually realized it was pretty stupid, represented more than that, and was offensive to some people, so I took it down.

None of my family/friends would ever fly one/wear paraphernalia/etc at this point, but I don't think it should be illegal, and none of the members/former members of the military I've ever met were vocally against it - most supported the right to fly it. There are interesting parallels to both issues though.

 

[tigerswood]

I don't think respecting the military and the sacrifices they are willing to, and do, make requires us to defer to them on what America stands for and what is/is not disrespectful to American ideals.

I imagine flying an Isis or Nazi flag in my front yard would piss off all of the military members that you know. Flying a Confederate flag is the same thing.

This may be the most absurd analogy I've ever read on the boards. And that's including RJ, BKF, and a bunch of parodies.

 

[RChildress107]

Well that's great. So apparently you are the target of his message, so please fix your racism and brutality. Feel free to report back when you're done.

Lol, just because the message is on target doesn't mean it is going to get through to people. The thing is you aren't even really the target. People who don't believe that racism exists in this country aren't going to be convinced by some black guy kneeling during the national anthem. But the comfortable white dude who knows deep down that systemic racism is a problem might be moved to action if he's confronted with his inaction on a daily basis. I'll admit that sometimes I'm that guy, all I can say is I'm working on it. Are you?

 

[RChildress107]

This may be the most absurd analogy I've ever read on the boards. And that's including RJ, BKF, and a bunch of parodies.

The only difference is time.

The Confederacy fought a major war against the U.S. in furtherance of an abhorrent ideology. We defeated them partly out of selfish interests and partly out of a sense of moral responsibility.

 

[RChildress107]

Fair enough. We're in similar boats, although mine are from the South and voted for Trump. I was a write-in.

I had a confederate flag in my bedroom until my junior year at Wake. Grew up around it, and viewed it as a sign of southern pride and thought it was cool for some reason. Eventually realized it was pretty stupid, represented more than that, and was offensive to some people, so I took it down.

None of my family/friends would ever fly one/wear paraphernalia/etc at this point, but I don't think it should be illegal, and none of the members/former members of the military I've ever met were vocally against it - most supported the right to fly it. There are interesting parallels to both issues though.

So flying the battle flag of a white supremacist nation that waged war against the U.S. is the same as kneeling during a racist song in protest of the systemic racism still present in the U.S.? Seriously?

Part of what Kaepernick and others are protesting is the very fact that many Americans are perfectly comfortable flying the Confederate flag next to the American flag while denying that this country has a race problem.

 

[RChildress107]

To many, including some on this board, white men who rebelled against America so that black people would remain enslaved and white men who celebrate/honor that rebellion have more of a place in our history and our country than a black man who rose to the most powerful position in the world with grace and class. Y'all are fucking despicable.

 

[WFcatamount22]

He's protesting systemic racism which leads to all those things. His protest is no more broad than King's and if it were narrower it would be missing the forest for the trees.

He chose the national anthem, in part, because it is a symbol of America rooted in racism that still represents a racist nation. Individual Americans can disclaim racism all they want and most Americans aren't racist, but until we have removed racism from the structure of our political and economic systems America as a nation cannot disclaim racism.

It's an uncomfortable truth to be sure, and will require uncomfortable action to remedy. So if Kaepernick's protest makes you uncomfortable that's a start.

Lol, believe what you want. I think he chose the national anthem because he was butthurt about not being the starter so he decided to be a bad sport and pout by himself on the bench. When a reporter asked him about it he gave an excuse and it snowballed from there. Remember it didn't start with him taking a knee or announcing he was protesting.

 

[RChildress107]

Lol, believe what you want. I think he chose the national anthem because he was butthurt about not being the starter so he decided to be a bad sport and pout by himself on the bench. When a reporter asked him about it he gave an excuse and it snowballed from there. Remember it didn't start with him taking a knee or announcing he was protesting.

I'm shocked that you think this.

It's totally normal for someone to spend one million dollars of their own money just to continue a ruse in the media. Makes perfect sense.

 

[tigerswood]

So flying the battle flag of a white supremacist nation that waged war against the U.S. is the same as kneeling during a racist song in protest of the systemic racism still present in the U.S.? Seriously?

Part of what Kaepernick and others are protesting is the very fact that many Americans are perfectly comfortable flying the Confederate flag next to the American flag while denying that this country has a race problem.

The mental leaps you are taking are pretty wild. Of course it isn't the same.

 

[2&2 Slider To Leyritz]

Lol, just because the message is on target doesn't mean it is going to get through to people. The thing is you aren't even really the target. People who don't believe that racism exists in this country aren't going to be convinced by some black guy kneeling during the national anthem. But the comfortable white dude who knows deep down that systemic racism is a problem might be moved to action if he's confronted with his inaction on a daily basis. I'll admit that sometimes I'm that guy, all I can say is I'm working on it. Are you?

That doesn't make any sense. If the message is on target then it gets through. If it doesn't get through, then it isn't on target and you need to find a more powerful message.

 

[RChildress107]

The mental leaps you are taking are pretty wild. Of course it isn't the same.

How is it different?

 

[RChildress107]

That doesn't make any sense. If the message is on target then it gets through. If it doesn't get through, then it isn't on target and you need to find a more powerful message.

I can shoot a gun at a tank perfectly on target and it won't get through. If the target is thick enough accuracy alone won't make a difference.

 

[Strickland33]

That doesn't make any sense. If the message is on target then it gets through. If it doesn't get through, then it isn't on target and you need to find a more powerful message.

It appears to be getting through to plenty of people who aren't you and your Facebook friends.

 

[tigerswood]

How is it different?

Dude. Get it together. You said:

So flying the battle flag of a white supremacist nation that waged war against the U.S. is the same as kneeling during a racist song in protest of the systemic racism still present in the U.S.? Seriously?

Your mental gymnastics took my saying there are parallels (freedom of speech/expression being the main one) to the two issues to making them the same. I then stated "of course they aren't the same". Now you're the one asking how they are different? This is bizarre.

 

[tigerswood]

It appears to be getting through to plenty of people who aren't you and your Facebook friends.

I agree with the message that there is a level (any level is unacceptable) of oppression/systemic racism against African Americans in this country. Now what? What are the players doing to actually bring about change? What do they want me to do to help? Would these efforts be better focused against gang violence, HS drop out rates, etc.? Or is kneeling during the anthem and getting people to acknowledge the issue of oppression/systemic racism supposed to help fix those things?

 

[2&2 Slider To Leyritz]

It appears to be getting through to plenty of people who aren't you and your Facebook friends.

How has police brutality been affected by these protests?

Just over the last week you can see how useless the protests have become. Police brutality has been replaced by unity. Kneeling and sitting have been replaced by interlocking arms. Protesting the anthem is now protesting before the anthem. This thing jumped the shark without one ounce of actual effect, other than the NFL's ratings going up for this coming weekend. Trump and Jerry Jones played this like the violin and completely shifted everything. But congrats if it makes you feel better, you really stuck it to the man.

 

[WFcatamount22]

Lol, believe what you want. I think he chose the national anthem because he was butthurt about not being the starter so he decided to be a bad sport and pout by himself on the bench. When a reporter asked him about it he gave an excuse and it snowballed from there. Remember it didn't start with him taking a knee or announcing he was protesting.

Oh I don't have any doubt that he is full in and down with the cause, and it lines up nicely with him dating his current GF. It just wasn't what he was trying to do originally