Would you guys still be able to support the Rockets if they disrespected the flag by kneeling?

Why did they have to do it DURING national anthem? Why don't they do it before it or after the game? They deliberately want it to be political and controversial.

 

NFL protest aren't based on Colin's original stance. They are doing it because Trump called out the NFL. Also its the hot thing right now. As far as I am concerned they played out this protest like JNCO's in the 90's.

 

Lol dat irony doe

 

I see what you did there.

 

I wouldnt like it if the rockets threw games as a result of tension in the locker room from anthem protests. I would still be a fan but I would need to take a break.

Due whatever you gotta do until the team stops trusting and playing for one another.

Dont care about the players opinions on politics/race or any of that but I do care if a locker room is broken.

Not a conspiracy theorist so not saying I believe the reports but it is a black stain on the integrity of NFL competition when people are theorizing that Raiders O line doesnt like protecting carr anymore.

 

There are many things we don't do when following the flag's code, specially the NFL who violate the flag's code every time.

But we do half mast when a tragedy occurs.

In his words "I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,"

For him and many is not happy times and what's happening is bigger than football there is not pride when there is so many injustice. Is just a silent protest who has nothing to do with a flag which everybody has disrespect base on the code, but with a systematic problem that many seems to avoid.

And the disrespecting the flag BS is a clear sign for those who wants to avoid reality by changing the subject because reality is inconvenient and acknowledging reality mean we need changes. Some don't want change, they kind of like the killing of unarmed black people with punishment, some just Don't like to be remained that this country racial issues are far from over.

Which camp are you in? Like the killing or don't want to be reminded? Because the BS excuse of respecting the flag is just that, an excuse.

 

- The national anthem was played BEFORE the game.

- Yes, they did this with a purpose of course. Like others said, the first guy did this to send a message like BLM and now most NFL players and coaches whose doing it was because of the insult by Trump.

- As I said, players did all kind of stuff to send their own messages and views on lots of thing. People loves players putting names on their sneakers for personal purpose, people never complained when players wearing T shirts with very personal and political messages before also. And like I mentioned, with all kind of religion signs too and most people never give a damn about it.

- So suddenly there is this kind of burning sensation for some of you that wants to "defend the flag and defend the national anthem"?

Did you file any complains to FCC when NBC did not show our flags and national anthem for every single gold medal we won in the Olympics because the greedy b*stard NBC needed to go to commercials?

Did you cry out loud on facebook and ask people to boycott those rich singers that can't even remember the lyrics?

 

Glad nba fans seem to be more level minded than NFL based off the poll results.

 

I'm in neither of those camps. If you look at the facts and not listen to the rhetoric, you'll see that of the 737 people killed by police this year so far 45% are White, 22.5% are Black, 15.2% are Hispanic, and 17.5% are unknown/other. But those raw numbers only tell part of the story. One side will say because White's are over 60% of the total population, that Blacks are disproportionately targeted. The other side will use numbers that show Blacks commit the majority of the violent crimes and are thus more likely to be in life threatening situations when they encounter police. However, the stat I found interesting was that in those 737 killings only 9% had body cam footage available. Now, that maybe because not every jurisdiction has body cams or maybe its common to forget to turn them on if in a immediate situation, the Washington Post database doesn't provide that level of detail.

So if you want changes, let me propose one just from taking a quick look at the numbers. If policy and/or technology could provide body cameras that were activated when some thresh hold is met, the question becomes could we change that number from 9% to 90% for body cam footage? No matter what profession you're in, when you know someone is watching most people try to perform at their highest level.

So instead of a BS protest during the National Anthem, why don't some of these college grads with multi-million dollar lifestyles take a few minutes to try and solve the problem?

Let me clearly state that what I laid out above was merely an example. It may not do jack sh_t, because what we don't know is how many of those killings could have actually been prevented. That percentage may be very small.

However, my point is I have little time or respect for protesters or complainers. Give me problem solvers and people willing to work to fix the injustice, not those being paid to be pawns and/or propagandists.

With that said, Kap's life radically changed after he met his girlfriend. Some women make us better, some women don't. Do some research and form your own opinion.

Finally, on your comment of some don't want change. My friend, I have found that no matter what we do that change is inevitable. Personally, I grew up in a diverse community and was many times the only white guy on teams I played on. I saw in my school years in the 70's the evolution of us fighting each other to being brothers on the field and the court. One of the joys of being in the military is that there aren't color barriers, its about who does the best job. As a commander, I selected a black female over a more senior white male to be my Superintendent. A few folks thought that was wrong, including a Hispanic Senior NCO that I respected greatly. I understood I had deviated from the norm, but believed I did the right thing by choosing the person who would do the best job.

Over my 57 years I've seen a lot of improvement in race relations until the last decade it seems we've taken steps backward instead of forward. America is not perfect, and we all need to work together each and every day to make it better.

I apologize to everyone for the length of this post, I knew better than to get into the rabbit hole of this thread.

 

It's not that 88.5% people think it's not disrespectful. Vast majority of people don't care about it ENOUGH to not watch NBA. I would have voted Yes as well if OP didn't make such manipulative poll options. If he said "No-I will smack them", then the poll will be 100% vs 0%.

 

Die hard rockets fan but I'm an American first so yup sure would. Would hate to do it. But my country comes before my team.

 

Someone pls explain to me why kneeling during an anthem is disrespecting the country.

If someone outright says they are doing it to disrespect our country then yeah sure that is a different story.

But if they come out and say that it is not meant to disrespect but instead symbolize peaceful demonstrative protest then what is the problem?

Even if they are purposefully disrespecting, then that is their right. You don't pick and chose who you grant that right to based on whether you agree or take offense to it.

Heck, your ability to express discontent in their actions is essentially exercising that same right.

 

Because then nobody would know what they were doing.

I am not fond of the act. It doesn't bother me nearly as much as some, but kneeling is a lot more respectful than sitting. Kaepernick actually changed to a kneel after an apparently constructive conversation with a veteran.

I'm Catholic. I kneel like 18 times every Sunday before God (that's such bs, I am a Catholic, I don't go to Church every Sunday...). So to me, kneeling is respectful.

It's also hard to believe Kaepernick's wasn't purposefully trying to disrespect the country via the flag/anthem when he said he "[wouldn't] stand to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people." Furthermore, he is singling out black people. So, by deduction, it's the white people, asians, and Hispanics (primarily) that are oppressing black people. And people think it's strange so many white people are offended and dislike Kaepernick?

The new unity BS is more aggravating, though. Some kneeling while others link arms and such, that's not unifying anyone but the team. Everyone standing together for the anthem and then making a statement about whatever social issues they wants after the game would be more unifying for the country.

Which brings me to my main point. Robin Williams was a great actor (I have to imagine some of you are like wtf, that's your point?), in my opinion at least. Okay, a pretty good actor...But the Robin we came to know and love was Mork, the Genie from Aladdin, and the Pan Man. We didn't want to see him in these dark suspenseful dramas, regardless of how good he was in them. We didn't want to see this brilliant, hilarious, lovable man make us sad.

That's how I feel about the sports protests. I just want to turn on football on Sunday and not think about anything except the most highly skilled athletes going at it on field. Sports should unify us, these protests aren't doing that. I hope that made sense. I just watched a show about the downfall of Robin, hence the anology...

 

Why do people keep asking whether kneeling is disrespectful? ... as if any gesture has a universal meaning.

All symbolic gestures have meanings only in context. Kneeling when you propose to your girlfriend is not disrespectful. But if you are in a court room and the judge is entering, you are supposed to stand. If you kneel instead, you are being disrespectful. Kneeling to tie your shoelace is not disrespectful in most situations. But if you kneel to tie your shoelace when you are supposed to shake the hand of an important guest (who is standing), that's disrespectful.

 

That's exactly how I feel. Sure, I have the right to flip you off, but that doesn't make it respectful. As far as I am concerned, that's what our team is doing standing there and locking arms. Flipping off the vets, America, and what it stands for. Saying, we have the right what we want to do, it's our country, and we will protest during your anthem, silently in locked arms. Well, I had more respect for the Titans Sunday, and couldn't even root for my Texans, after years and years of cheering through good and bad. When I saw all those Titans standing their proud, with their hands over their hearts, and all the coaching staff doing the same I felt more pride for them than my own team. I couldn't even get excited about the game. Part of me wanted the Titans to win, and I knew then, the Texans have ruined my love of football. They can do as they wish, but I don't feel the same anymore, and can't cheer on a team I don't respect. It's terrible to feel so disappointed in a team I have loved through all these years, even back when we were the Oilers. I know most people could care less, but I have different values than many, and choose to associate and look up to people I respect. People respect who they feel respect for, and for me, that isn't the Texans at the moment.

 

People like you are a drain to American culture. It's why the world percieves us as blind jingiosts that lack self-awareness.

No, bending a knee for the anthem is not disrespecting veterans. To the veterans it is disprespecting, they are snowflakes who are actively seeking something to hate or have an agenda in trying to dismiss the protest's claims.

Do you think 70% of Marines on Camp Lejeune who run indoors when colors start playing inorder to avoid standing at attention for 30 seconds are disrespecting veterans and America?

Stop caring so much about trivial bullshit. Colin Kap unlike me has the patience to deal with idiots thus he went out of his way to discuss with a Navy SEAL how to protest without irking the senseblities of snowflakes and they both came up with the knee bending idea as it was mimicking having the flag go 'half-mast' in honor for the black Americans who have either been murdered or had their lives severely altered by police discrimination. Why would that bother anyone? Why? Why do you care so much?

I care, because the political right is using my service as a weapon in silencing the protesters issues they are trying to highlight.

I actually have a reasonable reason to be irked.

 

Not at all.

But generally, before they kneel, they don't explicitly state its in protest.

 

You have your own values and I have mine. Don't speak for me, or generalize vets who do feel differently about putting their hand on their heart during the anthem. Your ideals of respect are different than mine.

 

Nope. Screw you. 90% of the people b****ing about it especially politicians are weaponzing my service to dismiss the issues these athletes are bringing up. I find that disgusting.

That's far more disgusting than bending a damn knee to show that this country is infallible.

You know these ahtletrs are not doing this because of veterans or the military. You know this. You are just finding a reason. To hate.

If I'm not irked by it, someone who has had his leg almost severed off for this country in a pointless war and has lost many close friends and peers to our pointless wars, you shouldn't be also. Stop looking for something to hate.

Being irked because people are using dead veterans as a crutch to dismiss honest protests is rational.

Your reason to be irked is stupid.

I've physically witness the same exact Marines who run inside when colors are being played because they don't want to stand at attention for the flag for 20 seconds b**** out these athletes. Tell me, are those geniune b**** out or b**** outs stemmed from them already thinking their reasons for protest are bunk?

So honestly ask yourself why are people attacking these athletes? Is it REALLY because they are so irked because of a knee bend? OF COURSE NOT! No they are triggered because they have been brainwashed into believing law enforcement is infallible and that their entire premise that minorites often get the **** end of the stick in this country is totally bullshit.

 

I think you need to understand the players are American also, and standing up for those whose voices are being ignored, is very American and patriotic indeed.