Open letter to the NFL players...read and share

[ET2SN]

Someone has something backwards.

The citizens don't bow to soldiers, its the soldiers who bow to the citizens.

Think of who paid you when you wore a uniform. Sometimes we forget that.
Those pampered NFL players pay a lot in taxes, I think its fair that they get to express their opinion.

Besides, my team is tied at the top of the division.

[CaptainCruise]

Originally Posted by ET2SN

Someone has something backwards.

The citizens don't bow to soldiers, its the soldiers who bow to the citizens.

Think of who paid you when you wore a uniform. Sometimes we forget that.
Those pampered NFL players pay a lot in taxes, I think its fair that they get to express their opinion.

Besides, my team is tied at the top of the division.

Serious.....pay a lot in taxes? And the guy in uniform may potentially pay with his life.

They absolutely have the right to express their opinion, but did they have to pick something this disrespectful?

Maybe being disrespectful is the only way to get attention in the country anymore.

[Buddahaid]

And the "you" could have meant football players. After all it is a second language for Dowly. I'm sure I could be pretty offensive trying to speak Finnish.

[ET2SN]

Originally Posted by CaptainCruise

Serious.....pay a lot in taxes? And the guy in uniform may potentially pay with his life.

They absolutely have the right to express their opinion, but did they have to pick something this disrespectful?

Maybe being disrespectful is the only way to get attention in the country anymore.

I'm just suggesting to look at it another way.

You're stationed just south of the 38th parallel and you've got some time off. All you want to do is kick back, turn on AFRTS and watch the game before you go back on duty.

Do you care about a boycott or do you just want to watch the game?

[Sean C]

I think the players have a right to protest, and I don't think they should go to jail for doing it. Personally, I think that would be a violation of their First Amendment rights. Part of what defines the United States is the ability to express one's opinion, no matter how objectionable, and that applies to everyone.

I also think the team owners and NFL executives have a right to run their business how they see fit in order to keep it profitable. And the fans have a right to express their disapproval of the behavior of the people whom they have paid to entertain them. Americans may be guaranteed the right to free expression and to petition the government, but nowhere in the Constitution is anyone guaranteed the right to keep their job. You can say whatever you want...you just have to realize that you may end up penniless doing so. It's up to each individual to decide how commited they are to their "cause".

Finally, I think the players have made a very poor choice of how and when to protest. The Star Spangled Banner is not the anthem of the police. It's not the anthem of the judicial system, the military or the government. It is the anthem of the American people. The free and the brave people who make up all of those institutions. It represents all Americans, including the players themselves. It represents the very freedom the players are exercising in order to protest and the people who have died to protect that freedom and those who continue to do so. The players can say they do not intend to disrespect the country or our soldiers all they want. But, that's exactly what many Americans feel they are doing...including me. I find it distasteful at best and disgraceful at worst.

...But I'd still die to protect their right to do it.

[Buddahaid]

How many people have had jobs outside the armed forces that required singing the national anthem before work started? I'm nearing retirement and I haven't had one ever.

[Rockstar]

Good point and even then, when we knew the flag was being hoisted or lowered there was no requirement compelling us to go outside to render honors.

[Schroeder]

Originally Posted by Buddahaid

How many people have had jobs outside the armed forces that required singing the national anthem before work started? I'm nearing retirement and I haven't had one ever.

YOU HATE AMERICA!!!!

[August]

Originally Posted by Buddahaid

How many people have had jobs outside the armed forces that required singing the national anthem before work started? I'm nearing retirement and I haven't had one ever.

Singing? Who is being asked to sing the national anthem?

[Oberon]

America:



Fought in WWII, hates America



Got spurs, loves America.

[Buddahaid]

Originally Posted by August

Singing? Who is being asked to sing the national anthem?

Splitting hairs? No one but athletes participating in sporting spectacles are subject to having the national anthem performed before they begin "work" then. Anyway, the upshot for me is I don't really care what they do. Football lost me years ago.