America has "militarized" sports by politicizing our national anthem and the flag, using them at sporting events to rouse pride in our country. The idea that America is representing our values through our anthem and our flag is laudable. The fact no one can protest the fact our American values are being demeaned by Tweety and bad cops is wrong and sad. America is more worried about kneeling for example, than abuse and molestation of women.
Why do Americans play the national anthem at sports events? It is not a sports inspiration.
Do we play the national anthem at games we play in preparation to define winners and losers? Is the national anthem part of dividing America into winners and losers? The anthem is being used to get people to stand for winners, and to ensure losers obey the winners, and pay fealty to the winners.
We used to practice good sportsmanship at games, but not much any more. It is really surprising when we see good sportsmanship in a run, or in any team sport. That is not the modern American way. Fans get involved with destroying sportsmanship too, like the "Bronx Cheer."
Patriotism, nationalism, racism, #BLACKLIVESMATTER, compassion, messages, division, culture war, tribalism, baseball, NFL, NBA . . . conversation is needed, not race-baiting, dog-whistling, and whining. Americans of all ilk, military included, are divided on whether the kneeling is OK, and it seems neither side wants to hear out the other side.
America is divided in 2018 like it has not been divided in a long time. Tribalism, a culture war, and class identity is taking over the daily discourse between people, the national narrative, in a way that seems to make a constructive discussion impossible.
The National anthem is becoming a divider, music for nationalism and, I regret, White Power. That was not why the anthem was written. ANY discussion of the NFL player protest kneeling must start with a recognition of racism in America, and White Privilege.
If the commentator and his/her opinion does not start with the recognition of racism in America, it is a NON-STARTER BECAUSE THEY BEGIN THEIR OPINION IN a LIE, IN IGNORANCE, AND PREJUDICE.
"Opinion: America still divided by racism into two separate, unequal societies"
By Joseph E. Stiglitz Published: Mar 12, 2018
" . . . we now recognize that the U.S. is paying a high price for inequality, and an especially high price for its racial inequality. A society marked by such divisions will not be a beacon to the world, and its economy will not flourish. The real strength of the U.S. is not its military power but its soft power, which has been badly eroded not just by Trump, but also by persistent racial discrimination. Everyone will lose if it is not addressed."
Stiglitz gets it! Stiglitz gets it! Stiglitz gets it! Stiglitz gets it!
#BLACKLIVESMATTER is something black people care about and many white people take offense at, even confuse when they say #ALLLIVESMATTER, which is also true, but misses the message, INTENTIONALLY. White people who come back with #ALLLIVESMATTER do not care what the message is. These angry white people are actually seeking an in-your-face-moment, a confrontation rather than a discussion.
Patriotism is great, and good for a nation, but the people of the country are the nation. Black people are a lot of those people. and the people hired to "serve and protect" are playing God with black people's lives.
"The National Anthem Divide"
Terry Paulson Posted: Sep 26, 2017
https://townhall.com/columnists/terrypaulson/2017/09/26/the-national-anthem-divide-n2386398
"I cry for my country as I watch divisive politics intrude into every facet of our lives. From social media to sports, the focus is on what divides us, not on what unites us. As Americans, we have so much to be proud of.
Certainly, some racists still live in our midst, but America is not a racist country. From President Trump and President Obama to the overwhelming majority of citizens from both parties, racism is strongly [NOT BY TRUMP!] condemned."
[Let me insert some realistic info about racism in America here for Terry to check later.]
"I’m a black doctor. My neighbors called the cops on me for listening to Biggie."
By Mary Branch May 28, 2018
"He said: “Your neighbors called the police for a disturbance.”
It was 3 p.m. on a Saturday last fall."
More on playing music IN YOUR HOME while being black.
"Then came the knocks.
On my doorstep was a man with a gun; it was a police officer. He spoke abruptly and was frightening.
“Is someone else in here?” he said. His hand was near his hip, close to the gun in its holster.
“No, I’m alone,” I blurted, startled.
“I need to see your identification.”
“Why? I live here.” I felt bullied in my own apartment.
“I have to report this incident, and I need your identification.”"
Will this report indicate the asshole who called the cops is a racist?!
"After that incident, I could not sleep for a few nights, because of how hurt I felt. Having a policeman approach and confront me left me feeling embarrassed, humiliated and powerless. I felt like an unwanted outsider in a community of which I thought I was a member."
We cast out people of color easily, and cops become part of the problem when they wrie "reports" that do not convey the real issue - a racist neighbor. MAYBE BLACKS SHOULD CALL COPS ON WHITE PEOPLE FOR WALKING< SITTING< OR PLAYING MUSIC SO COPS CAN "REPORT THE INCIDENT."
Try this Terry Paulson . . .
"A History of Race and Racism in America, in 24 Chapters"
By Ibram X. Kendi Feb. 22, 2017
White people are calling the cops on black while sitting, black while barbequing, and black while sleeping! One white person called the cops on being black! Whites deny racism because they are white!
"Persuasive proof that America is full of racist and selfish people"
What millions of Google searches reveal about our national psyche.
By Sean Illing Updated Apr 12, 2018
"“Google is a digital truth serum,” Seth Stephens-Davidowitz, author of Everybody Lies, told me in a recent interview. “People tell Google things that they don't tell to possibly anybody else, things they might not tell to family members, friends, anonymous surveys, or doctors.”"
OK, what did the author find?
"
Stephens-Davidowitz saw in the Google Trends data a racially polarized electorate, and one primed to respond to the ethno-nationalist rhetoric of Trump.
There were earlier signs, too. On Obama’s 2008 election night, Stephens-Davidowitz found that “one in every hundred Google searches that included the word ‘Obama’ also included ‘KKK’” or the n-word. Searches for racist websites like Stormfront also spiked.
“There was a darkness and hatred that was hidden from traditional sources,” Stephens-Davidowitz says. “Those searches are hard to reconcile with a society in which racism is a small factor.”"
I invite Terry into the world of facts, rather than his whites-only opinion of racism in America by doing more research on the topic of racism.
I first asked myself, what planet is Terry from. Then I just accepted he was simply being so WHITE, likely a White Privilege denier, so we have to take his ideas with a grain of salt, and FACTS!
Terry, YOU ARE WRONG! You're wrong not because you are white, but rather because you do not kow what you are talking about when you use the word racism.
AMERICA IS RACIST! PRESIDENT TRUMP IS A RACIST, A WHITE NATIONALIST, AND WAS CLEARLY RACIST WHEN ELECTED! The fact such an out-in-the-open racist was elected proves America is RACIST!
Terry, when white people say they do not like NFL players to kneel, they refuse to hear the message for the sake of their egos and tribalism. You say you honor protest, but push back on the kneeling protest has to deal with the message, NOT THE ACT OF KNEELING!
The give away for racism is that most white people, or people of color who object, push back on the act of kneeling. Some push back saying #ALLLIVESMATTER, and that is close to understanding the kneeling message.
"As an American, I support the right to demonstrate for even unpopular causes. Polls indicate that up to 80% of Americans support the right to protest but not the use of the National Anthem [What is the better way to get white America to pay attention to the problem of too many blacks killed by cops PROPORTIONATELY, and notwithstanding blacks criminals killing blacks which is irrelevant to officials hired to honor the law and not be judge and jury in SUSPECED crimes?] as the forum for that protest. The approximately 200 NFL players who took a knee during the National Anthem Sunday have the right to do that at every game. But they forget that there is an equal right for fans to voice their disapproval of their actions. "
Whites and anyone who wishes to "protest" against the kneeling needs to show me they understand White Privilege first, before they speak, AND need to respectfully counter-protest. The counter-protest is not relevant or equivalent if it is disrespectful to the NFL player's right to protest, even if while working. Those who say you should not protest at work have a fair point, by the way.
Terry offers an alternative to kneeling during the national anthem that is, basically, the old way that did not work in the first place!
"Time will tell what these actions mean to the future of the NFL and to the pocketbooks of those involved. My suggestion to professional players is to exercise their right to share their views on other platforms, to endorse and vote for candidates they support, and to demonstrate in support of their views. But I suggest they once again unite to stand for the National Anthem to honor the country that ensures those very rights for us all."
Been there, done that, and it failed, Terry. Terry, gun laws will change before white people get the message UNLESS black people do something to shake up the white people! n White people in America think all is well, that it is OK to demand black NFL players stand for THEIR National Anthem. White people in America think, wrongly, LIKE YOU SEEM TO THINK, that America is not a racist country. THAT IDEA IS WHY AMERICA NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND WE ARE SEEING COPS KILLS BLACKS BECAUSE THEY FEAR B:ACL SKIN! THAT IS RACISM IN AMERICA.
"Around The World, Flags and Anthems Can Divide Nations"
VOA News 26 Sep 2017
https://www.voanews.com/a/around-the-world-flags-and-anthems-can-divide-nations/4045264.html
