For the Americans here-A poll for something I'm working on

Why should we give our opinion? Your article will be extremely biased in the end.

My opinion of Kaepernick was of disgust. His protesting during the national anthem was extremely inappropriate. It accomplished nothing and look where he is this year.

With the current situation in the NFL I feel the same way. I think these players forgot who pays the bills. They also forgot who their fan base is, a bunch of patriotic rednecks. I am one of them and will not watch football until this stops. Look at the Steelers coming out with apologies this week and asking fans to return.

If you want to protest social injustices go stand in front of a police station. Having a bunch of entertainers doing it is stupid. Plus the data is not there to support these accusations. Black on black violence is real, white on black is less than 1%.

Doing it during the national anthem is also beyond stupid. I strongly believe you should never disrespect the flag of any country. I also believe it should be held to the highest regard. It is the symbol of our country and it represents our history as one of the greatest countries.

I liked Trumps reaction and I am proud to have him as our president. Like it or not he is the president of the USA. He should be respected for the position he holds. I wish he had a government that would be cooperative and actually accomplished what we voted him in to do. I like that he is a nationalist, America first. Definitely better than the last administration.

The star spangled banner has evolved throughout the past 200 years. The meaning today is far different than it was when it was written. It means a lot to me and when I hear it I am proud to be an American.

Ok, Mike you win. I saw your post late tonight and I thought I´d weigh in.

Ahhh... Ferguson, Charlottesville, St Anthony, Minnesota. That sounds very familiar about racial atrocities agains blacks. I´m sure the motive of Colin Kaepernick...

I´m also sure Kaepernick was exercising his right as a true American by political protest as it´s one of the tenets of our founding documents. Only that now, my favorite sport and my beloved flag is politicized and I´m pissed! He could have chosen a different occasion than to enrage fans that indirectly pays their multi-million salaries. They think their position and protest could cure this grave and worst illness of humanity? He appears as really stupid and I will expand that further later.

Kneeling is not really disrespectful during the playing of the national anthem. It´s not the traditional way, but it also projects submission and reverence as has been practiced in human history. Now, the other NFL members who sat and also the others who raised their arms with closed fists in protest are disrespectful and ingrate multi-millionaires! They´re enjoying all these status and privileges because because they´re under the protection of that great flag and the national anthem that praises it. I´m sure these guys never served this great country in any of the services and that is why all these contempts. What a bunch of free-loaders! I fought for this country, served overseas under this flag, retired and now receiving a military pension promised for as long as I live and our country never failed to deliver...

Anyone can easily see that these NFL guys has a "fraternity" as shown as followers in their group increased, the movement taking a life of it´s own. I do admit that as a fraternity member when I was in college, I had to show loyalty to the cause at any cost and it paid off. We all graduated a long time ago and until now we still do have reunions to keep track of each other and how one progressed.

President Trump is right. Those who showed disrespect should be fired. There shouldn´t be any free-loaders. These guys are rich and privileged because of that flag. He couldn´t personally fire them but  the owners can.

Now, if you look around the world´s news, you see hatred among the races - maiming or killing each other; America to the Middle East; to Europe and Asia and even Oceania. There´s no end in  sight. We are not really a sociable society! We hate each other very much and we have lost the value of human life. We only try to show respect to the one who is more powerful than us because of fear of the loss of our own lives. That is the essence of pure animal survival and we´ve been successful at it for centuries. Kaepernick wants to solve all the components of that equation?

Scientists conclude that we all migrated from Africa - the black man being our ancestors,
and we evolved according to our geographic settlements. And we discrimate blacks? Just
like spitting on our great, great grandfathers!

In this regard, Brazil has done better with regards to discrimination. Here you can go direct to jail without possibility of bail if found guilty. The US also should enact similar laws if not more rigorous. Police officers who abuse power and kill citizens when found driving while black, should have double in weight of punishments when found guilty or any crime committed by them involving racial conflicts. Parents should educate their children early about dignity and respect to diversity and classes early in school about the power of diversity, of difference in culture and upbringings and should be lectured as beautiful, rich and make our society much stronger in the process. Those who can´t tolerate should get out of this immigrant country.

I like simple solutions and if the above doesn´t solve the problem about races, there is only one that can teach respect, dignity and value to human life. First there should be a great loss of life, resources and ability to survive... I´m talking about a third world war.

This would be the ultimate expression of venting anger and hatred to each other. Now that Kim Jung Un, the Ayatollah of Iran and Assad of Syria seems to be all gravitating to this event, we should take them up to it; Russia and China would join North Korea; Syria and Iran following Russia; NATO would join the US and bingo! We have the solution in place. US whites would go fight in Africa, blacks would fight in Russia and other races to China and North Korea. Conventional warfare would be weak because there would be lots of survivors. Nuclear is better. Perhaps a few would survive. Then we will appreciate each other very much no matter what race! Maybe I should increase my investment in beans and canned goods and buy a bunker and resupply my ammos. Once the war starts I would sell my shares in Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, General Dynamics and all the other defense stocks to buy more supplies!

Hey, you´ll never know, I might survive. I´m not greedy so you can assign to me New
Zealand as my estate.

There you go, my very dear friend Mike! You wanted my opinion and I was not really up to it. It is one of the dreaded subjects that I want to avoid! So you owe me a beer for ruining my mood tonight!

robal

Robal I agree 100% with your response. Perhaps my response could of been better and more in depth. This whole situation makes me angry as hell.

CraigF wrote:

Why should we give our opinion? Your article will be extremely biased in the end.

I will readily admit that as a vet and the grandson and great-nephew of several WWII I support their right to Free Speech and peaceful assembly, something I willingly bled and sweat to protect.

However, I want the opinions of the American members here so I can add them to other tallies and opinions. As I mentioned, I don't just want your upvote or downvote on the protests, I want to know WHY you feel that way.

So, yes. My article will be biased both ways, maybe three:
1: No. I don't support them.
2: Yes, I do support them.
3: I really don't care either way. What they're protesting doesn't affect me.

The whole gist of this article is to try and capture a bit of the pulse, not spin the subject in one way or another.

Craig, can you please add to your comment as to exactly why you think it's wrong as well as exactly what you think the players are protesting? I have the feeling you've allowed yourself to narrow down the reason they're protesting with what conservative news is issuing.

But that's all I'm saying on that subject. I need your why so I can tell my readers.

Oh, and may I use your names and last initial when I write it?

Thank you Robal. That was good. You're on. I'm visiting my parents for 2 months starting tomorrow (my wife's visa was denied again). I'll buy here in Bertioga when I get back.

I'm pissed that Kaepernick and others have to protest what they're protesting.

Thank you both.

No, I do not support them in the current way they are using the national anthem to protest. Yes I know exactly what they are protesting against. The atrocities against blacks and social injustices. I read back through what I wrote and it seemed pretty clear to me in simple terms that is what I said. I do not believe the data is there to support these claims, but they can protest all they want in another venue.

As a proud veteran I believe what they are doing is only hurting these entertainers financially and alienating half of their fan base. I don't necessarily believe racism is a problem and believe the small percentages of atrocities against blacks was a mistake or criminal against the individual committing it. I am sad to see things like this happen and the police should have better means to deescalate situations. Perhaps better training is required and effective alternate ways of taking down a subject. 

I am far more worried about the acts of violence that is black on black and makes up a far larger percentage then what is be protested against. When you see the various reports on this matter its a staggering portion of the violence that is committed in the US. 

Yes you can use my full name once I proof read your article! I am wondering how you will spin this and if you are actually going to co-op a paper.

Thanks Craig. I appreciate it. Especially your well-thought out "why" for your position.

My editor is still deciding if she wants to write the piece or leave it for me to do. The site is RacingJunk.com.

If you private message me your email address, I'll send you the article when I finish it if she gives it to me.