5 ms·

>he got blowback for dragging it into the game Why are we playing the national anthem before games in the first place? The NFL dragged politics into football

by tw04 7y ago

>he got blowback for dragging it into the game Why are we playing the national anthem before games in the first place? The NFL dragged politics into football long before Colin was in the league. He just used the only platform he had to peacefully protest.

chrisco255 7y ago
Why not play the national anthem? The whole song is about the war of 1812 with Great Britain, and it's a ceremony of unison just before a competitive game. It's a reminder that we're on the same team even though we're rooting for different teams. It's also laughable to say that a very rich NFL star's only platform is the national anthem. Especially in 2019, when even unheard of people go viral via Twitter and YouTube.
- tw04 7y ago
  He literally did go on YouTube. And you just proved my point - he used the platform he had available to reach the broadest audience. Which absolutely wasn't YouTube. And why not play the anthem? Because this constant barrage of "support the military or else" is toxic to democracy and is yet another page out of the playbook to stop the public from ever being against another Vietnam. It has absolutely nothing to do with "even though we're on different teams we're all on the same team". The visceral reaction to his protest proves that out.
  - chrisco255 7y ago
    The national anthem isn't about supporting the military or else. It's about supporting your country. And it is about remembering that sports is just entertainment. It's all for nothing without a unified country. Every other country on the planet plays their national anthem before sports events. It's not unique to the U.S. and it's not toxic. It's okay to be proud of your country. Even when it's not perfect.
    - MegaButts 7y ago
      > It's okay to be proud of your country. Even when it's not perfect. I think the problem is Americans are taught to be proud of America just because it's America (or more specifically because it's the land of the free...although few people can define what "free" is other than being in America). It's jingoism and, based on my own observations, removes critical thought from the process of supporting your country. Just because other countries do it doesn't mean it's right (or wrong). I'm pretty cynical, but it seems pretty easy to draw the connection between playing patriotic songs at sporting events (and grade school, before students are even able to comprehend the words they are saying) and how it instills a sense of zealotry in fans.
      - microcolonel 7y ago
        > or more specifically because it's the land of the free...although few people can define what "free" is other than being in America Like the freedom in the fact that the U.S. government, unlike all other governments I'm aware of, is prevented by superiour law from considering a law that would prosecute you for this criticism you are writing. Lots of other places have "free expression... until it's inconvenient" or "free expression, while the establishment appreciates it", the U.S. has free expression especially when the establishment dislikes it. > I'm pretty cynical, but it seems pretty easy to draw the connection between playing patriotic songs at sporting events (and grade school, before students are even able to comprehend the words they are saying) and how it instills a sense of zealotry in fans. The fans of sporting events are zealous everywhere, regardless of national anthems. Participation in the anthem seems low here in southern Ontario, and yet the fans will gladly riot, burn vehicles, etc.
    - mstade 7y ago
      > Every other country on the planet plays their national anthem before sports events. I don't think this is true. For national games, sure, the anthems of both countries are usually played; but for league games in Europe I don't think this is the typical case. At least I can't remember a single european league game I've seen, regardless of sport, where they play the national anthem. The only time I've seen this happen in Europe is when the NHL does overseas games at the start of the season, when they'll both the US anthem and the anthem of whatever country they're playing in.
- alex_young 7y ago
  Well, there is that little racism problem with the lyrics right? https://www.quora.com/Why-is-the-third-stanza-of-the-Star-Spangled-Banner-excluded-from-being-sung-at-public-events-Is-the-American-national-anthem-racist-in-tone-and-lyrics https://www.quora.com/Why-is-the-third-stanza-of-the-Star-Sp...
  - microcolonel 7y ago
    With one stanza, which is generally not included anymore because of the controversy. If you read the top answer on that Quora, you'll also note it's more complicated than that.
wmil 7y ago
Team sports are rituals to mimic our instinct for tribal war. Our boys are defending us against those bastards in the other city. Or going over to the other city and teaching them not to mess with us in the future. The NFL amps up the imagery with militaristic starting lines and ultra patriotic imagery. Fans think of the players as local heroes defending the city. Kaepernick's protests shattered that illusion and revealed the contempt many players have for the fans and cities. That's why there was so much blow back.

by tw04 7y ago

chrisco255 7y ago

Why not play the national anthem? The whole song is about the war of 1812 with Great Britain, and it's a ceremony of unison just before a competitive game. It's a reminder that we're on the same team even though we're rooting for different teams. It's also laughable to say that a very rich NFL star's only platform is the national anthem. Especially in 2019, when even unheard of people go viral via Twitter and YouTube.

tw04 7y ago
He literally did go on YouTube. And you just proved my point - he used the platform he had available to reach the broadest audience. Which absolutely wasn't YouTube. And why not play the anthem? Because this constant barrage of "support the military or else" is toxic to democracy and is yet another page out of the playbook to stop the public from ever being against another Vietnam. It has absolutely nothing to do with "even though we're on different teams we're all on the same team". The visceral reaction to his protest proves that out.
- chrisco255 7y ago
  The national anthem isn't about supporting the military or else. It's about supporting your country. And it is about remembering that sports is just entertainment. It's all for nothing without a unified country. Every other country on the planet plays their national anthem before sports events. It's not unique to the U.S. and it's not toxic. It's okay to be proud of your country. Even when it's not perfect.
  - MegaButts 7y ago
    > It's okay to be proud of your country. Even when it's not perfect. I think the problem is Americans are taught to be proud of America just because it's America (or more specifically because it's the land of the free...although few people can define what "free" is other than being in America). It's jingoism and, based on my own observations, removes critical thought from the process of supporting your country. Just because other countries do it doesn't mean it's right (or wrong). I'm pretty cynical, but it seems pretty easy to draw the connection between playing patriotic songs at sporting events (and grade school, before students are even able to comprehend the words they are saying) and how it instills a sense of zealotry in fans.
    - microcolonel 7y ago
      > or more specifically because it's the land of the free...although few people can define what "free" is other than being in America Like the freedom in the fact that the U.S. government, unlike all other governments I'm aware of, is prevented by superiour law from considering a law that would prosecute you for this criticism you are writing. Lots of other places have "free expression... until it's inconvenient" or "free expression, while the establishment appreciates it", the U.S. has free expression especially when the establishment dislikes it. > I'm pretty cynical, but it seems pretty easy to draw the connection between playing patriotic songs at sporting events (and grade school, before students are even able to comprehend the words they are saying) and how it instills a sense of zealotry in fans. The fans of sporting events are zealous everywhere, regardless of national anthems. Participation in the anthem seems low here in southern Ontario, and yet the fans will gladly riot, burn vehicles, etc.
  - mstade 7y ago
    > Every other country on the planet plays their national anthem before sports events. I don't think this is true. For national games, sure, the anthems of both countries are usually played; but for league games in Europe I don't think this is the typical case. At least I can't remember a single european league game I've seen, regardless of sport, where they play the national anthem. The only time I've seen this happen in Europe is when the NHL does overseas games at the start of the season, when they'll both the US anthem and the anthem of whatever country they're playing in.
alex_young 7y ago
Well, there is that little racism problem with the lyrics right? https://www.quora.com/Why-is-the-third-stanza-of-the-Star-Spangled-Banner-excluded-from-being-sung-at-public-events-Is-the-American-national-anthem-racist-in-tone-and-lyrics https://www.quora.com/Why-is-the-third-stanza-of-the-Star-Sp...
- microcolonel 7y ago
  With one stanza, which is generally not included anymore because of the controversy. If you read the top answer on that Quora, you'll also note it's more complicated than that.

wmil 7y ago

Team sports are rituals to mimic our instinct for tribal war. Our boys are defending us against those bastards in the other city. Or going over to the other city and teaching them not to mess with us in the future. The NFL amps up the imagery with militaristic starting lines and ultra patriotic imagery. Fans think of the players as local heroes defending the city. Kaepernick's protests shattered that illusion and revealed the contempt many players have for the fans and cities. That's why there was so much blow back.