05-24-2018, 12:18 AM
Lol. I saw Goodell's announcement today.
I hope the ultra sensitive and intolerant contingent of NFL fans can finally release the pearls from their clutches, let go of their outrage at seeing some professional athletes kneeling in silent protest of racial injustice and police brutality, and recover from the emotional trauma enough to focus on the game instead of two minutes of pre-game ceremony.
The NFL's new "Policy Statement" made me laugh.
"Players shall stand and show respect for the flag and the anthem" -- repeated 5 times.
So.......will the NFL need to expand the policy to define what exactly constitutes 'showing respect' when fans scream that some standing players' facial expressions aren't deferential enough?
OR, the policy states:
"Personnel who choose not to stand for the anthem may stay in the locker room until after the anthem has been performed." So.........they don't really have to stand and show respect, they can opt out like they could up until a few years ago when the Department of Defense started paying NFL teams for patriotic displays which helped recruitment efforts.
Anyway, the NFL is a private business, not a public one. They can therefore restrict free expression on-the-job if they choose. And, as silly as I found the outrage and claims that the kneeling is 'unpatriotic', I understand the dilemma for Goodell and the owners. They're catering to a majority of their customers, the paying advertisers, and also likely reacting to public pressure from the POTUS. It's all about the profits.
I hope the ultra sensitive and intolerant contingent of NFL fans can finally release the pearls from their clutches, let go of their outrage at seeing some professional athletes kneeling in silent protest of racial injustice and police brutality, and recover from the emotional trauma enough to focus on the game instead of two minutes of pre-game ceremony.
The NFL's new "Policy Statement" made me laugh.
"Players shall stand and show respect for the flag and the anthem" -- repeated 5 times.
So.......will the NFL need to expand the policy to define what exactly constitutes 'showing respect' when fans scream that some standing players' facial expressions aren't deferential enough?
OR, the policy states:
"Personnel who choose not to stand for the anthem may stay in the locker room until after the anthem has been performed." So.........they don't really have to stand and show respect, they can opt out like they could up until a few years ago when the Department of Defense started paying NFL teams for patriotic displays which helped recruitment efforts.
Anyway, the NFL is a private business, not a public one. They can therefore restrict free expression on-the-job if they choose. And, as silly as I found the outrage and claims that the kneeling is 'unpatriotic', I understand the dilemma for Goodell and the owners. They're catering to a majority of their customers, the paying advertisers, and also likely reacting to public pressure from the POTUS. It's all about the profits.