JK37 wrote:I believe that protesting peacefully is its own form of honor to the country. I don't have a problem with the players doing it. I wouldn't personally. I would find another way to protest. But if pushed to it, maybe I would reconsider so as to boost the dialogue. I can't say.
YR, that's a REALLY GOOD point! A lot of it comes down to perspective. And as 20 said, I too have never personally experienced racism. So I can't say I understand the position of these protestors. I may never FULLY understand it. But I can come closer by listening. Listening to understand rather than just listening to respond. If these actions can spur a dialogue, let's go!
Kaep started this and didn't seem to have a real good clue what the next step was. The protest got the attention. Maybe it will invigorate dialogue. So, what's next?
Thanks, I wasn't a fan of Kap doing it, but it was what it was. And, over the last several months where we've been reminded of what violent protest looks like, I've softened my view on it and welcome it compared to some of the other nonsense. As a society, we want to encourage nonviolent protests, but then get upset when those nonviolent protests interrupt something a lot of society considered sacred.
We can't eat our cake and have it too.
I think you're 100% right that I hope this discussion should encourage dialogue. When someone kneels we should ask, "Why are you kneeling? What vision do you have of the future where you would stand again? How can you feel the same about this country that I feel?"
And maybe the answers to their questions leave us at a place where we say, "Well, that's not going to happen" but at least we have some understanding.
I think the biggest problem with the kneeling is that it's clear that they are not sending the message they have desired to send. I've seen so many people believe that players who kneel must hate America or the military, etc. I'm guessing they don't (for the record I'm speculating as I don't personally know anyone who knelt). Of course this is related to the earlier point of the act of standing meaning different things to different people. When you interrupt that, not everyone understands why and "what we have here is a failure to communicate."
I just pray that the dialogue happens and this doesn't become about kneeling/not kneeling.