How things have changed in the N.F.L (Page 4): “Those who take a knee are engaged in peaceful protest” Many of us would be fired immediately if we conducted any kind of protest at...

DMGill Loc: Colorado

“Those who take a knee are engaged in peaceful protest”

Many of us would be fired immediately if we conducted any kind of protest at work. Do they have the right? Absolutely. Does their employer have right to terminate them for protesting while on the job? Absolutely. Do I and others have the right to no longer watch a game because we find the disrespectful behavior disgusting? Yes we do.

We have seen the impact of violent ‘protest’ when people have burnt down their own neighborhoods and ransacked and looted the stores and businesses that served them. Yes, and it is sad to see people engage in criminal activity to their own loss.

National Park

Does everyone agree that we are fortunate to live under a Constitution that generally allows peaceful protest without fear of criminal prosecution?

thephotoman Loc: Rochester, NY

Jeff, unfortunately I have to agree with what you say. The only forum we have is editorials or forums like these. These famous sports players and celebrities have access to the media and at least a national stage. Many people of money put their money, where their mouth is. I know many football players work in their communities. I wonder if Kapernickie does, or where he has donated money. The forum issue is my only slight difference of opinion.

thephotoman Loc: Rochester, NY

gsmith051 wrote:

Tom Brady flies to each game in his $50 million plane while his team uses a charter service. For that kind of money he is getting something is wrong with the sport. Just my opinion. /George

If the players did not get the money, it would just go into the owners pocket. The players salary is fully funded by tv and radio broadcasting rights. If everyone stopped watching and listening to the games, contracts would be renegotiated. Since the broacoasters would want to renegotiate their contracts to a lower fee. I suspect all it really would take is just those if us who dislike this poor form of disrespect, to turn off the games. I turned off the games. I will confess, I watched the SB. I would have turned it off if even 1 player knelt or refused to stand.

CatMarley Loc: North Carolina

National Park wrote:

With all due respect to your opinion, I have black... (show quote)

Blacks are being sold this cult of victimhood because it tends to keep them self segregated and politically dependent. Women are being sold it too. Some of us are not buying. Unfortunately many are, and this "right" to protest everything is part of the selling. Protest is an exercise of Liberty, but lawful exercise of Liberty, as Jefferson so aptly put it, is: "But rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others."

Peaceful or not, one's rights cease where they deprive others of their rights. There is no right that exists unobstructed in a society, and no rights exist that allow the deprivation of another person's equal rights. Unless everyone has rights, and that includes the right to not be unlawfully deprived of one's own rights, then no-one has rights. This is a crucial element of the Constitution that eludes many of our so called "peaceful" protesters.

BamaTexan Loc: Deep in the heart of Texas

thephotoman wrote:

If the players did not get the money, it would jus... (show quote)

The “kneelers” have shown me what they think of our nation, our national anthem and our flag. The NFL’s despicable response to these misguided fools is pathetic so I will never watch another NFL game.

CatMarley Loc: North Carolina

National Park wrote:

Does everyone agree that we are fortunate to live under a Constitution that generally allows peaceful protest without fear of criminal prosecution?

I disagree that the Constitution guarantees unlimited rights to "protest". It guarantees freedom of expression so long as the rights of others are not deprived. In many cases protest causes infringement of the rights of others, and is, by that measure unlawful, and should be curtailed. Unless all rights are respected, no-one has rights.

DMGill Loc: Colorado

CatMarley wrote:

I disagree that the Constitution guarantees unlimited rights to "protest". It guarantees freedom of expression so long as the rights of others are not deprived. In many cases protest causes infringement of the rights of others, and is, by that measure unlawful, and should be curtailed. Unless all rights are respected, no-one has rights.

The Constitution also does not guarantee freedom from responsibility for what one does or says. We cannot have personal freedom without personal responsibility.

CatMarley Loc: North Carolina

DMGill wrote:

The Constitution also does not guarantee freedom from responsibility for what one does or says. We cannot have personal freedom without personal responsibility.

AMEN!

National Park

DMGill wrote:

The Constitution also does not guarantee freedom from responsibility for what one does or says. We cannot have personal freedom without personal responsibility.

Obviously the right of free speech isn’t unlimited. You can’t yell fire in a crowded movie theater, or conspire to kill someone. But what right of yours is violated by a person who kneels during the national anthem?

DMGill Loc: Colorado

None. But I still have the right to believe their action is resrespectful and repugnant. I have the right to find their behavior reprehensible and to say so.

National Park

DMGill wrote:

None. But I still have the right to believe their action is resrespectful and repugnant. I have the right to find their behavior reprehensible and to say so.

Who says you don’t have the right to say their behavior is repugnant? Of course you have that right.

CatMarley Loc: North Carolina

DMGill wrote:

None. But I still have the right to believe their action is resrespectful and repugnant. I have the right to find their behavior reprehensible and to say so.

And, if I were an owner, to put a stop to behavior not in the job description. And as a spectator, to not attend a political display when I have paid for entertainment. Bait and switch is a violation of my rights.

CatMarley Loc: North Carolina

National Park wrote:

Obviously the right of free speech isn’t unlimited. You can’t yell fire in a crowded movie theater, or conspire to kill someone. But what right of yours is violated by a person who kneels during the national anthem?

That person also cannot deprive me of access to my property, use of public roads, choice of use of my property, including my money, i.e. getting what I pay for. Most protests are designed to disrupt people's lives and property or use of it. The anthem protesters are insulting something I revere, and in effect taking away some of what I paid money for, but easily remedied by thereafter not attending. There is some loss of equity, none the less. In short, Protesters have the right to protest so long as they also allow me to ignore them and not be inhibited or injured in any way by them. Otherwise they are unlawfully infringing on my rights.

gray_ghost2 Loc: Antelope, (Sac) Ca.

For me, being a Vet "Free Speech" is not the problem. It's the venue they chose to get their message out.