Cleveland police refuse to participate in Browns’ national anthem

[Dodger12]

And Colin Kaepernick is there to play football. Yes he did choose to mix the two by not standing and choosing to not participate, and I do understand why someone would not like that. What I don't understand is how it's viewed differently that the police who are there to do a job as well, and then choose to not participate in the ceremony that happens on opening week of every year, in every stadium. It's the two wrongs make a right argument.

No one forces the police to participate in the ceremony, at least that I'm aware of. They chose to not participate and be insulted. Kap could also choose not to play but he won't. It's not even remotely the same.

 

[Manwiththeplan]

No one forces the police to participate in the ceremony, at least that I'm aware of. They chose to not participate and be insulted. Kap could also choose not to play but he won't. It's not even remotely the same.

So the cops can choose to not participate, but still choose to be cops.

But Kaepernick can choose to not stand for the anthem, but then can NOT choose to still play?

You don't see the hypocrisy in that statement?

 

[PA Cowboy Fan]

Good luck with that.

I'll tell you something. I stopped watching the Network News, I stopped watching ESPN and if this continues I'll stop with the NFL too. If it isn't enjoyable anymore I'll leave it to rot. I did it with baseball and boxing and don't even miss them. Sports is supposed to be an escape from everyday life. Everybody's talking about everything but the game itself.

 

[Dodger12]

So the cops can choose to not participate, but still choose to be cops.

But Kaepernick can choose to not stand for the anthem, but then can NOT choose to still play?

You don't see the hypocrisy in that statement?

It's not hypocritical at all. Kap can choose to play. The Cops chose to not participate in his (and the Brown's) farce. Not even sure why that's an issue with you.

 

[TheCount]

I'll tell you something. I stopped watching the Network News, I stopped watching ESPN and if this continues I'll stop with the NFL too. If it isn't enjoyable anymore I'll leave it to rot. I did it with baseball and boxing and don't even miss them. Sports is supposed to be an escape from everyday life. Everybody's talking about everything but the game itself.

I understand your frustration, but politics and sports have been inextricably linked since the dawn of time. If it's not this, it'll be something else.

 

[Manwiththeplan]

It's not hypocritical at all. Kap can choose to play. The Cops chose to not participate in his (and the Brown's) farce. Not even sure why that's an issue with you.

You're suggesting that standing for the national anthem is a necessary part of Kaepernick's job, but participating in a flag ceremony is not apart of the police's job.

The truth is Kaepernick should be able to choose to not stand and still do his job, just like the police should be able to not participate and still do their job.

The fact that you are saying Kaepernick has to choose between what he thinks is right and his job, while the police can do what they think is right without their job being effected, is the definition of hypocritical. Both parties should be able to do what they think is right without it effecting their job.

 

[TheCount]

It's not hypocritical at all. Kap can choose to play.

lol, is that how the NFL works?

 

[WPBCowboysFan]

The irony of this statement is pretty fantastic.

The cluelessness with which you post is indicative of the ignorance and ungrateful disrespect that is so prevalent in our crybaby entitlement society.

 

[Manwiththeplan]

The cluelessness with which you post is indicative of the ignorance and ungrateful disrespect that is so prevalent in our crybaby entitlement society.

You have the nerve to call someone clueless and ignorant, and talk about a crybaby entitlement society, when your only contribution to this thread are personal insults?

 

[WPBCowboysFan]

You have the nerve to call someone clueless and ignorant, and talk about a crybaby entitlement society, when your only contribution to this thread are personal insults?

Looks like somebody's safe space has been compromised.

 

[Manwiththeplan]

Looks like somebody's safe space has been compromised.

lol, throw out all the clichés you want, it doesn't add any substance to what you are saying, what so ever.

 

[DFWJC]

I find it amusing that at a fundamental level, the officers are saying that they are mad the Browns are letting their players exercise the very rights they claim to stand for.

"How dare you use the rights I claim to stand for!" makes zero sense as a counter argument.

Even the idea of giving up on carrying the flag makes no sense. Are they protesting the American flag now?

Full circle.
True.
Both parties have the right. And neither has to agree with what the other is doing.

The kneeling started with Kap--who was also parading around in Cops as Pigs socks. So that was a direct slam on cops.

 

[zrinkill]

Sound like a bunch of self riotous cry babies.

Perfect description of the Browns players.

 

[jrumann59]

I find it amusing that at a fundamental level, the officers are saying that they are mad the Browns are letting their players exercise the very rights they claim to stand for.

"How dare you use the rights I claim to stand for!" makes zero sense as a counter argument.

Even the idea of giving up on carrying the flag makes no sense. Are they protesting the American flag now?

I do not that is their only way of protest any other way puts peoples lives at danger. Imagine if police said they would no longer patrol, or provide security in the parking lot etc. Everyone has a right to express their displeasure civilly but exercising that right does not prevent you from any consequences associated with that expression of displeasure.

 

[haleyrules]

Perfect description of the Browns players.

Amen.

 

[DFWJC]

I'll tell you something. I stopped watching the Network News, I stopped watching ESPN and if this continues I'll stop with the NFL too. If it isn't enjoyable anymore I'll leave it to rot. I did it with baseball and boxing and don't even miss them. Sports is supposed to be an escape from everyday life. Everybody's talking about everything but the game itself.

Someone on TV the other day described it something like this...

Americans love their sports and watching them is a bit like having a wonderful desert.
It's a favorite form of entertainment that we tune in on to get away from everyday haggles and bs...to have a break from the broccoli of everyday life.
But now, instead of desert, ESPN and others keep trying to force feed sport entertainment fans the broccoli at every turn.

 

[haleyrules]

I do not that is their only way of protest any other way puts peoples lives at danger. Imagine if police said they would no longer patrol, or provide security in the parking lot etc. Everyone has a right to express their displeasure civilly but exercising that right does not prevent you from any consequences associated with that expression of displeasure.

Imagine.if you called the Police and the ACLU showed up!!!.

 

[jrumann59]

Imagine.if you called the Police and the ACLU showed up!!!.

Well if that happened there would be a few less lawyers around...

 

[Kevinicus]

I don't even understand the scenario you've created as some sort of arbitrary test.

The Browns players decide to wave confederate flags on the sideline and add **** symbology to their uniform... is there any more context?

Well it was the Brown's organization in my scenario, and not waving flags, just patches on their jerseys. I am not sure what extra context there would be? The police have the same reaction to that exercise of free speech as they do to players actions during the anthem...would you still view it as ironic or hypocritical?

 

[Manwiththeplan]

Well it was the Brown's organization in my scenario, and not waving flags, just patches on their jerseys. I am not sure what extra context there would be? The police have the same reaction to that exercise of free speech as they do to players actions during the anthem...would you still view it as ironic or hypocritical?

So not standing for the national anthem should draw the same reaction as wearing **** paraphernalia?

I'll say this, if a player wore something indicating they wanted dead cops, I'd be just as against that as **** paraphernalia.