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Megan Rapinoe kneels during national anthem before NWSL match

 

Photo by Jennifer Buchanan/USA TODAY Sports
Photo by Jennifer Buchanan/USA TODAY Sports

Following an example set by the San Francisco 49ers’ Colin Kaepernick, Megan Rapinoe made her opinions known by protesting during the national anthem.

The U.S. Women’s National Team star took a knee during the anthem during Sunday’s clash between the Seattle Reign and Chicago Red Stars. Rapinoe’s actions come following Kaepernick’s refusal to stand during the song as a protest of racial injustice and oppression. Several other players have since joined the quarterback in protesting the anthem, and the movement has made its way to soccer via Rapinoe.

https://twitter.com/gbpackfan32/status/772615697499250692

“I am disgusted with the way he has been treated and the fans and hatred he has received in all of this,” Rapinoe told espnW. “It is overtly racist. ‘Stay in your place, black man.’ Just didn’t feel right to me. We need a more substantive conversation around race relations and the way people of color are treated.

“We are not saying we are not one the greatest countries in world. Just need to accept that [it is] not perfect, things are broken. And quite honestly, being gay, I have stood with my hand over my heart during the national anthem and felt like I haven’t had my liberties protected, so I can absolutely sympathize with that feeling.”

The Reign midfielder says she will continue to kneel during the anthem prior to matches going forward.

Comments

  1. Well they didn’t let her do it again (not in Washington, anyway). They thought it better to deprive all the players of their own rights of expression. Because that makes sense.

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  2. Let her kneel, She is doing it to the best country in the world. What’s disrespectful is to suggest that the US is suppressing minorities.

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    • Based off the image, the wind in Bridgeview would be louder than any “fans” (all 6 of them) could make. Most likely it’s just friends and family that are attending the game anyway, so, we know no booing would take place.

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  3. Im black and this stuff is extra annoying. The chances you as a law abiding citizen get shot from a cop is non existent. Everybody wants to be a SJW nowadays

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    • Really Shawn??? I have never been involved in criminal activity aside from underage drinking. I have never even done drugs (mainly because I was a serious soccer and track athlete), but I have had 2 cops pull 2 guns on me during the middle of school day in my parents backyard because I looked suspicious hanging in my parents upper middle neighborhood. All I was doing was fixing a loose window from the outside that wouldn’t close and they thought I was trying to rob my place. While it’s rare, it happens. I had a friend (in a different neighborhood) get billyclubbed, repeatedly in midsection by a cop who didn’t think he was dispersing fast enough when all he was doing was watching a party that had gotten out of hand and shut down. I cannot imagine what happens in poor neighborhoods ( to both poor whites, blacks, and Latinos – amongst other people)

      Sometimes people escalate it, sometimes they don’t, sometimes they frankly shouldn’t have been stopped and they assert their right to unreasonable search and seizure — not making stuff up, I am actually a licensed attorney. EVEN if they are doing something, you have Constitution rights – especially due process. You have a few examples of people getting shot for not doing anything illegal. How about the kid that got shot for playin gin the park, how about the guy that got shot after trying to seek help when he was in a car accident?

      Most cops are fine, some have power trips and a few are downright pricks and dangerous. The problem is when they circle the wagon instead of reprimanding them.

      “Im black and this stuff is extra annoying. The chances you as a law abiding citizen get shot from a cop is non existent. Everybody wants to be a SJW nowadays” — No Shawn, you are ignorant.

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      • I have had 2 cops pull 2 guns on me during the middle of school day in my parents backyard because I looked suspicious hanging in my parents upper middle neighborhood. All I was doing was fixing a loose window from the outside that wouldn’t close and they thought I was trying to rob my place.

        That sounds and would appear as if you’re breaking in based on all the variables you described. Were you shot? No? Then they did their job of detouring crime. You should be appreciative that an officer would take the initiative to ensure your parents home was safe.

        How about the kid that got shot for playin gin the park

        You mean the “kid” that was in winter clothes, a winter hat and was roughly 5’7-5’10, described by callers fearing for their life as being a “man” or “male” with a gun pointing it at people walking by and driving by? The same kid that was video taped by a neighbor because his behavior was so out of the ordinary they thought to video tape it?

        Oh, yes, that “kid”. The one with the replica gun that had been spray painted and video confirmed he was pointing it at people walking by, driving by.The same “kid” that approached the police car upon arrival and drew the same replica gun?

        Yea, the reality is drastically different than the narrative when saying all of the facts and not just a headline. It’s important to point out true injustice as citizens but far too many grasp for stories like Michael Brown instead of ones like Eric Garner.

      • “You mean the “kid” that was in winter clothes, a winter hat and was roughly 5’7-5’10, described by callers fearing for their life as being a “man” or “male” with a gun pointing it at people walking by and driving by? The same kid that was video taped by a neighbor because his behavior was so out of the ordinary they thought to video tape it?

        Oh, yes, that “kid”. The one with the replica gun that had been spray painted and video confirmed he was pointing it at people walking by, driving by.The same “kid” that approached the police car upon arrival and drew the same replica gun?”

        – Tamir Rice was 5’7″ according to the autopsy (the results are public) and 12 years old — I was 5’7″ at 12.
        – He was shot 2 seconds after the police pulled up, just after he turned around while the officer was still in the car.
        – Tamir Rice NEVER painted the gun. It was not even his pellet gun. Tamir traded a smartphone for the gun the day of the shooting from his best friend. The friend’s father bought the pellet gun at an area Walmart. The boy removed the orange safety tip when he disassembled it to fix a malfunction; he was unable to replace the tip when he put it back together.
        – The pellet (“airsoft pellet gun”) looks like a real gun except for the orange tip and is sold in Walmart stores and WAS NEVER bought by Tamir’s parents.
        – A Cleveland man who saw Tamir Rice holding the pellet gun at a recreation center told investigators that he called 911 after seeing Tamir pull the gun out of his waistband and was frightened the boy might shoot him. The man, who relayed to a police dispatcher that the gun was “probably fake,”. This is all in the audio release of the 911 call.
        – Police officer who shot him (Timothy Loehmann), was let go by the Independence, OH Police Department 5 months (December 2012) after starting (4 of those months were spent in the police academy). He was deemed as “emotionally unstable” and unfit for service as a police officer. In his personnel records, his direct supervisors described him as having a “lack of maturity” as well as an “inability to perform basic functions as instructed.” BY March 2014, after spending two years being denied by every police force he applied to, Timothy Loehmann received an offer from the Cleveland Police Department. They did not check his personnel files.

        ** ALL this information is in released information and interviews by the county prosecutor’s office. It is a convergence of bad situations, but the blame, for me, rest on the cop and the depart for not doing due diligence in hiring him***

        “Yea, the reality is drastically different than the narrative when saying all of the facts and not just a headline. It’s important to point out true injustice as citizens but far too many grasp for stories like Michael Brown instead of ones like Eric Garner.”
        – like I stated before in this thread, the truth is somewhere in between without independent video. I don’t believe either narrative. Brown was not some good kid who said yes sir/no sir, nor was the police officer some polite guy giving instructions. The cop probably aggressively told him to move over and Brown probably talked back. Dumb – yes, but the police should not have let it escalate.It is his job. Do you really believe he tried to grab the officer’s gun then ran away. He was so far away, there was no gun residue on Brown. Bad decisions all the way around. Neither is a poster boy.

  4. Lol

    The same ppl who think their defending the principles of America want censorship of free speech and will enable a fascist.

    The idiots of our time are going to give our country away to the elite in the name of hate.

    If ppl want to know the consequence of the advent of technology this is it. The idiot that sold our country for hate and selfishness.

    Maybe we don’t deserve it then.

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    • No one preaching censorship, so please stop lying.

      “If you insult my family…I will have no mercy for you.” That’s not censorship. I am against banning speech, I am insulting back this cow.

      Justin Diamond (kipernick) with a tan and on steroids threw the stones and made phony remarks and insults entire nation, and Screech wonders why people insultsi him back. Ripinoe is bigger idiot for not an original idea.

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  5. Rapinoe and Kapernick must have had it hard growing up in the inner city.
    BLM is a farce. A black person is hundreds of times more likely to be killed by a black person than by the police look at the Chicago the city where Rapinoe did this. About 10 African Americans were killed by police as opposed to the 500 plus killed by other African Americans and even hundreds more shot. Someone referred to those cases .. Well considering that there are thousands of police departments and tens of thousands interactions the numbers of African Americans is pretty small nationwide. While it would be better if no one was killed, the vast majority of those killed escalated the situation by resisting. Oppression ? Yes it’s harder to get out of the ghetto but thousands of immigrants come every year and become more successful. It’s hard but you need to pull yourself up from your bootstraps. I respect their right to protest .. But would they respect it if it was a proponent of traditional marriage over same sex or maybe a pro police , I suspect no just like Tebow was told to keep his options to himself by the media.

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    • While *some* of the focus of BLM is a little misguided, I do have empathy with some of what they say. One would be willfully ignorant if they did not think that black and brown men are profiled by the police and/or police approach men and boys of that background not only more often, but also approach them more aggressively and with a sense of greater threat. All this comes even though more police are killed by white people than black people.

      If you look at the statistics, police are 2 1/2 times more likely to kill a black person than white person in a similar situation. This is not gross number. By gross numbers, police do actually kill more white people, but the statistical odds are if a white person and and black person are encountered by the police, they black person is 2 1/2 more times to be killed in a similar situation.

      Additionally, while I also think BLM should also look at the deaths in the inner city, if we saw some of the incidents with black men/boys were happening at the same rates with white kids, people would protest as well. Keep in mind, most people in each ethnic group are killed by people in their racial class because most crime in local/intimate. While roughly -87-89% of black deaths are committed by other blacks, roughly 84% of white deaths are committed by other whites. That is rate. Gross numbers are different because although there are more white/Caucasian deaths, there are proportional more deaths with the black community in the US. I say this because while I think inner deaths are a bigger deal, *some* people through around the % of black people killed by other black people like it is so disproportional to the % of white people killed by other white people which is not true.

      BTW, this whole “you need to pull yourself up from your bootstraps” is crap because all immigrants do well in America. It is a self-selective group who tends to work take risks and work harder. In fact, Nigerians and Chinese are the most successful immigrants based upon achieved education and career success.

      PS – While I am not one to shy away from discussions, why are we doing so on a soccer site?

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      • This topic is annoying because people like to cherry pick statistics that fit their narrative – just like I said in my original post above. Absolutely nothing is “discussed” as a result other than the pushing of an individuals agenda.

        Since we’re throwing out stats related to “oppression”, i.e. the interaction with law enforcement and the result of said behavior:

        *Police officers are 19 times more likely to be killed by an African American than an African American is to be killed by a police officer.

        *African Americans also account for nearly 38% of all killings of police officers & nearly 65% of all homicides.

        If I only I cared more and felt as if the counter-argument wouldn’t fall on deaf ears (or blind eyes), I’d reference more stats about the racial breakdown of resistance to arrest, comparing other races within the same economic category and the disparity of violent behavior between the demographics.

        Discussion is good, but that isn’t present in the atmosphere of race baiting media that is selling ratings by causing hysteria over a symptom while ignoring the actual problem. Spoiler Alert: the responsibility and fundamental breakdown of a culture isn’t on the police.

      • While it is true that one can cherry pick stats, having all statistics with a frame of reference gives you a clearer view of what is going on. BTW, I never shy away from a discussion and will partake if you choose to as well.

        Like I said, I think BLM should care more about inner city deaths more (since that is the bulk or homicides in the African American), and police kill more white people than black people so the focus might be off for BLM.

        That being said, but I do see their point when it comes to police interactions, the police treat them disproportionately aggressively. I don’t know where you got African Americans commit 65% of all homicides in the US. Every data point (primarily FBI data which I got through 2 friends who are DAs) I have looked at has shown that they DO NOT commit a majority of ALL homicides, just a DISPROPORTIONAL amount due to the size of the population. Additionally, where do you get cops are 19 times more likely to get killed by a black person? I understand the difference between gross numbers and likelihood given a particular interaction, but 19 times is way off from what I have seen. Honestly, from my experience in law, the truth tends to me somewhere in the middle — likely not what the police wrote down nor what the arrested party claimed. That is why I look at unedited film and don’t really make a judgment otherwise. In some cases, I can understand what the cop is doing, but it most of the videos I have seen, it is overreaction by the cops. For the record, you are ALLOWED to ask why you are being detained or stopped – that is NOT resisting arrest. IF the police says you are not, then you can leave. You are not allowed to use deadly force to stop a fleeing assailant unless you feel the pose a danger to someone else. That is the law.

        Btw, the data I cite are FBI crime statistics through 2014.

  6. but but but liberalz and detroit and muh freedomz and muh gunz. I am offended that you are offended that I am offended that you are offended.

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  7. It all comes down to some people trolling the Internet looking for something to be insulted by and another bunch joining the military without fully understanding what they were signing up for.

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    • Service Members are not protect by Constitution but have to protect the Constitution. Service Member fall under UCMJ.

      Now she insulted us and I am just insulting this spoiled liberal cow for her insult. Note: no one is oppression someone here by this. Suck it up sugarlips.

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  8. The problem with these athletes believing they’re “keeping the discussion” going is that there isn’t really any kind of “discussion”.

    Both sides have facts & statistics to help support their narrative and both sides believe the other is at fault. Point being, there isn’t any “discussion” as it’s nothing more than an endless argument of who can yell the loudest.

    While it’s her right, I’d prefer to keep politics out of sports as there’s a more appropriate place & setting for that type of discourse that has a more meaningful impact and allows most of us to simply have our outlet, rather than be forced fed personal objectives based on anecdotal experience.

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  9. Insult my family and I will attack you without mercy.

    These white idiots (Kip and Rip) have reach Rubicon with Service Members and Vets, immigrants that became Americans had to deal with real oppression of freedom, torture, or genocide. Instead defending dead thug that raped 14 year old girl.

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  10. As a veteran with a minor disability which I have never sought compensation for and someone who worked in public service for most of my life and studied government including constitutional law I would like to voice my opinion. Who cares? I don’t think this type of expression is particularly meaningful, nor is this venue the best to express yourself. But if someone wants to do it, who cares? Why do people put such emphasis on a meaningless issue like a person’s behavior during the National Anthem? Sometimes I don’t remove my hat or do something similar because I have trouble (with good reason) with the phrase justice for all in the Pledge of Allegiance and I don’t give a flying f**k what you or anyone else thinks. If Rapinoe or anyone else wants to do what they do, so be it. Who are we to judge? As long as someone is not hurting someone else, who are you to judge, especially if you haven’t “walked a mile” in their shoes. To pass judgment on someone else in this case is, to me, a sign of personal arrogance. Who made you God or the judge of moral rightness?

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    • It her right to disrespect those that have died for this country as much as it is our right for us to judge. We have fought for this freedom.

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      • “It her right to disrespect those that have died for this country”

        Maybe, but that’s not what she did, so it’s not really relevant to the discussion, nor does it justify judging her…

      • I’m still alive, but served my country and don’t feel disrespected. What people died for was for their country which values freedom of expression. If you feel disrespected or threatened, then you aren’t a very secure person, nor do you value what our country stands for. To be technical, the Supreme Court long ago ruled on this, in the 1940’s, ruling that school students couldn’t be required to cite the Pledge of Allegiance. And, also, studies have shown that what those in the service fighting for their country really are fighting for is their buddies, not some abstractions. Fionally, how can you feel disrespected if you are dead.

      • “Maybe, but that’s not what she did, so it’s not really relevant to the discussion, nor does it justify judging her…”

        It is exactly what she did.

        “No hint of irony in your statement”

        There is no irony in my statement.

      • “It is exactly what she did.”

        Nope. But if you think so, again, you’ve already been asked to explain why or how. The lack of any such explanation continues to be a fatal flaw in your position.

      • “Nope. But if you think so, again, you’ve already been asked to explain why or how. The lack of any such explanation continues to be a fatal flaw in your position.”

        It is disrespectful in the same way that someone gives the middle finger. It is seen and accepted as disrespectful. That’s how I feel and we have already established that you do not feel the same way.
        It’s really not that complicated.

      • “It is disrespectful in the same way that someone gives the middle finger.”

        Not in the least. That’s precisely the point: she didn’t do anything like that. She didn’t personally address or direct her actions at anyone or any group of people.

      • “Not in the least. That’s precisely the point: she didn’t do anything like that. She didn’t personally address or direct her actions at anyone or any group of people.”

        You don’t have to make it personal. It was seen akin to a middle finger to all that have served and that our serving. It is your problem if you can’t step out of your box and see that others can see it this way. I, at least, can see that you see it differently.

      • “It was seen akin to a middle finger to all that have served and that our serving. It is your problem if you can’t step out of your box and see that others can see it this way.”

        Wrong again, I’m afraid. I have no problem seeing that you and others see it this way. The problem is simply that there is no rational foundation for that (which is presumably why you and others always let the line go dead when pressed to indicate precisely how or why such things are so disrespectful).

        It is all in your head that she’s giving the middle finger to all that have served and that are serving. She didn’t say that or in any way indicate that, and her follow-up statements clearly indicate that something very, very different is the case. As someone indicated above, some sort of insecurity that seems rather to be at the base of being offended by this, coupled perhaps with a confusion about what you’re fighting for and what our principles are in this country. But in any event, we don’t just go around willy-nilly declaring that something is wrong because it offends the sensibilities of people who can’t even explain why in some rational way. If we did that, well then the first time someone claimed for whatever reason that they similarly found the practice of your chosen religion to be disrespectful, you’d be criticized for it and presumably stopped from practicing it, in the end. Same for your hobbies, your choice of partner, your decision of whether to have children or not, and so on. That’s absolutely not America.

      • It is very rational, I’m afraid. I never said it was wrong – I said it was her right. For you to question me on what I have been fighting for is way out of line.

      • RB, talking to you is like talking to a brick wall on this internet forum. Come on down to VA and maybe we can talk this one out sometime.

      • Gary Page, I am secure in knowing exactly the values I stand for. I do not feel threatened.. Lol.
        People did die for many reasons for this country and one of them is her right to be disrespectful to the country. That falls under the freedom category.

        RB, it’s still an open invitation to meet in person.

  11. The problem with so much of the reaction (obviously including here) is that none of the figures referred to here have disrespected the flag, the national anthem, the country, the people who have fought for it, or anything else. If that’s what you think, then you have precisely missed the point and are part of the motivation for their actions.

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      • And she wasn’t disrespectful. She didn’t stomp or spit on the flag or try to haul it down, she didn’t cry out or pull others down or dance around or otherwise disrupt the ceremony, she even pointed out explicitly in her comments that she wasn’t saying the US isn’t one of the greatest countries in the world. She has disrespected in precisely the same way that not wearing a flag pin or saluting in the proper, official way on some offhand occasion disrespects others. Or in the same way that same-sex marriage tarnishes heterosexual marriage, or other such things. Which is to say, not at all.

      • Maybe it wasn’t disrespectful to your values but it was disrespectful mine. Part of my intrinsic value is my patriotism and why I wear this uniform everyday.

      • OK, but here the problem is the same one, actually, as in the situation with opponents to same-sex marriage who complain about the effect on traditional heterosexual marriage (and maybe as in other arenas, as well): can you give some rational explanation as to precisely why or how it was disrespectful to you? or to anyone else?

        I gave a variety of examples of how it _could_ have been disrespectful to others, all of which would have imposed on others’ rights or values. Nothing she did here does that, however. And in the meantime, what she _did_ do here was exercise freedom of speech/expression — again in a way that obviously didn’t infringe upon anyone else’s rights — which at the end of the day is among our most prized principles of freedom in this country.

      • RB, I cannot make you feel the respect that I have for what this country means to me. I guess that’s why I’m serving and you’re not.

        She has the right to do what she did because we put our lives on the line everyday.

      • “RB, I cannot make you feel the respect that I have for what this country means to me. I guess that’s why I’m serving and you’re not.”

        This is exactly the problem: you are expressing a superiority to others of differing views, but admittedly cannot offer any explanation as to shy. So you just proceed to patronize them and question their love of country. It is by definition being judgmental. And it is such a widespread problem on the political right in this country these days.

      • “This is exactly the problem: you are expressing a superiority to others of differing views, but admittedly cannot offer any explanation as to shy. So you just proceed to patronize them and question their love of country. It is by definition being judgmental. And it is such a widespread problem on the political right in this country these days.”

        Superiority? I am not patronizing anyone or questioning anyone’s love for their country. I do not belong to the right or left, at all.

      • “I am not patronizing anyone or questioning anyone’s love for their country.”

        Of course you are. From the start in saying that Rapinoe et al. are disrespectful to the point of indicating that you feel a somehow greater or deeper respect for this country than I do.

        But then it would be very far from the first time that someone of your stated views in this regard failed (remarkably!) to see how disrespectful they are being to others.

      • “Of course you are. From the start in saying that Rapinoe et al. are disrespectful to the point of indicating that you feel a somehow greater or deeper respect for this country than I do.”

        This does not make me superior, but you I live by my values everyday. Maybe I do have more respect for this country or maybe I don’t. I don’t know you and you don’t know me. However, I am still serving and you are not and have never served.

        I am curious what you have done for your country, if anything at all.

      • You continue to make my point for me, with these kinds of comments. I don’t adhere to any such litmus test for patriotism. I respect you and your service, I respect Megan Rapinoe and her expression of concern for her country, and I don’t question the level of patriotism of either one of you. I expect the same in return, as anyone should; anything less is not worth the time to respond to and only serves to underscore your judgmental nature on this topic.

        It is humorous, however, that you’re putting a question to me, now, and one that is not relevant to the matter at hand, after repeatedly shying away from answering the question I’ve put to you, which is directly relevant to that matter…

      • It is humorous because you questioned if I was patronizing – I wasn’t.

        I am being judgmental of her, and…

        I am not shying away from the question. I keep telling you that is seen and accepted by many as being disrespectful. That is just the way it is.

        Furthermore, I guess you have done nothing because you say nothing of it. It was not a litmus test. It’s just a fact.

      • “It is humorous because you questioned if I was patronizing – I wasn’t.”

        You were and you still are…

        “I am not shying away from the question. I keep telling you that is seen and accepted by many as being disrespectful. That is just the way it is.”

        Exactly: you’re not answering the question because the question was whether you could explain it in some relational way. You’re not doing that, you’re just restating that you and some others feel that way. Unfortunately for your view, but very fortunately for this country, we don’t run things here based on simple unexplained non-rational reactions that some people have, whether it’s about this type of protest or same-sex marriage or interracial couples or religious practices or career choices others make or anything else. That’s the beauty of America, but your view contradicts it.

        “Furthermore, I guess you have done nothing because you say nothing of it. It was not a litmus test. It’s just a fact.”

        And there’s where you’re too prejudiced, judgmental and offensive (not to mention the total lack of basis for the statement!) to continue talking with. You need to respect others and to use reason to have a helpful or useful conversation with them about differing opinions. You can’t seem to do those things, so…

      • “It is humorous because you questioned if I was patronizing – I wasn’t.”

        You were and you still are. You can use the word “judgmental”, if you prefer…

        “I am not shying away from the question. I keep telling you that is seen and accepted by many as being disrespectful. That is just the way it is.”

        Exactly: you’re _not_ answering the question because the question was whether you could explain it in some rational way, with reasons. You’re not doing that, you’re just restating that you and some others feel that way. Unfortunately for your view, but very fortunately for the good of this country and its people, we don’t run things based simply on unexplained, non-rational reactions that some people may have to others’ actions, whether it’s about this type of protest or same-sex marriage or interracial couples or religious practices or career choices others make or anything else. That’s the beauty of America, but your view contradicts it by stepping in and saying that someone else’s non-intrusive, non-personal, non-destructive free expression is wrong and is in fact somehow personally directed towards yourself and other servicemen and women (and should not be allowed or consequences should apply, etc).

        “Furthermore, I guess you have done nothing because you say nothing of it. It was not a litmus test. It’s just a fact.”

        That’s precisely what a litmus test is. This is where you’re too patronizing (or judgmental) and now personally offensive (nevermind the total lack of basis for your statement!) to continue talking with. It’s doubly remarkable that you say that in referring to what others here have said about confusion about the circumstances of service, you say that I’ve gone beyond the pale, and yet you charge right ahead seemingly with no sense of irony and continue to imply that I’m somehow not as patriotic as you are.

        You need to use reason (not just simply restate your emotional reactions) and to show respect for others in order to have a helpful or useful conversation with them about differing opinions on social matters. You can’t seem to do those things, so…

      • “Unfortunately for your view, but very fortunately for the good of this country and its people, we don’t run things based simply on unexplained, non-rational reactions that some people may have to others’ actions, whether it’s about this type of protest or same-sex marriage or interracial couples or religious practices or career choices others make or anything else. That’s the beauty of America, but your view contradicts it by stepping in and saying that someone else’s non-intrusive, non-personal, non-destructive free expression is wrong and is in fact somehow personally directed towards yourself and other servicemen and women (and should not be allowed or consequences should apply, etc). ”

        I never said she did anything “wrong.” I said it was her right. It is VERY fortunate that the country is able to be “run this way” because we have fought for her to have the right to have a protest that is disrespectful to the people that put their lives on the line everyday.

        “That’s precisely what a litmus test is. This is where you’re too patronizing (or judgmental) and now personally offensive (nevermind the total lack of basis for your statement!) to continue talking with. It’s doubly remarkable that you say that in referring to what others here have said about confusion about the circumstances of service, you say that I’ve gone beyond the pale, and yet you charge right ahead seemingly with no sense of irony and continue to imply that I’m somehow not as patriotic as you are. ”

        If you think that I am “implying” that you are not as patriotic as me, which is quite the opposite of what I said, your unexplained, non-rational reactions that you have may be rooted in possibly how inadequate you feel about the nothingness that you have done for your country.

        “You need to use reason (not just simply restate your emotional reactions) and to show respect for others in order to have a helpful or useful conversation with them about differing opinions on social matters. You can’t seem to do those things, so…”

        I do use respect. You can’t seem to be so narrow-minded and not appreciate the freedoms that we continue to fight for.

      • I see now that TPTB here finally allowed my posts through again. Guess that’s a step back in the right direction.

        There’s not enough reason or respect evident in your comments to continue, however. Sorry.

      • “There’s not enough reason or respect evident in your comments to continue, however. Sorry.”

        I have enough respect for the freedoms to protest and respect the opinions that others have, including to find a “protest” disrespectful to millions of Americans.

        “The problem is simply that there is no rational foundation for that (which is presumably why you and others always let the line go dead when pressed to indicate precisely how or why such things are so disrespectful).”

        Wow! Look who finally let the line go dead. You are the quintessential hypocrite.

  12. Yaww_wwwwnnnnnnnnnn. She has lost her publicity train and wanted some. Nobody, would have noticed if she did not have the picture published. What a joke she is using African-Americans to promote herself.

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  13. I’m surprised by the “tough, valiant, rugged, honorable” soldiers who get their panties in a bind over another person’s expression of their 1st amendment right, which you fought for, not just a flag. Get some grit.

    If you can’t handle a persons words or posture maybe you should move to Russia or Uganda or whatever 3rd world country the blacks/Latinos/gays should go to.

    In fact, no one ever called me “nigger” in any of the countries I’ve frequented. Only my home land. God bless the U.S.A.!

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    • Come on down to Afghanistan and see who’s panties get in a bind. I’ve been called “nigger” more by my black brothers and sisters than anyone else. You are such an embarrassment.

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    • Note: I am ex-Petty Officer not a Soldier. Yes, I love of the anthem and flag, I am an “AMERICAN” by choice! I was vborn in Uruguay, not the U.S.! Many vets and Service Members from Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americans, and are not Americns by birth! Many spoiled liberal brats have no idea how does feel to be in Theater without seeing your family for months! Or do Honor Guard for WW2 vets and how much ‘Funeral Honors’ mean for their families! Us none natives love and honor the U.S., and to deal with real issues in our native countries. So your spoiled liberals don’t know about.

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      • Btw, I am not liberal. I am moderately right of center. Socially and fiscally conservative in my personal life, but socially liberal and fiscally moderate on a societal basis.

    • She only has that right because I risk my life everyday for her to do so. It is also our right to ask for her to not be selfish and lazy by not just playing soccer but donating her entire salary and work with BLM and Gay rights movements instead of disrespecting those that have died for this flag. She shouldn’t play for USWNT again.

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      • What is up with American servicemen telling suggesting what free people should with their resources? “I’m sacrificing for you so you should just shut up, sit down and write a check. Your money is your ONLY acceptable ‘free speech’. Don’t demonstrate, or bring into question blind allegiance to inanimate objects “.

      • That’s right – it’s not just about the money. In fact, it should only be the FIRST thing that you should do to get anything official going. Money is the most readily available resource to highly paid athletes.

        BLM does not yet have the resources to make it an official organization and YOU think that is O.K.?

        She can demonstrate all she wants but not while representing my country.

      • She knelt during a NWSL match. I still wouldn’t have a problem if she did it during a US Soccer (a private company, btw) game because I believe in free speech.

      • Your service doesn’t give you the right to tell others how to express their patriotism but it does give you the obligation of protecting their rights. Even those you don’t agree with.

      • TRANSLATION from Teahadi to English: She only has rights that you agree with. BTW, that’s fascism, not democracy.

      • Well, I have several friends who are either current or ex-military: 3 Marines, 3 Navy, 1 Army, 1 (deceased Air Force). None of them has ever said that they think Colin (and assume Rapinoe) don’t have a right say what he said. A couple said they don’t agree with what he said or he might be naive, but he has a right to say what he did. Keep in mind 4 of my surviving friends saw active duty in the middle east.

        While I respect your service for doing what my friends did — essentially get shot at while I sat at home, you have to admit Colin and Megan has to a right to say what they whether we agree or not. That being said, Seattle, as a private organization, has a right to fire here since there are no 1st Amendment protections in a private employer workplace.

      • “While I respect your service for doing what my friends did — essentially get shot at while I sat at home, you have to admit Colin and Megan has to a right to say what they whether we agree or not.”

        “Your service doesn’t give you the right to tell others how to express their patriotism but it does give you the obligation of protecting their rights. Even those you don’t agree with.”

        Yes, she has the right to do this because we fought for her to do these distasteful acts. It is also our right to judge her.

    • It’s her right. I am not preaching to banned her but I am merely insulted by her, and I just insulted her back because her ignorance of the issue.

      Note: Service Members and Vets are not all white.

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    • It is her right because we have given her that right. If I don’t like it, I will use my freedom of speech to voice that like she does. Try and make me leave for the country I fight for.

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  14. Another white idiot insulting us Vets.

    As a disable combat Vet and serve the Honor Guard and born in Uruguay, and felt racism from whites but other racial groups…Imy community (Vets) are insulted by these white idiots (Rip and Kip), these white idiots (Rip and Kip) should live in Congo or Sudan for a year, then come back this beautiful country (U.S.).

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      • It’s still her right. If you think your service gives you the right to tell people how to live their lives then you are doing it wrong.

      • Actually I corrected myself. I never had racism from whites but other minorities like Blacks or other Hispanics.

      • I can call a few friends who are non-white and have had direct racism from whites in the US. Racism and bigotry exists in all group, but you have to say recent history of America is rife with racism directed towards non-white people. Hell, a friend of mine was in grad school about 10 years ago and there was a cross-burning 15 mins from campus.

    • I’m a post 9/11veteran who has served in OIF/OEF voluntarily, and have also served in other government institutions domestically. I don’t feel the least bit insulted by these protests.

      Actually, I feel honored that I helped to protect the rights of free speech and absolute protest, pillars of civil freedom and modern democracy.

      If you feel strongly about some governmental injustice, it is your duty as a citizen to utilize these rights in order to affect change or at least maintain the dialogue you feel is important and best for our people to have. It’s often unpopular. That said, Kaep’s jersey is now the highest selling in the NFL, as a back-up QB on a poor team, so his statement is resonating with many.

      I’ve never liked Kaep, but his protest doesn’t disrespect me as a former civil servant, in fact, quite the opposite.

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  15. I believe that her intentions are good, but I hope that she is never again selected to the national team. She shouldn’t represent the country if she doesn’t respect the national anthem.

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  16. If I was going to make a statement, it wouldn’t be during the National Anthem. That’s a personal choice. I’ve had family members and friends, who have died for that flag. Even though I would never do this, I can understand the poor reason behind doing so – it keeps the discussion going. However, you think that sports players would donate their salaries first to help organize a movement like BLM before disrespecting the people that have died for it.

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    • This. Get your message across with the soapbox your stardom gives you. You have many interviews and twitter accounts and such. Use those to spread your message.

      Don’t take our one moment when we all come together and ruin it. At that point you disgrace not only your country but your teammates and everyone around you.

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  17. I can’t see anyone on the USWNT attempting to get public sympathy for higher salaries and then
    disrespecting the flag during the National Anthem. IMHO, what happened to Tommie Smith and John Carlos at the Mexico City Olympics, should happen to anyone else who pulls that stunt. Tens of thousands of people have died for that flag. If you want to make a statement about anything, there are multitudes of websites like this where you can make just about any statement you want in relative anonymity, if desired.

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      • If you are going the play the race card then you should feel that black lives matter. And you should feel that the most important people to understand that black lives matter are the 70% of black farthers who abandon their black babies. Because those black babies are the black lives that matter. And until these black farthers step up and take responsibility nothing will change.

      • And we’re back folks with “BW form the made up statistics department”

        Ha

        “Father” less – ness is a national epidemic amongst most people groups save for Asians and Near East immigrants. There is much more to what you think you are describing (a lot of which is related to ill effects of slavery/racism) which I’m guessing by your comment you are ignorant of our decided not to post because it would undermine your premise.

      • @BW I’m not quite sure what your highly questionable stat correlation has to do with:
        Sandra Bland inexplicably ending up in jail for three days for failure to use her indicator.

        John Crawford III getting fatality shot while holding an airsoft gun sold in the store that sells the item. (in an open carry state no less)

        Eric Garner dying from an admittedly banned choke hold by police.

        Tamir Rice, a 12-year boy getting gunned down while playing with an airsoft gun.

        Philando Castile fatality shot four times while reaching for his license and registration with his fiancée and 4-year old child in the car. He was armed but he informed the cop of his weapon and his license to carry it.

        Charles Kinsey, an unarmed mental health therapist with his hands up in Florida. He was telling the police that the mentality disable man next to him was no threat.

        Levar Edward Jones, unarmed, who was shot while reaching for his wallet during a traffic stop.

      • Yeah there are bad cops out there. But cops have nothing to do with the high high school drop out rate, teenage pregnancy and crime that fills our black neighborhoods. That’s a black father’s duty to set an example for his kids, show them how to live and show them how to treat a woman. Slavery from 150 years ago does not absolve you of the duty to be a father to your children. No amount of social support, social workers or money can replace a dad. When black leaders stand up and demand their communities to put their family first (and they listen) there will be change. And you will see a much more employable generation of black Americans. Though it’s much easier to blame all your troubles on someone one else isn’t it?

      • Single parent homes are a problem for all races. It’s not relevant to this protest which is about police brutality and lack of accountability. Anytime protests like Kaepernick’s happens naysayers say “Yeah there are bad cops out there” like that’s not the entire f*cking point. You agree with him and Rapinoe on their core argument yet you throw these stats like it makes it more acceptable for an officer to violate someone rights.

        And here is why throwing out black fatherhood stats just perpetuates negative stereotypes and does not accurately tell the whole story:
        http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/13/black-fatherhood-statistics_n_5491980.html

      • Presumptuous idiot. Do I know you? Do you know me. I’m Mexican-American and I live in El Paso. You? A guilty white liberal?

      • BB- stop trying to through facts at people and discussing things that will make a real difference. You’re obviously a racist. We all on know that the deep white racism in the ether is the problem. It’s just your white privilege that blinds you to this.

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