Sad Story

[NorthCoast]

So I was in the Burgh this weekend for my folks 60th anniversary. My dad has been a diehard Steeler fan ever since I can remember, never missing a game if it was on the tube. Anyway started talking about the Jags in town and if he was ready to watch. My dad proceeded to tell me that he no longer watches Steeler games after the whole flag kneeling/tunnel episode. Said it was tearing his heart out but could not bear to support a team that did not appreciate the flag and country they live in.

That's it. Forty years of being a fan ended then and there. I really felt bad when he told me this as Steeler games were always something we could bond over.

[Shoe]

No offense to your dad, but I really don't understand why people conflate this situation so badly. First of all, why people conflate the military with the flag. The flag is not a symbol of the military and none of the players (who kneel) ever expressed anything but respect for service men.

2) To kneel in silent, peaceful protest (they aren't milling around, kicking stones or munching pistachio nuts while the anthem is being played) is as high an appreciation of the flag as standing with hand over heart.

It is hard, because people who feel that way aren't likely to listen to reason. I just don't understand what makes people mix up the issue to such a degree.

[Ernie]

No offense to your dad, but I really don't understand why people conflate this situation so badly. First of all, why people conflate the military with the flag. The flag is not a symbol of the military and none of the players (who kneel) ever expressed anything but respect for service men.

2) To kneel in silent, peaceful protest (they aren't milling around, kicking stones or munching pistachio nuts while the anthem is being played) is as high an appreciation of the flag as standing with hand over heart.

It is hard, because people who feel that way aren't likely to listen to reason. I just don't understand what makes people mix up the issue to such a degree.

It's a very polarizing, hot button issue....just like 'God, guns, politics, religion, etc'... people have strong feelings when it comes to these issues, and it doesn't take much to set those folks off (on all sides). It is not hard to see (as polarized as this country is today) why people would quickly shun such acts of protest.
I know several folks who have been die hard steeler fans for all of their lives. They have turned away from the organization as a result of the actions of the team prior to the Bears game. Even though I am strongly against the timing of the protest, I am not 'turning off the TV set' on Sunday afternoons. I respect the opinions of those who have, just as I respect the opinions of those who think the protests are "Great"... "Not a big deal" etc.

[BURGH86STEEL]

No offense to your dad, but I really don't understand why people conflate this situation so badly. First of all, why people conflate the military with the flag. The flag is not a symbol of the military and none of the players (who kneel) ever expressed anything but respect for service men.

2) To kneel in silent, peaceful protest (they aren't milling around, kicking stones or munching pistachio nuts while the anthem is being played) is as high an appreciation of the flag as standing with hand over heart.

It is hard, because people who feel that way aren't likely to listen to reason. I just don't understand what makes people mix up the issue to such a degree.

What makes people mix up the issue? People fail to listen. As a result, they fail to understand the reasons behind such protests. It's almost like people want reasons to be disgruntled or angry.

[Ernie]

What makes people mix up the issue? People fail to listen. As a result, they fail to understand the reasons behind such protests. It's almost like people want reasons to be disgruntled or angry.

Ah most people listen. I think the focus of most of those folks (including myself) goes back to Kapernick, and the players who were kneeling to support Kap himself. Did you see those cute pig/cop socks he wore during one of his games? If you go back and look at his overall message, I think there are things you could agree with (as to why folks are upset).

A lot of these guys want to paint all law enforcement with a "Broad brush"... when in fact, 95+ percent of them do things by the book.

[SanAntonioSteelerFan]

Ah most people listen. I think the focus of most of those folks (including myself) goes back to Kapernick, and the players who were kneeling to support Kap himself. Did you see those cute pig/cop socks he wore during one of his games? If you go back and look at his overall message, I think there are things you could agree with (as to why folks are upset).

A lot of these guys want to paint all law enforcement with a "Broad brush"... when in fact, 95+ percent of them do things by the book.

95+% doesn't mean a thing to the family of the 5-%, especially when there is a lot of outrageous-seeming societal condoning of that behavior, including judicially/in the courts.

The outcomes of chance encounters with the law shouldn't depend on race, I think we can all agree. The problem is that a very significant portion of society believes those encounters with cops *do* differ depending on the race of the person stopped. "I'm not an expert" on all that, but as a casual consumer of news from across the political spectrum, I think it's very easy to think the same.

I may be wrong, but I believe that is what is being protested -not flags, not veterans, not "U-S-A".

Personally, I think our veterans have spilt their blood so that K and friends can protest in just about any way they want. Now that doesn't mean their bosses can't fire them for doing so if they protest on private sector "company time" of course. May or may not be good for business to do that, but that's a different story!

[Ernie]

95+% doesn't mean a thing to the family of the 5-%, especially when there is a lot of outrageous-seeming societal condoning of that behavior, including judicially/in the courts.

The outcomes of chance encounters with the law shouldn't depend on race, I think we can all agree. The problem is that a very significant portion of society believes those encounters with cops *do* differ depending on the race of the person stopped. "I'm not an expert" on all that, but as a casual consumer of news from across the political spectrum, I think it's very easy to think the same.

I may be wrong, but I believe that is what is being protested -not flags, not veterans, not "U-S-A".

Personally, I think our veterans have spilt their blood so that K and friends can protest in just about any way they want. Now that doesn't mean their bosses can't fire them for doing so if they protest on private sector "company time" of course. May or may not be good for business to do that, but that's a different story!

I must live in a different world than most... but I do not see society "Condoning police brutality based on race".

[feltdizz]

Ah most people listen. I think the focus of most of those folks (including myself) goes back to Kapernick, and the players who were kneeling to support Kap himself. Did you see those cute pig/cop socks he wore during one of his games? If you go back and look at his overall message, I think there are things you could agree with (as to why folks are upset).

A lot of these guys want to paint all law enforcement with a "Broad brush"... when in fact, 95+ percent of them do things by the book.

the 5% is the reason players kneel.

No one is protesting those other cops BUT I will add that cops that are good usually look the other way when they see the 5% breaking the law.

I sure wish more "good" cops would out the bad ones

[Ernie]

the 5% is the reason players kneel.

No one is protesting those other cops BUT I will add that cops that are good usually look the other way when they see the 5% breaking the law.

I sure wish more "good" cops would out the bad ones

Do you think the 95% see it that way?

[SanAntonioSteelerFan]

the 5% is the reason players kneel.

No one is protesting those other cops BUT I will add that cops that are good usually look the other way when they see the 5% breaking the law.

I sure wish more "good" cops would out the bad ones

Sorry, that is wrong. If a cop looks the other way when his partner is breaking the law he is not a good cop, he is just about as rotten as the one who pulled the trigger.