The one problem is no one is talking about the reason for the protest, police using deadly force on blacks too easily. I respect their right to protest but wonder since it makes enemies it is the wisest way to protest.
How many US citzens start for the Fire? Whereas almost every NFL player is a US citizen. Maybe avoid playing the anthem except for Nats games.
All good things, by the way. Having two teams in NYC (wouldn't that be great if there were two reams in NYC or one in Chicago) and LA is important. No promotion and relegation is great (we would have been watching and ACTUAL USL team the last two years, as opposed to a USL-level team). The "Beckham" rule gave us Bastian and Nikolic and Accam (not to mention Juninho and Kappelhoff and DeLeeuw...)
Except that not standing for the National Anthem should in no way make "enemies" of the police. It is one of the most passive forms of protest around.
There are 16 US citizens on the Fire. Lampson Polster Vincent Campbell McCarty Alvarez (yes, he plays for El Salvador, but was born in Houston, and Texas is still, technically part of the US, unfortunately) -could be considered the starters.
I have advocated for almost my entire life. I cannot stand the playing of the National Anthem before club games. It just seems very nationalistic/fascistic, unnecessary and a bit creepy to me. I think is especially the case in sports (soccer, hockey, baseball and, now, NBA) with huge percentages of foreign players.
I assume he means he'd be proud to see our club and our players having the courage to stand with others in opposition to the creeping fascist police state and in favor of our citizens constitutional right to peaceably assemble. Which should be obvious to anyone who's been paying attention. Why are you acting like this is some mystery?
Ill answer that, Sting111. This very issue is the background of the classic film 'Billy Jack'. The issue here is noting more than blind conformity to the demands of a would be strong man vs. self expression and political liberty. The next time people demand contrived conformity (remember, the super-jingo NFL ceremonies are what we now call 'sponsored content', paid for as advertising by the pentagon) try to keep standing and start in on the second stanza. then, the third. There will be a backlash. The issue isnt patriotism. the issue is unquestioning conformity and obedience to imposed regularity. It is a negative demand, neither free nor brave. This is why the un-patriotic demand for blank obedience is to be honorably contradicted. On the shore dimly seen through the mists of the deep Where the foe’s haughty host in dread silence reposes, What is that which the breeze, o’er the towering steep, As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses? Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam, In full glory reflected now shines in the stream, ’Tis the star-spangled banner—O long may it wave O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave! And where is that band who so vauntingly swore, That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion A home and a Country should leave us no more? Their blood has wash’d out their foul footstep’s pollution. No refuge could save the hireling and slave From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave, And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave. O thus be it ever when freemen shall stand Between their lov’d home and the war’s desolation! Blest with vict’ry and peace may the heav’n rescued land Praise the power that hath made and preserv’d us a nation! Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just, And this be our motto – “In God is our trust,” And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
I was thinking about this as well, and wondering how many "internationals" play in the NFL. Percentage-wise, it'll be very small compared to MLS, and would naturally invite criticism from the right wingnuts that most here can imagine without me giving it voice. Not that I give flying fkuc what these know-nothing turd-eaters say, except for the blessing of self-identification for "future consideration".
I don't disagree. That said, I've played against visiting teams from Canada, the UK, Mexico, France, etc,, and enjoyed it when both national anthems were played. It also had greater meaning when we played the Air Force Academy. Speaking strictly for me, it was a means of showing respect and welcome to your opponent, and lent something additional to the occasion. But I also concede that in each case it WAS an occasion, not an everyday thing. Your points about the modern sporting landscape with so many international players are therefore well taken. It makes the playing of the Star Spangled Banner anachronistic, at best. YMMV. Personally, I'd prefer a haka.
I have little problem playing the National Anthem for international National Team games. I do not really have a problem playing it for international competition games, as long as they play the anthem for both teams' countries. For league games, it is simply unnecessary and a bit creepy.