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Friday, September 29, 2017

Post #3379 M

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The season of failure is the best time for sowing the seeds of success.
Paramahansa Yogananda  

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The Pauls On the NFL Anthem Kerfuffle





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This is an extension of my comment on a LFC photo in yesterday's post.

[My original comment] First of all, this "progressive" retard doesn't know the difference between fascism and authoritarianism; this has nothing to do with State ownership or regulation over a private sports league. 

 Second, NFL players have a code of conduct, including expected behavior during the playing of the national anthem. We pro-liberty accept constraints as part of voluntary work contracts; they might include things like dress codes, drug policies, professional behavior, etc. For decades, the opening ceremonies, including the anthem, have been part of football where players, with differing political views, made their statement on the field of play, not on the sidelines, prioritizing their beliefs over the game. Fans paid good money to watch a game, not attend a political rally.

 Third, Trump's opinions have no legal bearing on owner decisions.

[Laissez Faire Capitalism] the NFL players have only even been outside of the locker rooms for 8 years (and only then because the nfl was given a bunch of taxpayer money to stage pro-military demonstrations), not "decades"

 Laissez Faire Capitalism you are partly right: the NFL did not REQUIRE teams to be on the sidelines for REGULAR SEASON games until 2009. I was thinking of Super Bowl games primarily, but you are wrong in implying there was a regular season prohibition. It really then depended on the policies of owners in question. I have seen it practiced over decades.

 Let us recall Rule 5, which clearly restricts personal expression on the field:

" Throughout the period on game-day that a player is visible to the stadium and television audience (including in pregame warm-ups, in the bench area, and during postgame interviews in the locker room or on the field), players are prohibited from wearing, displaying, or otherwise conveying personal messages either in writing or illustration, unless such message has been approved in advance by the League office. Items to celebrate anniversaries or memorable events, or to honor or commemorate individuals, such as helmet decals, and arm bands and jersey patches on players’ uniforms, are prohibited unless approved in advance by the League office. All such items approved by the League office, if any, must relate to team or League events or personages. The League will not grant permission for any club or player to wear, display, or otherwise convey messages, through helmet decals, arm bands, jersey patches, or other items affixed to game uniforms or equipment, which relate to political activities or causes, other non-football events, causes or campaigns, or charitable causes or campaigns. Further, any such approved items must be modest in size, tasteful, non-commercial, and noncontroversial; must not be worn for more than one football season; and if approved for use by a specific team, must not be worn by players on other teams in the League."

The protests in question were certainly unapproved, controversial in nature and related to political activities or causes.

 Now the NFL may choose to look away from enforcing the rule last Sunday given the nature of Trump's provocation and its player agreement. But my point remains: if and when you join the NFL as a player, you are expected to abide by its rules and code of conduct.

 As for the Ron Paul-crazy like idea that the anthem is the State's requirement in exchange for stadium subsidies, I do not like public subsidies of sports in any form, but the ones you are referencing occur on the state/local, not federal level and the playing of the national anthem, again, has been a signature tradition for many, if not most pro sports for years. You may disagree with the tradition, and I would personally prefer not to see nationalist rituals. But if you're going to do it, do it right and respectfully.

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Musical Interlude: Your Favorite Vocalists


Dolly Parton (with Porter Wagoner), "Yours Love"

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