But to chime into this post, and to actually provide something of substance; isn't it our right as American citizens to freely express what we support, or do not support, as long as it does not harm others?

Bloody hell, I am allowed to go watch pornography on a public library's computer. One shouldn't be forced to stand for an anthem, isn't that what we were trying to defeat for a major part of the last century, authoritarian ideals?

I don't know about you, but my local library would not allow you to watch pornography on their computers.

You have a right not to stand for the flag at a football game, but if you are an employee of a team the owner has a freaking right to fire you if you don't stand.

#boycottNFL
#Standfortheflag
#MAGA!

Considering that professional athletes have CONTRACTS and are not at will employees like most suckers--I mean--people, they can't be fired. They also have union representation.

And NO ONE has yet been fired.

So this is really all about powerless Trump supporters fetishizing their corporatist leader under the guise of faux nationalism.

Yeah. There are other words to describe that.

every single person who kneels should have their contract revoked and they should be fired. This is unacceptable.

Their contracts must have some clause about maintaining the public image of the team.

@nd: I'm gonna have to agree with Jeff here. On what actual employment law basis would there be any justification to dismiss these people from their jobs?

If people can be summarily dismissed from their jobs for not being patriotic enough, where would that shit end? Could you be fired for not standing straight enough? For singing the national anthem out of tune?

Nonsense - as usual from the fat idiot in the White House.

"Considering that professional athletes have CONTRACTS and are not at will employees like most suckers--I mean--people, they can't be fired. They also have union representation."

Players get cut --I mean-- fired all the time.

Looks like an interesting idea about the great freedom of political expression from ND.. Y'all are free to conform with his rules.

If we are talking about the players' contractual rights, we really can't have a meaningful discussion without actually knowing what is in the specific contracts.

It's still ok to burn the US flag, right?

You have the right to burn the flag, kneel during the anthem, spit on the flag or whatever. That's all absolutely fine.

HOWEVER, your employer has a right to fire you for doing it. That's their freaking right. And, by god I hope some of these NFL jerks get fired for kneeling.

@Nd: Do you have no labour laws at all in your shitty country?

I would not want to live in a country where you could legit be fired for not being patriotic enough.

That sounds like some North Korean shit, not a place that has democracy and the rule of law.

"You have the right to burn the flag, kneel during the anthem, spit on the flag or whatever. That's all absolutely fine. HOWEVER, your employer has a right to fire you for doing it. That's their freaking right."

So, I dunno, let's say I'm an employer in the U S of Merica. What if I decide to make if company policy that employees _must_ kneel during the national anthem. Is it my freaking right to fire them if they won't?

Nd supports mandatory workplace patriotism.

Sad.

Private entities in the United States are more than well known for firing people for their political views and affiliations, Helen, and it is perfectly legal for private entities to do so.

That said, someone forgot to tell all the people pissed off about the NFL's supposed "disrespect" for the flag about US Flag Code Title 36, Chapter 10-176 C, D, or J, all of which the NFL and basically every other major sports organization in the country have been violating for decades:

(c) The flag should never be carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft and free.

(d) The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery. It should never be festooned, drawn back, nor up, in folds, but always allowed to fall free. Bunting of blue, white, and red, always arranged with the blue above, the white in the middle, and the red below, should be used for covering a speaker's desk, draping the front of the platform, and for decoration in general.

(j) No part of the flag should ever be used as a costume or athletic uniform. However, a flag patch may be affixed to the uniform of military personnel, firemen, policemen, and members of patriotic organizations. The flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing. Therefore, the lapel flag pin being a replica, should be worn on the left lapel near the heart.

@Bo_Sox: In that case I'm really glad I don't live in such a shit country. A country where rich business owners have the legal right to dictate the political views of their workforce? That's some undemocratic shit right there.

Still waiting for an employer to pull the trigger. Perhaps they don't really care? Maybe the NFL would even take money from the US military to promote patriotism during games by requiring teams to be present on the field during the anthem. Yeah. They did.

Jeff just maybe they want to keep winning Football games and they are smart enough to realise that if they fire a whole lot of good players, that will make their team suffer.

Or, maybe they don't appreciate their asshole president telling them how they should run their sports team.

(x) If taiwanese children get bloody hands from making 4$ flags you must burn that flag

They're too busy making lil' red caps.

The PR shitshow has only just begun, Jeff. It was manageable before - all they had to do was not sign a free agent quarterback that isn't that great and wants way more money than he's worth. Now every team has a dozen or more players that are vicariously involved in the protest. I wouldn't be that shocked to see teams try and let the fallout simmer and let it go on through the season or however long it goes, but if there isn't a surprisingly high number of protesting players that go unsigned as free agents this offseason, then pigs are flying.

Trump is going to win this culture war. If even 10% of his base turn of the NFL that will cause some massive changes. I know I didn't watch today and I won't until some of these sickos start getting fired.

I stopped watching football 3 years ago. Spoiled brats

Väga hea! Mu isa ka oli eestlane. I just got the documentation to register myself and my kids. (perekirja ärakiri) Ma õpin ka eesti keelt nüüd

I stand during the anthen. In fact I am so patriotic I dont even sit back down. I stand the entire sporting event to honor my country. After the event is over I stand while showering and then I hang myself upside down using metal clamps so I sleep standing up - upside down from the ceiling