Originally Posted by
Raveninwoodlawn
A couple things here seriously.
I do not at all begrudge anyone upset about this, we all have a right to feel what we feel. If people want to not watch, God bless, we all can do without sports of all kinds if we needed to. I for instance probably would stop watching and spending my money if owners were to force players to stand or quiet them if they wanted to voice their opinions. And that's for any opinion.
The flag means a lot of different things to different people. Again, as someone who is black, has served and would absolutely serve again if the call came (as well as many other friends and family), the flag absolutely means a lot to me, I love my country. But also, people need to understand that the flag also means different things.
I listened to the radio yesterday and of course it was filled with a lot of angry people, and a lot of people defending what happened. I listened to callers (and people at work whom I have no issue discussing these things with) talk about how much they revered their ancestors who faught for this country, giving their lives...I've heard references to every war from the Civil War, to the WW's, and Vietnam. And I think they absolutely should be proud of what their grandparents and great grandparents for their sacrifices. But when talking to people at work that would bring that up, I would always acknowledge their ancestors, but I'd ask them to think of where my ancestors were at the time of these wars. Mine were slaves at the time of the Civil war. During the WW's, Jim Crow was in full effect, and my grandfather was a witness to 2 lynchings during his youth growing up in Mississippi. Vietnam was during a time when the Civil rights movement was going on. Many minorities still fought and died for this country despite discrimination and segregation.
Please don't misunderstand, I love this country, but while the flag stands for all the great things many know it stands for...it also has potential different meanings in addition to those, especially for those that want to bring up the history of this country as a reason for it's greatness...there is a lot of mistreatment to say the least as well in this great countries past.
This is not meant at all to be a "white guilt" post, but I did want to bring that up, especially since there are others who are emotionally against what's going on that they are the ones bringing up America's great past. It wasn't so great in the past for everyone is all I'm saying and while we absolute need to continue to move forward (and we absolutely have), I think it's also important that people don't stop striving to work and solve our issues. Acting like they don't exist, or blaming it on different ways to say "black people cant help themselves" (be honest, I'm sure som feel that way in this forum and I know a lot of people nationally feel that way) isn't the answer. Sometimes some are going to be uncomfortable. And people have a right to react to that as they wish as long as it's non violent. I just hope we continue to try and work on our issues. I wish our government could work together instead of constant party standoffs, both sides acting as children. Who knows if that will ever happen. Should stop us from trying though.