Originally Posted by AsylumGuido (Post 890367)

Yes. I was once very conservative. I an still very fiscally conservative. But socially, at 62 years old having contact with friends from many cultures I have grown.

And, yes, I agree, all of those news sources you listed are trash as far as I am concerned. We are in agreement on that point. But, as I have grown I have learned that understanding others is not as easy as one would think. I am still growing. I truly pray you do as well. And I ain't ****tin' you. Real live prayers will be involved.

Originally Posted by The Dude (Post 890386)

And for the record I fully support the BLM movement.

Originally Posted by Danno (Post 890392)

what #BlackLivesMatter want:

1) Defund the police
2) Reparations for slavery
3) Guaranteed income for minorities
4) Free college and open admissions
5) Political prisoners in jails to be released
6) Voting age lowered to 16

Originally Posted by nola_swammi (Post 890382)

Let me explain something. Your views of the anthem is different from my views. Historically Americans fought for our rights to protest. For all men and women to be treated fairly BUT my ancestors BLACKS that also fought in those wars for those same promise were denied those freedoms and were most of them were even targeted for wearing the uniform. Still I as a AMERICAN knows the value of being a AMERICAN citizen and proudly served in the U.S.Army National Guard at a very young age 16 when I needed my parents signature to become a recruit. After 6 years of the guards at the age of 22 I joined the regular army as a 88M motor transportation. I loved my job and proudly served my country. Reason I am saying this is for people to understand I love my country. With that being said, knowing I want and DUE the same respect as a white man in America with the choice to protest and my protest is not perceived or diluted as unamerican or that I hate Americans. Could you imagine hundreds of Black Men’s at the Capital with assault rifles demanding for justice without being met with aggression from authorities? Well that is why it’s so hurting to BLACK AMERICANS that Brees come and once again with a narrative changer about disrespect.


For white Americans to understand how we BLACKS perceive the anthem you must look at the history of the poem by Francis Scott a known racist. The poem was recommended to be the national anthem On April 10, 1918, John Charles Linthicum, U.S. congressman from Maryland, introduced a bill to officially recognize "The Star-Spangled Banner" as the national anthem.The bill did not pass. Charles made 6 attempts and it was turned down. The 3rd stanza, which is rarely sung and few know, contain the words, “No refuge could save the hireling and SLAVE, From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave”. Now you tell me what your perception of that part of the stanza? Herbert Hoover the reincarnation as Donald Trump signed this to be the national anthem. Now again I say this is not about the FLAG it’s about Police brutality and killing of Black Americans. I only mention this so you can see that our views toward as something as anthem can be looked at different.

Originally Posted by burningmetal (Post 890385)

Thank you for your prayers. I pray for you, as well. Because, as much as I am opposed to much of your views, I don't hate you, and I argue for the sake of truth, where I am convicted to do so.

That being said, while there is room for all of us to grow, what you are calling growth is a regression and surrender of ideals. It's easy to tell someone who doesn't agree with you that they aren't listening, and that they don't care. In some cases, that can be true. However, it could not be further from truth, in my case. Make no mistake, I have examined the issues raised by these athletes, as well as those by all other groups like them. The statistics speak for themselves. The history of the politicians they've voted for, and the "progression" of what it has done to black families, tells a far different story from the one these groups today are protesting about.

I've heard them. Their narrative is false. There are many black folks who don't believe what these athletes are asserting on their behalf. They don't want to be painted as victims. The narrative that is being spread around right now is divisive. It drives people apart, not together. And when we bend the knee to this garbage, we are not showing how "understanding" we are. Much to the contrary, we show how LITTLE understanding we have of what is really happening, and we are perpetuating the divide of this country.

So if you want to pray for me, that's not what you need to pray about. I can use all the prayers I can get, for a lot of reasons, but on this issue, the facts are squarely on my side. Any conversation that deviates from the truth is a waste of time, and serves no purpose but to feign a moral high ground, while enabling a false narrative to drive an unnecessary divide.

Originally Posted by nola_swammi (Post 890382)

Could you imagine hundreds of Black Men’s at the Capital with assault rifles demanding for justice without being met with aggression from authorities?

Originally Posted by Danno (Post 890374)

He also fought for my right to tell the players kneeling to shove it up their ass.

They are intentionally insulting a huge portion of America. F*** em and the lying horse they rode in on.