Poor Sportsmanship in the NFL

[Magpie]

Yes.... I meant it in symbolic way. The Flag, The Anthem, The Constitution, Bill of Rights, The Liberty Bell, The Statue of Liberty, etc... are all symbolic to and in what our forefathers sat down then, and what our Military/ Law enforcement / men and women choose to protect / defend / stand up for everyday. I my opinion he/ she/ we/ me / you... should be supporting the things that gives he/ she/ we/ me / us those rights. Not trying to tear it down, but find a better way...

Yes...Just as he has the right to sit, I have the right to stand and place my hand over my heart.... He has the right to think and say what his beliefs are.... but I do as well.... and you have the right to agree or disagree, with all.. part ... or none... and have your own say in what you think... That does not make us all right or wrong... It just does what those symbols were/are meant to do.

Yes I am proud to be a American... Yes I think that we are still the greatest country on earth, a bit dinged up but we are still the BEST...And to stay the best we need to pull together, and stop all the in fighting, and look for ways to get along, build up each other, and stop pointing fingers.

With the anniversary of 9/11 coming up soon... maybe we should all think how we all felt that day and reflect on how all those people helped each other that day, no-one was focusing on anything but the task at hand, they just did what needed to be done, stranger helping stranger...banding together to offer comfort, and trying help save as many people they could that day and for the days to come. How people cheered when they raised our flag... not only in New York.. everywhere here in America... It was a sign of strength and hope...

Every person can make a difference...one kind act can make a difference.

Sending Pixie Dust and Love to all....

Not to disagree with you in any way, as I agree absolutely that symbols are powerful, real things.

But I've always been fascinated when Americans say, with absolute belief and conviction, "We're the greatest country on earth!"

I love Canada. I would rather live here than anywhere else. I think Canada's better, in many ways, than the US. Which is, of course, why I chose to become a citizen of this country. But, while Canada is the country of my heart, I don't believe at all that it's the "greatest country on earth". I don't think it needs to be. I can love this country and serve this country, without having to believe it's the greatest country on earth. My love for my country is unconditional, but it's not blind.

I don't know what the greatest country is, to be honest. Some countries definitely aren't great. Pakistan, Iran, Somalia, North Korea, Laos - they obviously aren't going to be at the top of anyone's list (except maybe Kim Jong's ). But greatest? That's harder to put your finger on.

I do know the US does poorly by many metrics. You are lagging behind much of the developed world in life expectancy, maternal and infant deaths, education, income inequality, etc...

On the other hand, the US's GDP is still the highest in the world. And you've got a huge population. So, if money is the sole measure of success, then sure... USA #1!

Until China's GDP catches up, anyway.

 

[pryncess527]

Not to disagree with you in any way, as I agree absolutely that symbols are powerful, real things.

But I've always been fascinated when Americans say, with absolute belief and conviction, "We're the greatest country on earth!"

I love Canada. I would rather live here than anywhere else. I think Canada's better, in many ways, than the US. Which is, of course, why I chose to become a citizen of this country. But, while Canada is the country of my heart, I don't believe at all that it's the "greatest country on earth". I don't think it needs to be. I can love this country and serve this country, without having to believe it's the greatest country on earth. My love for my country is unconditional, but it's not blind.

I don't know what the greatest country is, to be honest. Some countries definitely aren't great. Pakistan, Iran, Somalia, North Korea, Laos - they obviously aren't going to be at the top of anyone's list (except maybe Kim Jong's ). But greatest? That's harder to put your finger on.

I get where you are coming from. And this is not a platitude I say often, but when I say or think that America is the greatest country, I don't mean perfect, or the best at everything, or #1 by the most important metrics -- it's an opinion statement. I've thought long and hard about the benefits and disadvantages to living in various countries, and I can not think of a country I'd rather live in. That sentiment to me can be summed up as America is the greatest country on earth. Cause it's the one I want to live in the most.
Which sounds like how you feel about Canada, you just have a different connotation associated with "the greatest"
I do feel the way you do when I hear someone say America is #1. I always think, #1 at what? If it's #1 at places I want to live, then sure! Otherwise, statistically probably not.

 

[Geoff_M]

I do know the US does poorly by many metrics. You are lagging behind much of the developed world in life expectancy, maternal and infant deaths, education, income inequality, etc...

And yet, each year countless boatloads of immigrants want to come here in spite of all of that... Go figure!

 

[kimblebee]

Not to disagree with you in any way, as I agree absolutely that symbols are powerful, real things.

But I've always been fascinated when Americans say, with absolute belief and conviction, "We're the greatest country on earth!"

I love Canada. I would rather live here than anywhere else. I think Canada's better, in many ways, than the US. Which is, of course, why I chose to become a citizen of this country. But, while Canada is the country of my heart, I don't believe at all that it's the "greatest country on earth". I don't think it needs to be. I can love this country and serve this country, without having to believe it's the greatest country on earth. My love for my country is unconditional, but it's not blind.

I don't know what the greatest country is, to be honest. Some countries definitely aren't great. Pakistan, Iran, Somalia, North Korea, Laos - they obviously aren't going to be at the top of anyone's list (except maybe Kim Jong's ). But greatest? That's harder to put your finger on.

I do know the US does poorly by many metrics. You are lagging behind much of the developed world in life expectancy, maternal and infant deaths, education, income inequality, etc...

On the other hand, the US's GDP is still the highest in the world. And you've got a huge population. So, if money is the sole measure of success, then sure... USA #1!

Until China's GDP catches up, anyway.

THANK YOU!! You're braver than me, but I always wonder this to when I hear 'America is the greatest country in the world' Meh, no. Name one thing that you can do in the States that you can't do anywhere else..I haven't heard one thing yet.

 

[sam_gordon]

Name one thing that you can do in the States that you can't do anywhere else.

Carry a semi-automatic weapon? <ducks and runs>

 

[Geoff_M]

Name one thing that you can do in the States that you can't do anywhere else..I haven't heard one thing yet.

Have a team that can win the Stanley Cup.

 

[kimblebee]

Have a team that can win the Stanley Cup.

With mostly Canadian players

 

[Nayan]

Just remember, while we're bashing Kap for his sitting down we should all be glad we live in a country where not sitting up won't get you executed

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry...ting-up-straight_us_57c6c7d8e4b0e60d31dc3939?

 

[Magpie]

And yet, each year countless boatloads of immigrants want to come here in spite of all of that... Go figure!

Countless boatloads of immigrants want to come to Canada, too. And Germany, the UK, and France.

Go figure!

 

[gmboy95]

One of the real eventual negatives that came from our post 9/11 world was this hyper-patriotism that made criticism of certain things off limits. Things like wearing flag lapel pins became a referendum on your love of country. Entire music genres sprung up that played off peoples romanticized view of patriotism. It became impossible for a time to be anti war and yet still support the troops. It still exists where many feel that to criticize police is to NOT support police....I would argue these gestures are actually lazy forms of patriotism. it makes the person standing with his hand over his heart shouting out the national anthem to a flag he/she claims they revere feel better, while at that very same moment sitting back down in their seat dressed in shorts made of the American flag, while piling a heaping portion of potato salad on a plate with a print of said flag on it, that we promptly throw in the trash.....So it makes me uncomfortable when i go to a sporting event and the national anthem begins, and some drunk loses his mind at a guy a few rows away who forgot to take his hat off. It cheapens the act if it becomes something you "must do"....As far as this particular protest. i always ask myself these simple questions 1) what is this person protesting. 2) what does the person have to gain? 3) what does this person have to lose?.......In this case the player has nothing to gain other then making a point through silent protest, and everything to lose in the form of a contract that is mostly not guaranteed and tens of millions of dollars in endorsement money....that being said, i may not agree with the form of his protest, but i do agree with his concerns, and respect his taking that chance!

 

[gmboy95]

Countless boatloads of immigrants want to come to Canada, too. And Germany, the UK, and France.

Go figure!

Thank you for saying this....I know many people in other countries that wake up every day in a country with the same freedoms we have. that raise their families in a place they love and have zero interest in moving elsewhere. Their countries take in refugees. they have universal healthcare, and have a longer life expectancy....i love my country, and the state i live in...but to act like somehow i live in some nirvana that the rest of the world is completely envious of is fiction

 

[LovesTimone]

Not to disagree with you in any way, as I agree absolutely that symbols are powerful, real things.

But I've always been fascinated when Americans say, with absolute belief and conviction, "We're the greatest country on earth!"

I love Canada. I would rather live here than anywhere else. I think Canada's better, in many ways, than the US. Which is, of course, why I chose to become a citizen of this country. But, while Canada is the country of my heart, I don't believe at all that it's the "greatest country on earth". I don't think it needs to be. I can love this country and serve this country, without having to believe it's the greatest country on earth. My love for my country is unconditional, but it's not blind.

I don't know what the greatest country is, to be honest. Some countries definitely aren't great. Pakistan, Iran, Somalia, North Korea, Laos - they obviously aren't going to be at the top of anyone's list (except maybe Kim Jong's ). But greatest? That's harder to put your finger on.

I do know the US does poorly by many metrics. You are lagging behind much of the developed world in life expectancy, maternal and infant deaths, education, income inequality, etc...

On the other hand, the US's GDP is still the highest in the world. And you've got a huge population. So, if money is the sole measure of success, then sure... USA #1!

Until China's GDP catches up, anyway.

I respect your opinion...I think its the greatest... I did not say perfect... but its the best choice for me..

 

[Geoff_M]

Countless boatloads of immigrants want to come to Canada, too. And Germany, the UK, and France.

Go figure!

Sure, but someone apparently needs to let the ones that want to come here know how bad things are and they'd be a lot better off in those other places!

 

[gmboy95]

He doesn't seem to have any problem accepting his 11.9 million dollar guaranteed oppressive salary from this oppressive society. I would be more impressed if he donated his salary to a cause that fought oppression. That would be standing up for oppression.

lets make one thing clear....kaepernick is not paid by our "society" or the Unites states of America.....he is paid for a talent he has that only about 32 other guys posses by billionaire owners, and a smaller group at his level of pay.....Just because he is good at something and earns market value, does not remove his right to speak about what he sees as oppression..

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Poor sportsmanship is Hope Solo having a huge hissy fit and calling the other team names because we lost fair and square. What Kap did isn't.

Correctamundo. End of thread.

As a side note I was wondering when someone would bring up that fact that agree or disagree with what he did, it doesn't really constitute poor sportsmanship.

 

[Magpie]

Carry a semi-automatic weapon? <ducks and runs>

You can do that in the Czech Republic!

Also, Canadians can hunt with semi-automatic hunting rifles, though there's restrictions on the size of magazine, etc.

 

[sam_gordon]

Name one thing that you can do in the States that you can't do anywhere else.

Go to Disney World without a passport?

 

[LisaR]

Not to disagree with you in any way, as I agree absolutely that symbols are powerful, real things.

But I've always been fascinated when Americans say, with absolute belief and conviction, "We're the greatest country on earth!"

I love Canada. I would rather live here than anywhere else. I think Canada's better, in many ways, than the US. Which is, of course, why I chose to become a citizen of this country. But, while Canada is the country of my heart, I don't believe at all that it's the "greatest country on earth". I don't think it needs to be. I can love this country and serve this country, without having to believe it's the greatest country on earth. My love for my country is unconditional, but it's not blind.

I don't know what the greatest country is, to be honest. Some countries definitely aren't great. Pakistan, Iran, Somalia, North Korea, Laos - they obviously aren't going to be at the top of anyone's list (except maybe Kim Jong's ). But greatest? That's harder to put your finger on.

I do know the US does poorly by many metrics. You are lagging behind much of the developed world in life expectancy, maternal and infant deaths, education, income inequality, etc...



On the other hand, the US's GDP is still the highest in the world. And you've got a huge population. So, if money is the sole measure of success, then sure... USA #1!

Until China's GDP catches up, anyway.

I liken this to saying that my kids are the greatest kids in the world. To me, they are! It doesn't mean that your kids aren't great and it most certainly doesn't mean my kids are perfect by any means, but to me, they are and always will be the greatest. I don't agree with everything they do and they definitely have room for improvement, but to me they are simply great!

 

[gmboy95]

I have told my son often...the minute you ever proclaim yourself 'the best" or "the greatest"....there will always be someone ready and willing to prove you wrong, and then someone after that person and so on.....the moral to that story is that their no such thing as "the best" or "the greatest".....well, unless your Tom Brady

 

[JaxDad]

Countless boatloads of immigrants want to come to Canada, too. And Germany, the UK, and France.

Go figure!

If you add up the immigrant populations of Canada, Germany, the UK, and France, it still doesn't equal the immigrant population of the US...