Nebraska's Michael Rose-Ivey receives racial backlash for anthem protest

[Landlord]

How can it be similar if nothing has really happened yet? All the anthem protests are doing is causing a bigger rift. What MLK did caused a legislative change. There are no more legislative changes to be done. All anthem protests are trying to do is change society at this point, which will only make it worse.

Plenty has already happened, but even if it hasn't, you still sound exactly like the white narratives of the 1960's. MLK caused legislative change, but that took years and years and years, and in the meantime, people like you thought what he was doing was bad, disruptive, divisive and driving a wedge in our country.

I'm still yet to hear how praying for God's grace and mercy to fall on our country is disrespectful.It is not. Kneeling down when trying to honor our fallen heroes is disrespectful.

A) The National Anthem is not designed to honor our fallen heroes

B) Kneeling down and praying for God's grace and mercy to fall on our country. Actively wishing and hoping for our country to be better. That is what MRI was doing. Think about it. Really think about how the hell that is disrespectful to America.

 

[GBRHouston]

I have a feeling that some (not all) supporters think everybody who is against anthem protests, BLM, etc. are racist. You can want diversity while not supporting people who take a knee for the anthem. I do not think Gov. Ricketts' statement is racist at all. He is both right and wrong, but I will address that later in a post that I do not feel like making right at this instant.

EDIT: Before I get nasty replies, I agree that racism exists and it is a problem. I am saying that not every stance against it is racist.

I agree. But I don't think anyone here is saying that being against those things is racism, at least I don't remember that claim.
Let me ask a different question. Aside from the method that MRI is using to get attention, what's your opinion on his message?

I never said that MRI was doing this to get attention. In fact, his statement made me agree with protesting. My opinion is that Kaep was doing this to get attention, but I never said that out loud, not on here at least.

 

[RedDenver]

I have a feeling that some (not all) supporters think everybody who is against anthem protests, BLM, etc. are racist. You can want diversity while not supporting people who take a knee for the anthem. I do not think Gov. Ricketts' statement is racist at all. He is both right and wrong, but I will address that later in a post that I do not feel like making right at this instant.

EDIT: Before I get nasty replies, I agree that racism exists and it is a problem. I am saying that not every stance against it is racist.

I agree. But I don't think anyone here is saying that being against those things is racism, at least I don't remember that claim.
Let me ask a different question. Aside from the method that MRI is using to get attention, what's your opinion on his message?

Umm...look at post 331 above where I bolded a comment from Guy suggesting that those who are having reactions to the protest are racists.

I see how you drew that conclusion, and if that was Guy's intent, then I'll disagree with him. But I interpreted that as some good people are racists without realizing it, and they are part of the opposition to the protest. Not that being in opposition of the protest makes you a racist (with or without knowing it or being a good person).

 

[knapplc]

The national anthem is not a song paying respects to fallen soldiers. Can we dispense with that myth?

I'm still waiting on the "official" meaning you claimed earlier.

I already answered that. Yesterday, in fact.

 

[Landlord]

If you have a racial bias, or pre-judge people based on their race, then you are, by definition racist. I'm racist. I don't use the N-word, but there are times that I treat people differently based on race. There are times that I have a preconceived idea about someone I don't know based on their race. I don't mean to, and its usually an unconscious thing, but I do it.

I think that when people start to come to terms with their own biases, (rather than ignoring them, or claiming moral superiority), then its possible to change our views a little.

The real injustice is ignoring the problem.

I am too, and I'm trying to get better. I've never understood the white fragility that freaks the f*** out over some imagined heinous accusation. All that claim is saying is that, "You haven't walked a mile in minority shoes, yet you think you know better than they what they experience and how they should act." That's ignorance. Ignorance isn't evil, ignorance is a lack of knowledge.

The biggest heartbreaker in these discussions is so many people who, hypothetically, could be right about everything, but don't seem to have any desire to actually try to listen, to extend empathy, to even consider for a really tough second that they might have some blinders on not seeing the full picture.

I'm sure someone will accuse me of doing the same thing by staunchly arguing in these threads, so let me get ahead of that. I'm talking about what people say about themselves. I'm talking about millions of people crying out, "We're hurting, we're struggling, we are not equal, and we are not represented." I'm not talking about what you have to say about a group you're not a part of. I'm talking about dismissing the experiences and testimonies and hurts and scars of entire people groups.

 

[GBRHouston]

And Landlord, I am not on a device that is capable of quoting your whole message at the moment, but I still need to respond anyway, because what you said offended me heavily. HOW do I sound like a white narrative from the 60s? Racism back then was people who wanted black people to not have any of the rights we have. Either way, I have stated many times in this thread that I want black people to have all the same rights as us. Apparently I need to say it again: I am all for equality.

 

[Hoosker]

There's something big happening and I think we need to look at the possibility that it's good.

I think guys like Ricketts and Daub took the kind of position they have taken their whole lives, and fully expected the bedrock majority in our conservative state to welcome their comments. It was the initial first reaction of a lot of people. Good people who don't think they're racist.

Maybe Ricketts and Daub and others immediately outraged didn't expect the blowback to go against them. Not the politically correct blowback some try to blame on media orchestration, but a genuine seismic shift of a younger generation who shrug these things off, and a boomer generation that has have lived long enough to realize their personal experience doesn't dictate everyone else's.

Knee jerk reactions are giving in to reappraisals. People are figuring out they can live with more differences than they thought. Combat veterans aren't speaking with one voice, and neither are BLM supporters. The coach is speaking more about unity than division. The football player in question is meeting with the Governor.

Honestly, for as much as people hate these kind of threads, I'm pretty impressed with the level of discourse on a Husker football fan site.

Michael Rose-Ivey certainly wasn't wrong doing what he did for the reasons he stated.

I wholeheartedly agreed with everything in this post.

Very nicely put, Guy.

So you agree with the part in bold?

Yes

 

[Blackshirt96]

The national anthem is not a song paying respects to fallen soldiers. Can we dispense with that myth?

I'm still waiting on the "official" meaning you claimed earlier.

I already answered that. Yesterday, in fact.

No you rambled on about other song meanings but never laid your claim of where the official meaning can be found or even where you got your claim of the official meaning.

 

[HuskerNation1]

The national anthem is not a song paying respects to fallen soldiers. Can we dispense with that myth?

Of course it is not. I was not implying that, and I don't think anyone else was. It is, however, a symbol of our country, A country that people died to make the way that it is now.

We sing the anthem while looking toward the flag that does represent everyone, but has a special place for our veterans. At sporting events soldiers are often brought out prior to singing the national anthem. On Veterans Day we use flags as a symbol to remember our fallen soldiers. So while the flag and anthem do represent all Americans, it does have special meaning for our veterans and military personnel.

Are you a veteran? Why do you feel the need to speak on their behalf? I am a veteran yet I don't try to speak for all veterans.

Your opinions are exactly that - YOUR opinions.

I have a great deal of respect for the flag and what it represents. I know how the flag should be treated and how it should properly be displayed. It represents our country. I am upset when people disrespect the flag by not caring for it the way it should be. When people in the stands talk during the anthem or don't take their hats off.

You say MRI and others have disrespected the flag, when they have explicitly said that was not their intent when they took a knee. I feel his actions are more patriotic than most people, many veterans included, have ever done. He is trying to make this country a better place. Can you say the same?

I am not a veteran and know several veterans, some of who are no longer planning to watch football anymore. One veteran I know canceled his NFL ticket package, and they offered it at half price, and his response was "you can't pay me to watch the games anymore." So yes, everybody can see this through a different lens, but I have heard from several veterans (and seen more posts through Facebook tags) that indicate many are upset. Now is this all veterans...of course not. As for MRI actions being patriotic, we can agree to disagree on that one. I especially disagree with the notion that his actions are more patriotic than those who have gone abroad to serve our country. I have seen a country become more divided than ever in my lifetime over the past 7 years, and these protests are continuing that trend unfortunately.

 

[AZHusker30]

Long-time lurker, first time poster as this subject is just driving me nuts and felt compelled to post my opinion. So here it goes...

Who the fu&% cares if someone kneels or protests the national anthem during a sports event. The over-reaction to this is so mind-boggling. My first question is this, what the hell does the american flag or national anthem have to do with sports, especially professional sports like the NFL? Watching millionaire athletes pound the crap out of each other for 4 hours is patriotic or part of why we have freedom in this country? Seriously?

The national anthem is fitting for politics, swearing in of new US citizens, the olympics and the 4th of July and that's about it. We get so hung up on some of our traditions that no one stops and thinks about what the true meaning really is. Running down a field and catching a ball is patriotic? Yes, we have freedom and playing sports is a part of that but if that's the case, then why don't we sing the anthem before you eat breakfast, or fill your car up with gas, or brush your teeth, or play a round of golf or watch Game of Thrones. Think about it...

And guess what, racism is alive and well in our country, we reek of it. I am as white as you can get, grew up in Nebraska and now live in Arizona but I see it everyday. I could walk in any neighborhood in Phoenix with a hoodie on and no one would care. If a black guy did the same thing, neighbors would call the police in 10 seconds.

Kudos to our players for standing up for their beliefs and actually caring about something besides football. And to the people who think this is anti-american or pathetic or you want them kicked off the team ... grow the fu&$ up!

 

[HuskerNation1]

There's something big happening and I think we need to look at the possibility that it's good.

I think guys like Ricketts and Daub took the kind of position they have taken their whole lives, and fully expected the bedrock majority in our conservative state to welcome their comments. It was the initial first reaction of a lot of people. Good people who don't think they're racist.

Maybe Ricketts and Daub and others immediately outraged didn't expect the blowback to go against them. Not the politically correct blowback some try to blame on media orchestration, but a genuine seismic shift of a younger generation who shrug these things off, and a boomer generation that has have lived long enough to realize their personal experience doesn't dictate everyone else's.

Knee jerk reactions are giving in to reappraisals. People are figuring out they can live with more differences than they thought. Combat veterans aren't speaking with one voice, and neither are BLM supporters. The coach is speaking more about unity than division. The football player in question is meeting with the Governor.

Honestly, for as much as people hate these kind of threads, I'm pretty impressed with the level of discourse on a Husker football fan site.

Michael Rose-Ivey certainly wasn't wrong doing what he did for the reasons he stated.

I wholeheartedly agreed with everything in this post.

Very nicely put, Guy.

So you agree with the part in bold?

Yes

So you believe that those who disagree with protesting the national anthem are racist? Is that correct? If so, please explain.

 

[RedDenver]

I have a feeling that some (not all) supporters think everybody who is against anthem protests, BLM, etc. are racist. You can want diversity while not supporting people who take a knee for the anthem. I do not think Gov. Ricketts' statement is racist at all. He is both right and wrong, but I will address that later in a post that I do not feel like making right at this instant.

EDIT: Before I get nasty replies, I agree that racism exists and it is a problem. I am saying that not every stance against it is racist.

I agree. But I don't think anyone here is saying that being against those things is racism, at least I don't remember that claim.
Let me ask a different question. Aside from the method that MRI is using to get attention, what's your opinion on his message?

I never said that MRI was doing this to get attention. In fact, his statement made me agree with protesting. My opinion is that Kaep was doing this to get attention, but I never said that out loud, not on here at least.

I wasn't clear, I meant MRI bringing attention to his cause, not to himself. And the bolded part answers my question.

 

[Mierin]

Ron Brown's comments were also incredibly unfortunate.

RedDenver made a good point above: it's not the freeness of their speech, it's how it's used.

Hal Daub is right that the athletes have some responsibility to be representing UNL well. Through the sum of their actions, they have. And they're not out here promoting their personal politics. Their expression of solidarity resonates, clearly as we can see in this thread, across all political lines.

When Ron Brown said what he did, he created an explicitly hostile atmosphere to gay people at Nebraska. There have gay football players at Nebraska in the past, and there probably are now. It was extremely disappointing to see that coming from a man empowered as a coach and a leader at a university.

Bingo to what is bolded...that is what started this debate...how the freedom of speech has been used via protesting the national anthem.

Why are you saying "bingo" ? You've gone on and on about hypocrisy and how we're complaining about what Ricketts said and how he should have the right to free speech too. Nobody has argued he doesn't have a right to say what he did, yet you're implying his free speech rights are being questioned. They haven't and they aren't, yet you've been saying it for about 2 pages now.

 

[GBRHouston]

Long-time lurker, first time poster as this subject is just driving me nuts and felt compelled to post my opinion. So here it goes...

Who the fu&% cares if someone kneels or protests the national anthem during a sports event. The over-reaction to this is so mind-boggling. My first question is this, what the hell does the american flag or national anthem have to do with sports, especially professional sports like the NFL? Watching millionaire athletes pound the crap out of each other for 4 hours is patriotic or part of why we have freedom in this country? Seriously?

The national anthem is fitting for politics, swearing in of new US citizens, the olympics and the 4th of July and that's about it. We get so hung up on some of our traditions that no one stops and thinks about what the true meaning really is. Running down a field and catching a ball is patriotic? Yes, we have freedom and playing sports is a part of that but if that's the case, then why don't we sing the anthem before you eat breakfast, or fill your car up with gas, or brush your teeth, or play a round of golf or watch Game of Thrones. Think about it...

And guess what, racism is alive and well in our country, we reek of it. I am as white as you can get, grew up in Nebraska and now live in Arizona but I see it everyday. I could walk in any neighborhood in Phoenix with a hoodie on and no one would care. If a black guy did the same thing, neighbors would call the police in 10 seconds.

Kudos to our players for standing up for their beliefs and actually caring about something besides football. And to the people who think this is anti-american or pathetic or you want them kicked off the team ... grow the fu&$ up!

Welcome to HuskerBoard.

Sports are patriotic because they are a unique part of our culture. That answers your question about why sweaty guys hitting each other is patriotic. To respond to everything else you said, look at my past posts.

 

[knapplc]

The national anthem is not a song paying respects to fallen soldiers. Can we dispense with that myth?

I'm still waiting on the "official" meaning you claimed earlier.

I already answered that. Yesterday, in fact.

No you rambled on about other song meanings but never laid your claim of where the official meaning can be found or even where you got your claim of the official meaning.

That's your answer. You don't have to like it. You're clearly balled up about the word "official." Get over it.