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

[Lyons in the Sea of Red.]

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.

Lol I'm sure he will do that right away, sir.

 

[HuskerNation1]

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.

Did you not see the part "Its how its used" suggesting that how freedom of speech is used does matter. Some on here were questioning how Ricketts went about using his freedom of speech, just as others question how CK and MRI are using their freedom of speech.

 

[knapplc]

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.

Sports are not patriotic, they're sports. AZHusker30 has it 100% correct. Sporting events are not an appropriate place to profess nationalistic fervor. We should have stopped the tradition of opening games with the anthem decades ago when World War II ended.

 

[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.

Did you not see the part "Its how its used" suggesting that how freedom of speech is used does matter. Some on here were questioning how Ricketts went about using his freedom of speech, just as others question how CK and MRI are using their freedom of speech.

I saw the part about how you whined that Ricketts isn't allowed to have his say, which is false.

People complaining about the players doing this are being argued with. They're not being told they're not allowed to be upset.

 

[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.

Lol I'm sure he will do that right away, sir.

No need to be rude. I have been rational in my responses, and most of the responses to my responses have been rational as well, whether agreeable or not. I was saying that because I do not feel like typing everything out again. I am sure he has already seen my posts, as he said he has read this thread.

 

[ColoNoCoHusker]

Ricketts' reaction was poor and completely unbefitting a governor. There's really no excuse for that.

The kids on the team who did this were thoughtful, conscientious, and earnest. They expressed their views politely and respectfully. Their teammates and coaches around them, many of whom I promise you disagree with protesting the anthem, gave them nothing but love and respect in return. Under Riley's leadership, it was more or less a clinic in class and coming together during a fraught time.

I'm glad the governor is now meeting with MRI. But initially, this was utterly tone-deaf on Ricketts' part. And a country mile worse on the part of Hal Daub.

Those of you defending Ricketts, this isn't about his free speech having been infringed. This is about you agreeing with his decision to step in and call these actions disgraceful on the same day the team itself put up such a wonderful display of unity and understanding.

But here's the thing...those of us who disagree with CK and MRI protesting the flag believe that action is disgraceful and disrespectful despite recognizing they have the right to do it. Heck, they can spit on the flag, burn it as has been done often in this country, etc... This country offers them that right, but it also offers other citizens, including an elected official, the right to voice his disagreement with their actions. So as I said before, this is a 2-way street.

What are you arguing against? No one is disputing free speech.

But there are some arguing with how Ricketts is using his freedom of speech, while bashing anyone who disagrees with how MRI is using his freedom of speech. See the hypocrisy. This is a debate and topic where there is going to be strong division no matter what others say.

So it is hypocrisy to criticize an elected official that publicly passes judgement on the legal and protected actions of a private citizen?!? Fun facts like one person makes/enforces Government policy and the other does not would have no bearing in this situation, correct?

 

[Stumpy1]

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!

This is my line of thought also...

I do have a couple questions though. What are everyone's thoughts on the players holding the flag during the national anthem when MRI and them were kneeling for it? Do you think they done that on purpose?

 

[zoogs]

For those of you who don't believe that racism exists...or maybe that it isn't as widespread as people say it is...or that it is only a small part of society...please, read this because it had quite an impact on how I view things: https://www.facebook.com/kate.riffleroper/posts/1746348308987959

Read this. Comprehend it. Just because you don't see it doesn't mean that it doesn't exist or isn't an issue. Open your eyes. Understand that what MRI did is trying to get people to pay attention to the problem instead of claim it doesn't exist.

Thank you for posting that.

 

[HuskerNation1]

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.

Did you not see the part "Its how its used" suggesting that how freedom of speech is used does matter. Some on here were questioning how Ricketts went about using his freedom of speech, just as others question how CK and MRI are using their freedom of speech.

I saw the part about how you whined that Ricketts isn't allowed to have his say, which is false.

People complaining about the players doing this are being argued with. They're not being told they're not allowed to be upset.

There are 2 sets of reactions going on here. Those that are upset about the protesters are reacting and others defending them for how they are choosing to voice their freedom of expression, and those that are upset at Ricketts and others defending him for how he chose to voice his freedoms. The point is that if you were initially defending the protesters and pushing back on those who disagreed with how they chose to express their freedoms, then don't turn around and whine about how Ricketts is choosing to express his freedoms.

 

[Landlord]

All the anthem protests are doing is causing a bigger rift. 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.

Racism is definitely still a thing, and I hope it ends at some point, and we can all live our normal lives without racism. However, anthem protests will help nothing.

there are much better ways to protest than the one time you should not protest.

However, we are now confronted by a series of demonstrations by some of our Negro citizens, directed and led in part by outsiders. We recognize the natural impatience of people who feel that their hopes are slow in being realized. But we are convinced that these demonstrations are unwise and untimely.

Just as we formerly pointed out that “hatred and violence have no sanction in our religious and political traditions,” we also point out that such actions as incite to hatred and violence, however technically peaceful those actions may be, have not contributed to the resolution of our local problems. We do not believe that these days of new hope are days when extreme measures are justified in Birmingham.

misguided moves that can only provoke greater divisiveness and racial discord.[/I]

I've tried to highlight the similarities in thinking for you to more clearly see.

 

[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.

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

So my answer is you have no idea & make false claims. Got it thanks.

 

[GBRHouston]

I'm going to type a new response. MRI is both right and wrong. Pete Ricketts is both right and wrong. I am glad they are meeting up and discussing this, hopefully they both learn something from this. I agree that racism does exist in our country. I do hope that changes. However, the national anthem is not the time or place to protest it. I was fine with silent protests that are not hurting anything. However, our country is not the reason racism exists, and by kneeling for the anthem, that is what they seem like they are saying. Protest on the street all you want, I hope there is change. Don't take it out on the country as a whole.

 

[zoogs]

The point is that if you were initially defending the protesters and pushing back on those who disagreed with how they chose to express their freedoms, then don't turn around and whine about how Ricketts is choosing to express his freedoms.

[SIZE=13.6px]Disingenuous.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=13.6px]I understand and respect the protesters' actions. These are brave and admirable -- not to mention patriotic -- young men.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=13.6px]Ricketts had his own freedom of choice, and he used that in a thoughtless way. Quite the opposite. Worthy of criticism. And we'll see where he takes it from here.[/SIZE]

 

[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

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

Of course not.

I believe that good people can be racist....which is exactly what Guy said.

Racism has multiple layers. I think it's more complex than labels suggest.

 

[GBRHouston]

All the anthem protests are doing is causing a bigger rift. 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.

Racism is definitely still a thing, and I hope it ends at some point, and we can all live our normal lives without racism. However, anthem protests will help nothing.

there are much better ways to protest than the one time you should not protest.

However, we are now confronted by a series of demonstrations by some of our Negro citizens, directed and led in part by outsiders. We recognize the natural impatience of people who feel that their hopes are slow in being realized. But we are convinced that these demonstrations are unwise and untimely.

Just as we formerly pointed out that “hatred and violence have no sanction in our religious and political traditions,” we also point out that such actions as incite to hatred and violence, however technically peaceful those actions may be, have not contributed to the resolution of our local problems. We do not believe that these days of new hope are days when extreme measures are justified in Birmingham.

misguided moves that can only provoke greater divisiveness and racial discord.[/I]

I've tried to highlight the similarities in thinking for you to more clearly see.

Can you please stop comparing what I am saying to statements made in the 1960s? Two completely different issues protested in two completely different ways. Refer to my last post for what I mean.