Trump is the Great Divider. He became involved in the Birther Movement to become a spokesman for a certain part of the Republican base that was resentful of immigrants and other racial groups. His very speech as a candidate was an extremely xenophobic speech designed to appeal to that part of the Republican base. He realized that the excitement from that part of the base could get him the nomination over tepid alternatives. From there...who knows what could happen.
Every so often he throws throw red meat to that base to keep them happy. These comments about black athletes disrespecting the anthem are another example. But that base is only about 30%. The question in 2020 whether more Republican moderate voters will decide to not vote the party Republican line and reject Trump's divisiveness.
Anyway, I see nothing wrong with black athletes deciding they are not going to stand when they feel the Nation is not living to its ideals and they believe black lives are not being considered of equal value in our society, as evidenced by all the police shootings of black people. People are free to dislike them for it. At the very least it calls attention to the issue. And if a person thinks the country is doing something fundamentally wrong...refusing to mindlessly salute its symbols is a time-honored way of protest.
Why is the national anthem played in public settings? Obviously, it is a way to instill patriotism and love of country. The flag and national anthem are symbols of what our country represents, that it is a democracy, that we fought two world wars and helped to defeat Communism. They represent everything that our country has done and what it is now.There is a lot of good there..but it ain't all good. And while extreme not honoring the nation's symbols is a dramatic way of a person showing that they will not fully salute the nation's symbols when there is something deeply troubling going on.
Every so often he throws throw red meat to that base to keep them happy. These comments about black athletes disrespecting the anthem are another example. But that base is only about 30%. The question in 2020 whether more Republican moderate voters will decide to not vote the party Republican line and reject Trump's divisiveness.
Anyway, I see nothing wrong with black athletes deciding they are not going to stand when they feel the Nation is not living to its ideals and they believe black lives are not being considered of equal value in our society, as evidenced by all the police shootings of black people. People are free to dislike them for it. At the very least it calls attention to the issue. And if a person thinks the country is doing something fundamentally wrong...refusing to mindlessly salute its symbols is a time-honored way of protest.
Why is the national anthem played in public settings? Obviously, it is a way to instill patriotism and love of country. The flag and national anthem are symbols of what our country represents, that it is a democracy, that we fought two world wars and helped to defeat Communism. They represent everything that our country has done and what it is now.There is a lot of good there..but it ain't all good. And while extreme not honoring the nation's symbols is a dramatic way of a person showing that they will not fully salute the nation's symbols when there is something deeply troubling going on.