Radical, Thanks for your kind comments. As far as Deepspace goes, I'm always in awe of his ability to crank out the most intelligent, detailed, factual posts anywhere. I'm sure he must literally kill every cross word puzzle that gets in his way. I'm not sure that Deepspace is a male. As far as I know, I still am, although many conservatives would probably not agree.

From

Puerto Rico, the rest of the story:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/25/us/puerto-rico-maria-fema-disaster-.html

Mr. Long said that the federal government had 10,000 people “working around the clock” to help Puerto Rico. Money is not the issue at the moment, he said. More pressing, federal officials say, are the obstacles to smoothly delivering water, food and other essentials to a devastated island.

San Juan airport’s airfield is damaged. And while six ports have opened, most are operating on a limited basis.

---

Puerto Rico, Mexico, Florida, Texas and all devastated by recent sttorms and earth quakes deserve all the help we can give them.

REALLY!!!! REEEALLLY!!! Even if you think that it's disrespectful to kneel during the national anthem…Do you REALLY think that Donald J Trump, the biggest vote loser to ever occupy the White House…President Pussy Grabber…Five time military deferment receiver…Pathological liar…Thin skinned ego maniac…Three time adulterer… Repeated backstabber…Treasonous Russia colluder……...is really the person that you want to Trump-et the patriotism of standing during the national anthem. Give me a fuckin' break!!!

So true and well expressed, stopgap. In our form of government - for, by, and of the People -- protest is the highest form of patriotism, especially against symbols of hate. And it is one of our most protected rights as citizens. That's why, in 1989, the Supreme Court ruled that the government could not even stop citizens from desecrating the nation's flag, including burning it. The First Amendment, of course, means different things to different people, but who can honestly argue that expressing ourselves nonviolently is the most important aspect of it?

Naturally, that escapes the totalitarian mind. In fact, if Trump keeps pushing it as the supposed defender of the Constitution and primary agent of government, Congress should add that to his long list of impeachable offenses.

I remember back in the 70s and 80s it wasn't that uncommon for many of us to sit during the national anthem as a way of protesting the Vietnam War or Reagan or dissatisfaction with the government in general. They didn't even ask you to stand during the national anthem. They would just say, "and not the playing of our national anthem" and if you had a beef with the government you just sat on your ass. If you felt insecure about your patriotism and needed to wear it on your sleeve, you stood up.

Usually it was just a recording, rarely a live performance. No one thought that much about it. I don't remember anyone threatening to bash my head in or even hardly giving me a second look for not standing.

But of course, that all changed with the first Iraq war. The Country still smarting from the humiliating defeat in Vietnam decided that a good ol' national temper tantrum was in order. And who better to suffer the wrath of our need to reassert ourselves as the dominate force in the world, than those Arabs that had us by the balls with all their oil. Patriotism was suddenly all the rage. Even San Francisco was awash in flags. Every where you looked there were flags and more flags. All eyes were glued to the televisions in bars and homes throughout the land, cheering on the video arcade spectacle that was "Desert Storm." Wolf Blitzer and Gen. Schwarzkopf became celebrities over night.

The Defense Industry, no slackers, realized, here was their ticket to riches beyond even their wildest dreams. But wars don't last forever…do they? It helps if you can keep selling them. And what better way to keep selling the wars than to demand patriotism from everyone. What better way to control the masses than to shame them and turn their neighbors against them if they don't comply?

Most of us that sat out the national anthem in the 70s and 80s at games were usually white. I'm sure it's not lost on these athletes today, that this current wave of flag outrage, is just another racist tool for churning up the Trump base, dividing the Country, distracting attention from Russia-gate, Obamacare loss and all of Trump's other failures.

Personally, I couldn't be more proud of these athletes and even Jerry Jones for standing up to Trump by protesting during the national anthem. Symbols are not what people fight and die for. People, freedom and the right to express themselves, especially when they sense injustice, is what our troops fight and die for. Symbols should always take a backseat to the needs and the rights of the people.

Puerto Rico, the rest of the story:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/25/us/puerto-rico-maria-fema-disaster-.html

_____________

So, Kend, are you saying that during the national anthem -- when players are NOT playing -- that they are "[giving] less then 100%, letting down [their bosses, fans,] and most importantly their teammates?" What, for exercising their right to free speech in a public forum with a short but heartfelt and poignant protest, which doesn't detract any more from the game than a racist and militaristic bar song or over-the-top million-dollar add buys by greedy corporations who constantly interrupt the game?

Welcome to Meerkkka, where a stupid game that destroys the brains of its players is more important than the core principles of a nation.

As a business owner, a former Athlete and coach. I can not believe these coaches let the players do anything but give 100% of their time and attention to winning. Any less then 100% is letting down your boss, fans and most importantly your teammates. That is why in my sport hockey you have a minor league team, you can replace those who give less then everything.

This has been a cover up for lack of support for Puerto Rico. 3.5 million American citizens (same population as Colorado) with no electricity and devastated homes. Always watch what the other hand is doing. His base loves it.

Trump is a flaming bigot and so was Francis Scott Key who penned a racist rant that was later adopted as the national anthem. Like all racist bigots everywhere in modern times, the white men in Congress at the time tried to hide our national shame by putting a bright red bow on it, excluding the third stanza as too obvious:

"And where is that band who so vauntingly swore,
That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion
A home and a Country should leave us no more?
Their blood has wash’d out their foul footstep’s pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave,
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave."

http://www.theroot.com/star-spangled-bigotry-the-hidden-racist-history-of-the-1790855893

https://vimeo.com/166881889

I am glad you call it bribery because that is what I call it, too, and it should be a punishable act.

Stone Opening Statement

FYI

https://www.scribd.com/document/359899170/Stone-Opening-Statement#from_e...

When posting on a conserative site I will present a Dem position if you can comprehend that.

Jaysus! Irish and English genes? No wonder you are hopelessly confused.
LMOA! You're so easy.