White supremacists torch marches are freedom of speech.

These guys, like most of the people in our country today, fail to understand the basics of history. Protests don't affect change. Effective protests affect change.

These guys and their supporters like to compare them(selves) to the lunch counter protests of the 60s, or Rosa Parks and the bus protests. But there are zero similarities. Those protests were undertaken by the very people who were victimized, for lack of a better word, by the policies in place that created segregated lunch counters and public transportation. They wanted to make a change in restaurants, so they peacefully protested in restaurants. They wanted to make a change in public transportation, so they protested in public transportation.

These guys want to make a change in inner cities, so they - millionaires almost all - protest in.... football stadiums?? They protest using the national anthem - the one thing during the game that's supposed to bring us all together for at least a moment? Then they go back to their fancy houses, garages full of cars, in their gated communities. These guys have NOTHING in common with the protestors - the effective ones, anyway - of the 50s and 60s.

Secondly, what change do they want to affect? Change laws? I know of no laws regarding segregation or that force or even encourage inequality. Change circumstances? Perhaps, but how will a protest at a football game change that?

They say they want to start a conversation, but the conversation has become about the national anthem rather than their issue(s). No one is talking about the things they want to talk about - if they even know what those are - yet they continue to do what they've been doing which clearly does nothing but distract from the issues at hand. Now, it seems, they're protesting just to show they have the right to protest!

None of this is working and is only sowing more division. Follow the lead of Chris Long, who is donating ALL OF HIS PAYCHECKS to education. Follow the lead of DW4, who donated a game check to hurricane victims and more money to Habitat for Humanity. There are many ways they can use their position and status, but all they're doing now is drawing attention to themselves and making matters worse along the way.

jamaltiger

Asst Coach [703]

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Re: Beyond Enough, already.

Oct 27, 2017, 11:28 AM

Let me start by saying that I am a proud Clemson fan who is worried about the game this weekend. And while I would rather have my heart race out of fear of us falling out of the CFP race, on a more permanent basis, I am often in fear because of how my race impacts my life. And seeing many who share my love for the Tigers engage in dialogue in such a disrepectful and flippant way really breaks my heart.

I feel like I am uniquely qualified to chime in here. The problem with the way most of the national conversation is being conducted is indicative of the overall problem with our society: it's US versus THEM. The changes "they" want to make are the issues WE should all want to make. We should all want equal protection under the law and equal access to quality educaton. Those are just a couple of the items that "they" believe are deserving for all Americans.

When was the last time any of you drove past a police car in fear that you could die if you got pulled over just because someone was afraid of how you look? You don't have to go too far to get an enlightening response. Just ask the majority of the players who bleed and sweat for our delight as we stand and yell, clad in orange every Saturday of every fall. The reality is different for a lot of Americans. Not Black Americans or Brown Americans. Americans. No matter how much money one makes or how many cars one has, you get treated differently by society because of how you look. If DW4 gets pulled over and the officer doesn't know or care who he is, all he or she sees is a Black man. And the misconceptions and fears and biases of that officer could factor into how that stop goes. Knowing the fact that my life could be impacted (or ended) by a bad apple just because? That is a terrifying, frightening and sobering reality. When was the last time you were pulled over and asked, "why are you in this neighborhood?" Just think about that as you drive home today.

And that's just everyday life. Now to the demonstration.

Those who mock that there is no substance to the demonstration clearly limit their research. If you care to actually pay attention, Google Doug Baldwin of the Seattle Seahawks and he will tell you EXACTLY what the demonstration is about. Also, people who are easily distracted (SQUIRREL!) will focus on the messenger and not the message. If we care to be educated about the issue, we should do better than reach for the lowest hanging (and spoiled) fruit. The whole point of demonstration to institute change is to make people uncomfortable and disrupt the status quo. Why? Because the current state of our society is inherently wrong. That is our history. American history. Not THEIR history. From the abolition of slavery to Women's suffrage to the Civil Rights Movement, our history is about demonstrating to make change. I don't feel the need to get knee-deep into a history lesson. Just think about how much resistance oppressed people have faced in this, the most free nation in the human history, when they dared to demand some semblance of equality. Unfortunately, oppression of people is as American as apple pie. And understand that merely mentioning the not-so-rosy parts of our nation's history does not make this an anti-American rant. I'm simply making a point.

So what do I see being resisted? Is it the push for full equality? Nah...it's United States citizens taking collective knees and exercising their rights. They may not be demonstrating in the homogenized fashion that will make everyone comfortable, but it is making everyone talk, even if the dialogue is often lazy and off-target. And that's the point. We are engaging. The beauty of this nation is that you can't control how people exercise their rights. So, since you can't change or control it, why not be a part of the solution. Again, this isn't THEIR problem, it's OUR problem. The sooner we can institute change, the sooner you'll stop seeing knees bent during anthems and the sooner I don't have to fear for my life simply because I look like a football player with a brownish hue.

And for those who will argue that they don't want to see this message presented through the prism of sports? I could get cute and tell you to watch NASCAR or hockey. But that attitude defeats the purpose. We live in a free country. Remember, land of the free and home of the brave? Yeah, that came from the Anthem. The same Anthem that is not being protested against. Half of my family has served or are serving in the military. They support the demonstrations because they know they aren't being disrespected and they know the flag isn't being protested against. They have the ability to balance that strength while shouldering the life-long burden of being Black in America. The least I can do is try to get this conversation to focus on the message, not the way the message is delivered.

So, if you ever see me on campus watching and praying and hyperventilating as our Tigers play, just know that when we go our separate ways, I am going home to live in an America that is different from many of you. The bended knees are just seeking respect. And when I get on my knees tonight, I will pray that we will all be one day closer to a free and equal America for all. That is the message.

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Beyond Enough, already.

Lazy people pick lazy ways to

That's an interesting comment.

Re: Beyond Enough, already.

It should take care of itself when the 8 million that voted

Re: It should take care of itself when the 8 million that voted

Re: It should take care of itself when the 8 million that voted

Another silver lining moment, I love them, but be mindful...

Re: Another silver lining moment, I love them, but be mindful...

Walls are great...

Re: Walls are great...

Re: Walls are great...

^^^^

We've gone so far down the rabbit hole at this point

Re: We've gone so far down the rabbit hole at this point

Don't bogart that joint my friend, pass it on.***

That's generally what I do anymore..

Re: Beyond Enough, already.

Re: Beyond Enough, already.

^^^^ THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS ^^^^***

Re: White supremacists torch marches are freedom of speech.

The lady doth protest to much, methinks.

If them a hole supremes showed up protesting at a NFL game..

TigerKing aint gunna like this***

Gee a peaceful way to protest that gets National attention..

Re: Beyond Enough, already.

Excellent point.

You mad bro? FYI - this is the foosball bored. The

The first thing one should do to change people's mind or...

I don't know a single person allowed to ON THE JOB protest***

Re: Beyond Enough, already.

Hey, I'm just glad we didn't have to go thru

Re: Beyond Enough, already.

What other time is there to play it in front of a big

Taking a knee..wait is this the injury report thread?***

Comical you still don't get it.

I reject this argument. These protests have, in my opinion,

^^^What he said.***

What NO ONE seems to want to talk about is the FACT that

Re: What NO ONE seems to want to talk about is the FACT that

Re: Beyond Enough, already.

Re: Beyond Enough, already.

Re: Beyond Enough, already.

Re: Beyond Enough, already.

Re: Beyond Enough, already.

Nobody would listen if they “got a permit”

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