Will Any Ravens Take a Knee in Protest

[FlocksGottaFeed]

The movement to express 'Freedom of Speech' grows through-out the league. Every week more and more are added to that movement aimed at systemic change and equal rights. So far, very little has been reported that includes our team with the exception of Ben Watson from the 'echo chambers' of IR.

http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2016/09/07/ravens-te-ben-watson-responds-to-kaepernicks-anthem-protest/

Will any Ravens play a role in this on-going and ever-growing conversation? As representatives (sometimes unwilling and/or apathetic) of a city that is in the forefront of many of the issues that led to these symbolic demonstrations, it is hard to imagine that there won't be any Ravens that feel a need to take part in some capacity.

Legendary Ravens, Ray Lewis and Shannon Sharp spoke quit eloquently and peacefully from different viewpoints. I hope that somehow we can do the same.

Who will be the 1st Active Raven to join the conversation?

 

[K-Dog]

I doubt it. 

[Daft Classic]

It wouldn't surprise me to see someone do it, especially after the riots and uproar in Baltimore, but I'm glad we had enough sense not to do it on 9/11

[DomMcRaven]

Could care less if they do. To me, what a player thinks about certain social issues is on them. I care more about watching this team kicking butt and getting W's. Simple as that.

[Inqui]

9 minutes ago, DomMcRaven said:

Could care less if they do. To me, what a player thinks about certain social issues is on them. I care more about watching this team kicking butt and getting W's. Simple as that.

This. As long as what they're doing or thinking doesn't hurt anyone I don't really care what they do or think as long as they win every week.

And irrespective of whether they stood/sat/took a knee/raised a hand/got a stepladder so they could stand even more, I'd rather that's what they were making headlines for over beating their partners, smashing taxi windows, getting in bar fights or stuff like that.

[DomMcRaven]

10 minutes ago, Inqui said:

This. As long as what they're doing or thinking doesn't hurt anyone I don't really care what they do or think as long as they win every week.

And irrespective of whether they stood/sat/took a knee/raised a hand/got a stepladder so they could stand even more, I'd rather that's what they were making headlines for over beating their partners, smashing taxi windows, getting in bar fights or stuff like that.

This isn't just the whole flag thing. What a player does with their offseason is up to them as well. They're not robots. As long as they're ready for training camp, preseason, regular season, etc., then it's all good. 

I just shake my head when I see people on social media call them racial slurs or hoping they suffer a horrible injury.

[jboy19]

I think raising fists is the thing now. 

[Tiznut]

13 minutes ago, jboy19 said:

I think raising fists is the thing now. 

Seeing it too often too. I'm thinking some of them are kneeling/raising fist because it's the thing to do not because they have a point to make.  

Like that one soccer player who did it to support kaepernick.   It's gotten dumb and outta hand.  

[lgcs27288]

17 minutes ago, Tiznut said:

Seeing it too often too. I'm thinking some of them are kneeling/raising fist because it's the thing to do not because they have a point to make.  

Like that one soccer player who did it to support kaepernick.   It's gotten dumb and outta hand.  

Agreed. I feel the focus is on the player rather than why the player is doing the protest.

[Steve0x]

Ravens are not like that at all. Ravens players have respect. 

[Tru11]

as long as it does not hurt their play on the field and does not lead to trouble off the field i could care less what they want to do with the freedoms they enjoy as a human being.

[allblackraven]

1 hour ago, lgcs27288 said:

Agreed. I feel the focus is on the player rather than why the player is doing the protest.

It wouldn't be the the first time something like this has been turned into entertainment / fashion movement.

[RaineV1]

 I have to disagree with Ray a bit on this one. When the thing you're protesting is the government (police, the court system, and politicians who do nothing but back up the bad cops and make it harder to deal with them) you can't just leave the flag out of it. While I know many see the flag just as American pride or a symbol of the troops, there is that line, "and the republic for which it stands." It's a symbol of the government too, including the bad parts of the government. You can't protest the bad parts of the government and just leave the flag out of it.

[JoeyFlex5]

Our coach is John harbaugh. 

 

That is all.

[arnie_uk]

All these symbols of protest etc mean nothing. Do something about it instead on taking a knee or raising your fist during the national anthem.

It doesn't help anyone. Doesn't matter what the issue is, I feel alot of these are just stupid.

[ERey]

I turned the Rams/49ers game off before it started because ESPN was talking about this. I just want to watch football and not a false narrative by the players.

[flynismo]

4 hours ago, RaineV1 said:

You can't protest the bad parts of the government and just leave the flag out of it.

Yes, you absolutely can, even moreso when the bad part of the government in question represents a fraction of a fraction of a percent of the government as a whole.

[flynismo]

24 minutes ago, arnie_uk said:

All these symbols of protest etc mean nothing. Do something about it instead on taking a knee or raising your fist during the national anthem.

It doesn't help anyone. Doesn't matter what the issue is, I feel alot of these are just stupid.

Pushing the issue to the forefront is doing something about it.

But I agree with Ray, if you're going to make a stand, have a solution to offer, not just opinions.

[ERey]

4 minutes ago, flynismo said:

Pushing the issue to the forefront is doing something about it.

But I agree with Ray, if you're going to make a stand, have a solution to offer, not just opinions.

The issue is based on a false narrative. So now kneeling has become merely fashionable. It's a fad. It will fade away and nothing will be down about whatever it was the original protest was about - if it was about anything.

[757RavensFan]

8 hours ago, Steve0x said:

Ravens are not like that at all. Ravens players have respect. 

Respect for what?

If ALL Ravens players had respect, there wouldn't have been a domestic violence incident, illegal drug use, PED use, or a mutiny with the coaches. Respect comes in many forms.  If ALL Ravens players had respect, they wouldn't have disrespected themselves, their families or their team by performing the acts I listed.   

Edited September 13, 2016 by 757RavensFan

[BOLDnPurPnBlacK]

I have no problem with these guys doing it, but what's the point? Thats what i dont understand. I dont get why anyone hasnt gone at Kaepernick kinda hard and asked directly... "yea but what specifically are you kneeling for, what do you hope to achieve by kneeling, and once achieved whats the next step towards resolution..." 

Because right now... all ive really heard is that hes upset with a country that doesnt treat his race equally. Ok, but is political, social, socio-economically, in the judicial system... maybe its all of it, but then make that clear so people know. If it's just to get attention and bring attention to the issue - ok well now that a dialogue has started... WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH IT to capitalize on the momentum.

Because right now it looks and sounds like a whole lot of nothing. I get this is a country founded on freedom. And if you wanna kneel then kneel. But dont expect me to buy your activism if theres no organization to it. You cant fight an ambiguous, general idea. its got to be something specific, and i dont think anyones specified what exactly that is. It's not a battle you can win if you dont even vocalize what winning is or what winning looks like.

Its a little childish to me and the fact that its getting praise as being courageous is kind of silly to me. Hes not getting anyone from point a to point b. Well, im kneeling bc we're oppressed, and i dont stand for that. Ok, and what do you hope to achieve by kneeling? Well, i dont want us to be oppressed. Ok, but how are you gonna get there by kneeling? Well, ill kneel and people will talk about it and know that i care.... and then we wont be oppressed! But, theres been some form of inequality and social injustice in this country for decades, centuries... and while the divide has been closing ever slowly, its been clear for some time that the progress hasnt met the ideal that the government and society try to portray. People are aware already, yet change is slow. SO how again is kneeling going to change that?

Welllllll - i didnt think about that part, but like people will know i didnt stand for it. See that its literal and figurative. Thats deep.

 

Not to trivialize it. Do your thang Kap, but i havent heard one person put together an educated response as to why theyre kneeling.... And thats the problem with my generation and the ones after... all wanna be revolutionaries but dont have the follow through. I believe the heart is in the right place, but they want it to be as easy as well i said i dont agree so i did my part. MLK, Malcolm, Garvey... they walked the walk. They had a belief, a vision for change, they demonstrated that belief with civil disobedience at times but also put forth an action plan that people could get behind, and logically follow on a path to change. 

This crap - not so much. Seems more attention seeking than anything. Dont think that was the intent at first, i actually dont think he thought anyone would notice... but then it blew up and he had to say something more than... well i uh didnt feel like standing. 

[ERey]

3 minutes ago, BOLDnPurPnBlacK said:

I have no problem with these guys doing it, but what's the point? Thats what i dont understand. I dont get why anyone hasnt gone at Kaepernick kinda hard and asked directly... "yea but what specifically are you kneeling for, what do you hope to achieve by kneeling, and once achieved whats the next step towards resolution..." 

Because right now... all ive really heard is that hes upset with a country that doesnt treat his race equally. Ok, but is political, social, socio-economically, in the judicial system... maybe its all of it, but then make that clear so people know. If it's just to get attention and bring attention to the issue - ok well now that a dialogue has started... WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH IT to capitalize on the momentum.

Because right now it looks and sounds like a whole lot of nothing. I get this is a country founded on freedom. And if you wanna kneel then kneel. But dont expect me to buy your activism if theres no organization to it. You cant fight an ambiguous, general idea. its got to be something specific, and i dont think anyones specified what exactly that is. It's not a battle you can win if you dont even vocalize what winning is or what winning looks like.

Its a little childish to me and the fact that its getting praise as being courageous is kind of silly to me. Hes not getting anyone from point a to point b. Well, im kneeling bc we're oppressed, and i dont stand for that. Ok, and what do you hope to achieve by kneeling? Well, i dont want us to be oppressed. Ok, but how are you gonna get there by kneeling? Well, ill kneel and people will talk about it and know that i care.... and then we wont be oppressed! But, theres been some form of inequality and social injustice in this country for decades, centuries... and while the divide has been closing ever slowly, its been clear for some time that the progress hasnt met the ideal that the government and society try to portray. People are aware already, yet change is slow. SO how again is kneeling going to change that?

Welllllll - i didnt think about that part, but like people will know i didnt stand for it. See that its literal and figurative. Thats deep.

 

Not to trivialize it. Do your thang Kap, but i havent heard one person put together an educated response as to why theyre kneeling.... And thats the problem with my generation and the ones after... all wanna be revolutionaries but dont have the follow through. I believe the heart is in the right place, but they want it to be as easy as well i said i dont agree so i did my part. MLK, Malcolm, Garvey... they walked the walk. They had a belief, a vision for change, they demonstrated that belief with civil disobedience at times but also put forth an action plan that people could get behind, and logically follow on a path to change. 

This crap - not so much. Seems more attention seeking than anything. Dont think that was the intent at first, i actually dont think he thought anyone would notice... but then it blew up and he had to say something more than... well i uh didnt feel like standing. 

Well said!

There's nothing wrong with protesting. But I have no idea what they are protesting. So for right now this really is no "conversation" and it's nothing more than a minor annoyance.

 

 

[rmcjacket23]

Ironic isn't it? 

The public absolutely can't stand when athletes take political sides publicly... we just want them to "stay in their lane".

Yet, simultaneously, we get offended when an athlete chooses not to stand for the National Anthem, which standing for it, by definition, is a political statement.

 

[ERey]

1 minute ago, rmcjacket23 said:

Ironic isn't it? 

The public absolutely can't stand when athletes take political sides publicly... we just want them to "stay in their lane".

Yet, simultaneously, we get offended when an athlete chooses not to stand for the National Anthem, which standing for it, by definition, is a political statement.

 

Standing for the National Anthem is a political statement? How so?

[rmcjacket23]

Just now, ERey said:

Standing for the National Anthem is a political statement? How so?

You are standing in support of the government and the country. How is that not a political statement?

If kneeling during the anthem IS a political statement, then by definition, standing for it would be a political statement as well.

In particular, if you are of the mindset that your government and country isn't supporting you (which I don't agree with), then why would you stand in support of them?

[RaineV1]

32 minutes ago, BOLDnPurPnBlacK said:

I have no problem with these guys doing it, but what's the point? Thats what i dont understand. I dont get why anyone hasnt gone at Kaepernick kinda hard and asked directly... "yea but what specifically are you kneeling for, what do you hope to achieve by kneeling, and once achieved whats the next step towards resolution..." 

Because right now... all ive really heard is that hes upset with a country that doesnt treat his race equally. Ok, but is political, social, socio-economically, in the judicial system... maybe its all of it, but then make that clear so people know. If it's just to get attention and bring attention to the issue - ok well now that a dialogue has started... WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH IT to capitalize on the momentum.

Because right now it looks and sounds like a whole lot of nothing. I get this is a country founded on freedom. And if you wanna kneel then kneel. But dont expect me to buy your activism if theres no organization to it. You cant fight an ambiguous, general idea. its got to be something specific, and i dont think anyones specified what exactly that is. It's not a battle you can win if you dont even vocalize what winning is or what winning looks like.

Its a little childish to me and the fact that its getting praise as being courageous is kind of silly to me. Hes not getting anyone from point a to point b. Well, im kneeling bc we're oppressed, and i dont stand for that. Ok, and what do you hope to achieve by kneeling? Well, i dont want us to be oppressed. Ok, but how are you gonna get there by kneeling? Well, ill kneel and people will talk about it and know that i care.... and then we wont be oppressed! But, theres been some form of inequality and social injustice in this country for decades, centuries... and while the divide has been closing ever slowly, its been clear for some time that the progress hasnt met the ideal that the government and society try to portray. People are aware already, yet change is slow. SO how again is kneeling going to change that?

Welllllll - i didnt think about that part, but like people will know i didnt stand for it. See that its literal and figurative. Thats deep.

 

Not to trivialize it. Do your thang Kap, but i havent heard one person put together an educated response as to why theyre kneeling.... And thats the problem with my generation and the ones after... all wanna be revolutionaries but dont have the follow through. I believe the heart is in the right place, but they want it to be as easy as well i said i dont agree so i did my part. MLK, Malcolm, Garvey... they walked the walk. They had a belief, a vision for change, they demonstrated that belief with civil disobedience at times but also put forth an action plan that people could get behind, and logically follow on a path to change. 

This crap - not so much. Seems more attention seeking than anything. Dont think that was the intent at first, i actually dont think he thought anyone would notice... but then it blew up and he had to say something more than... well i uh didnt feel like standing. 

Going by this logic all protests are pointless. Kaepernick has spoken about why he's doing it, specifically about the police brutality. He wants a spotlight to be put on the issue and not let the media move on to the next story after this one becomes old news. And he has put his money where his mouth is in giving to charities to help people effected by it. Aside from that there isn't much a single person can do other than speak out for harsher punishments for the cops that do it.

As for the courageous comment, we've seen the reaction. We've seen Trump telling him to go live in another country, we've seen Dilfer telling him to get back in line and be quiet, and that's not even scratching the surface of the vile comments online. It is brave to be in that spotlight and take all the hate to get a message out.

Edited September 13, 2016 by RaineV1

[ERey]

Just now, rmcjacket23 said:

You are standing in support of the government and the country. How is that not a political statement?

If kneeling during the anthem IS a political statement, then by definition, standing for it would be a political statement as well.

In particular, if you are of the mindset that your government and country isn't supporting you (which I don't agree with), then why would you stand in support of them?

I guess everyone has a different interpretation. For me, when I stand for the National Anthem I not supporting any particular party or even the government. The government works for us - for the people by the people (that's how it's supposed to work). When I stand I realize we are not perfect, but I do believe we are the greatest nation and I merely saying I'm proud to be a part of this country.

[Tiznut]

1 hour ago, arnie_uk said:

All these symbols of protest etc mean nothing. Do something about it instead on taking a knee or raising your fist during the national anthem.

It doesn't help anyone. Doesn't matter what the issue is, I feel alot of these are just stupid.

My issue. Kaep was simply kneeling until he was called out then all of a sudden the checkbook was open. A lot of these others are "protesting" because kaep got a bad rap. 

 

Shaq to me said it best. I honor the flag because I'm honoring family and friends who served and I'm not going to disrespect them because a bad Apple needs to be dealt with. 

[rmcjacket23]

3 minutes ago, ERey said:

I guess everyone has a different interpretation. For me, when I stand for the National Anthem I not supporting any particular party or even the government. The government works for us - for the people by the people (that's how it's supposed to work). When I stand I realize we are not perfect, but I do believe we are the greatest nation and I merely saying I'm proud to be a part of this country.

I agree its completely subjective as to what it stands for. Most I think would view it as support for the Country itself, and as I said, if you are of the mindset that the Country is not supporting you, then there's no real rationale reason to support them.

 

[rmcjacket23]

1 minute ago, Tiznut said:

My issue. Kaep was simply kneeling until he was called out then all of a sudden the checkbook was open. A lot of these others are "protesting" because kaep got a bad rap. 

 

Shaq to me said it best. I honor the flag because I'm honoring family and friends who served and I'm not going to disrespect them because a bad Apple needs to be dealt with. 

Well we don't really know that for sure. Its not like all of these players publicly disclose to everybody when they are going to make charitable donations. He could have been doing this all along or not at all... we have no idea.