[jariel]

The interjection of SJ makes the moment 'very serious and contemplative'. Like being in Church, listening to a Sermon.

That's the complete opposite of sports where people spectate to literally get away from controversy, 'serious' things.

For many Americans, especially men, it's their '2 hour safe space' where they can have a beer and not worry.

Imagine if you're doing Yoga, and the well meaning instructor starts in about a rant about the importance of 'American Defence Spending'. Most progressives might have to agree with that on some level, but it's the last place they want to hear about it. Or even BLM for that matter.

The worst part is that the popular antagonism towards the keeling is misrepresented as a general malaise towards 'Social Justice' - which is generally false - as if to say the people having dinner interrupted by slightly violent BLM protesters must be 'anti Black' or whatever.

It's reasonable that athlete's want to use their voice for change, and I think most people would accept that, but they way they've gone about it is wrong.

I don't think many people realize how much 'bubble thinking' is going on, it's really bad.

I've lost interest in so many things 'American' I feel almost everything is inundated with culture war toxicity from every side.

[ljp_206]

I agree with you that our society is rife with culture war toxicity. But I'm confused with the whole 'shut up and dribble' mentality. Sure, sports fans may not want politics to bleed into their sport-viewing time, but as long as athletes do not exist in a vacuum, what do they expect athletes to do? Be mindless entertainers? Ignore their conscience and pretend like they have no qualms with the status quo when they are on the national stage?

> It's reasonable that athlete's want to use their voice for change, and I think most people would accept that, but they way they've gone about it is wrong.

What are the acceptable ways to use one's voice for change? If that question is too broad, what is the acceptable way for an athlete on the national level to use their voice for change?

[jariel]

So I think anything outside of the arena would be great.

I'm cynical about Kaep for example - his wife Tweeted that 'NFL owners are like slavers' which is possibly the most toxic and insulting thing a player's wife could say, and that the media supported her on it tells me there is a problem. He makes a big name for himself lighting up controversy.

But let's take a guy like Kaep and assume totally 'goodwill and intent':

Anything with the team logo or directly at gametime that is controversial is out of bounds. It's not his place to use that forum - much like you or I couldn't use our workplace to do something that upset a lot of customers - we'd be fired.

Anything off field is great: Social reach outs, Television appearances, testifying in Congress, rallying people to protest, working with communities, governance.

With the team - he could 'work with them on something material' for example direct programs by teams to help with the community. I think one example would be to literally get players and cops to sit down - behind closed doors - and talk. Cops will listen to sports heroes.

Also, having a black stripe on uniforms etc. is a nice touch to signal support of a movement, that's not remotely antagonizing.

And FYI nobody should have to stand for the flag. Jehova's Witnesses, Mennonites etc. don't believe that God's Children should be divided by nationalism. They won't serve in the military for that reason either. So - sitting it out in the locker room would be perfectly fine.

What Lebron has done seems mostly in bounds to me - except have some have noted on this thread it's quite hypocritical to be fully BLM but to completely tow the CCP line even if he has obviously more affinity for one form of protest ... it's hard to have full integrity when you're just raising a fuss over your own thing.

I think it would have worked out better with a smarter touch, and I honestly don't fully buy guys like Kaep's intentions. He seems a little bit Trumpish to me, i.e. there's a layer of 'self serving' to all of it.