[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by Carl in Tampa

I'M SITTING HERE IN MY POST-MIDNIGHT (NIGHT OWL) PHASE WISHING I FELT LIKE GOING TO BED and realizing that few people will see this post due to the timing, but I feel the need to vent a bit about this "taking a knee to protest during the National Anthem" nonsense.

For all the ABSOLUTE IDIOTS who don't know any better, be advised that the First Amendment to the Constitution ONLY guarantees that the GOVERNMENT cannot punish you for anything you say. That is all of the "Free Speech" you get.

YOUR EMPLOYER has every right to circumscribe your speech at work because your employer has a financial interest in how you are perceived by the public. I served in the U.S. Army, three different law enforcement agencies, and was employed by one commercial business. In NONE of them was I free to say absolutely anything that I chose without the possibility of suffering the consequences from my employer, up to and including being fired.

THAT MEANS that whenever we see these under educated, overpaid, spoiled brat, professional athletes DISRESPECTING OUR FLAG AND OUR COUNTRY by refusing to stand for our National Anthem, they ARE subject to discipline both by their individual team ownership and by the National Football League.
Team owners and the NFL are HIDING behind an erroneous understanding of the First Amendment in their refusal to discipline their EMPLOYEES.

As of now, the NFL is DEAD TO ME. Further, I believe it is time to revoke the NFL's status as a non-profit organization, which we all know is a phony designation since it generates millions of dollars in profits for the people at the top.

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You are not alone in your feelings.. I am glad we were born when we were born and lived when we lived. So troubling and sad.