5 St. Louis Rams players enter field with their hands up in protest of Ferguson; Police 'unhappy' wi - Polidicks

[quote]A group representing police in St. Louis says it's infuriated after five St. Louis Rams players raised their hands Sunday in solidarity with protesters upset at Michael Brown's death. The St. Louis Police Officers Association says it's "profoundly disappointed" with those football players who sent a silent but strong message before playing Sunday against the Oakland Raiders. Stedman Bailey, Tavon Austin, Jared Cook, Chris Givens and Kenny Britt walked onto the field and raised their palms in the air, demonstrating the "hands up, don't shoot" gesture that protesters in Ferguson have been using for months. Some say that Michael Brown, an unarmed black teenager, had his arms up when a white police officer, Darren Wilson, shot him to death August 9 in Ferguson, a St. Louis suburb. Wilson and others say Brown was not trying to surrender and in fact was attacking Wilson. The football players' action sparked widespread reaction across social media. [B]Some drew parallels between what the Rams players did and the black power salute by two black Olympians from the United States at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City.[/B] [t]http://i.huffpost.com/gen/2336316/thumbs/o-RAMS-HANDS-UP-facebook.jpg[/t][/quote] [url]http://www.cnn.com/2014/12/01/us/ferguson-nfl-st-louis-rams/index.html?hpt=hp_t2[/url]

I hope everyone booed

they should stick to playing their sports instead of trying to stir the pot even more despite the pot already being a shit pot.

I wonder if years from now my kid will ask me about the Michael Brown shooting. I wonder if their history books will paint Wilson as a murderer. I wonder if I'll have to keep my opinion to myself so that my kid doesn't think I'm a racist

[QUOTE=Covalent;46616992]they should stick to playing their sports instead of trying to stir the pot even more despite the pot already being a shit pot.[/QUOTE] Yep. They shouldn't be allowed to express their opinions. Ever. Also everyone involved in this maneuver did so for no other reason than they desired to be belligerent. Not like this whole Ferguson thing is supposed to represent a social movement towards equality or anything no siree it's just an excuse to be a dick. Do you listen to yourself or... ?

[QUOTE=Covalent;46616992]they should stick to playing their sports instead of trying to stir the pot even more despite the pot already being a shit pot.[/QUOTE] Athletes aren't paid for their opinions on clusterfucks, but because they're athletes doesn't invalidate their opinion on any subject or remove their right to have an opinion. [IMG]http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/About/General/2012/3/28/1332936684595/OLYMPICS-BLACK-POWER-SALU-008.jpg[/IMG] [editline]2nd December 2014[/editline] [QUOTE=proboardslol;46617014]I wonder if years from now my kid will ask me about the Michael Brown shooting. I wonder if their history books will paint Wilson as a murderer. I wonder if I'll have to keep my opinion to myself so that my kid doesn't think I'm a racist[/QUOTE] Nobody will remember Brown and nobody will remember Wilson. Most people outside of LA don't remember the LA Riots, what caused them, or the name of the victim let alone the cops that were weren't convicted.

[QUOTE=snapshot32;46617090]Yep. They shouldn't be allowed to express their opinions. Ever. [/QUOTE] Well, if I were ever to make a strong political statement at my job, I would probably get fired.

[QUOTE=snapshot32;46617090]Yep. They shouldn't be allowed to express their opinions. Ever. Also everyone involved in this maneuver did so for no other reason than they desired to be belligerent. Not like this whole Ferguson thing is supposed to represent a social movement towards equality or anything no siree it's just an excuse to be a dick. Do you listen to yourself or... ?[/QUOTE] They are free to express their opinions and he is free to criticize them for the way they choose express their opinions. I don't see what the issue is here. Not once did he say they shouldn't be allowed to express their opinions.

[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;46617234]Well, if I were ever to make a strong political statement at my job, I would probably get fired.[/QUOTE] Good for you. This issue was obviously important enough for them to make a statement and labeling them as ignorant troublemakers is stupid to say the least. Nice to see my fellow Americans advocating for the first amendment to only be okay in some situations. [editline]1st December 2014[/editline] [QUOTE=kidwithsword;46617278] I don't see what the issue is here. Not once did he say they shouldn't be allowed to express their opinions.[/QUOTE] [QUOTE=Covalent;46616992]they should stick to playing their sports instead of trying to stir the pot even more [/QUOTE] 'They should only do things that are agreeable to my social perceptions'

[QUOTE=snapshot32;46617280]Good for you. This issue was obviously important enough for them to make a statement and labeling them as ignorant troublemakers is stupid to say the least. Nice to see my fellow Americans advocating for the first amendment only be okay in some situations.[/QUOTE] They can do it all they want. The first amendment doesn't protect them from me saying they are dumbasses for doing it though.

[QUOTE=Silence I Kill You;46617299]They can do it all they want. The first amendment doesn't protect them from me saying they are dumbasses for doing it though.[/QUOTE] I think you missed the posts I'm responding to, but thanks for sharing your opinion citizen. Also you actually just called someone dumb for expressing themselves nice.

[QUOTE=snapshot32;46617314]I think you missed the posts I'm responding to, but thanks for sharing your opinion citizen. Also you actually just called someone dumb for expressing themselves nice.[/QUOTE] Yeah cause he didn't like their position IT'S HIS RIGHT YOU IDIOT /freespeech are we not allowed to call people dumb for their stupid opinions?

[QUOTE=Keegs;46617321]Yeah cause he didn't like their position IT'S HIS RIGHT YOU IDIOT[/QUOTE] So what I'm getting from you guys is that free speech is cool, but only in certain context and it's totally alright to discourage/denounce someone for choosing to express themselves?

[QUOTE=snapshot32;46617336]So what I'm getting from you guys is that free speech is cool, but only in certain context and it's totally alright to discourage/denounce someone for choosing to express themselves?[/QUOTE] Dude... what... It's my right to FREE SPEECH to say MY OPINION about YOUR OPINION. You can keep your opinion...

[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;46617234]Well, if I were ever to make a strong political statement at my job, I would probably get fired.[/QUOTE] And I'm sure the NFL will fine them for their little stunt. And this may come as a big surprise, but your job isn't quite the same as a fucking NFL athlete. If I ran out into my office and started tackling people, I'd probably get fired from my job too.

[QUOTE=Keegs;46617358]Dude... what... Okay lets go back to 1st grade and learn about free speech now... It's MY RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH to say MY OPINION about YOUR OPINION.[/QUOTE] Even if you actively discourage the option for the other party to express themselves? Also cool caps key, really brings out those hot [I]hot[/I] points.

[QUOTE=snapshot32;46617372]Even if you actively discourage the option for the other party to express themselves? Also cool caps key, really brings out those hot [I]hot[/I] points.[/QUOTE] You're invading on my freedom of speech saying I shouldn't speak my opinion about others opinions if it's negative. srsly I don't think you understand how freedom of speech works, maybe if I caps some more?

[QUOTE=Keegs;46617382]You're invading on my freedom of speech saying I shouldn't speak my opinion about others opinions if it's negative. srsly[/QUOTE] Let me lead you out of this mental ouroboros before you sprain a lobe. I'm saying it's not cool to say some people should not be allowed to express themselves. Everyone has an opinion, if you agree with it or not is your problem, but saying that certain people are under-qualified or undeserving to give commentary on issues like this is stupid.

[QUOTE=snapshot32;46617336]So what I'm getting from you guys is that free speech is cool, but only in certain context and it's totally alright to discourage/denounce someone for choosing to express themselves?[/QUOTE] Ummm, YEAH??? That's exactly the point. Don't confuse discouragement/disagreement with preventing someone from expressing themselves. I can't physically prevent them from doing or saying anything. But I don't have to agree nor respect WHAT they say or do.

52 and 0 and they say what Wilson did was brutal.

[QUOTE=snapshot32;46617372]Even if you actively discourage the option for the other party to express themselves? Also cool caps key, really brings out those hot [I]hot[/I] points.[/QUOTE] Can you not share your opinion without being a condescending ass?

[QUOTE=Apache249;46617468]Can you not share your opinion without being a condescending ass?[/QUOTE] Can people get over others expressing opinions they don't agree with? Also no, because I'm a giant sperg.

[QUOTE=snapshot32;46617499]Can people get over others expressing opinions they don't agree with?[/QUOTE] No, particularly when their opinions are stupid. You don't get special privileges just for having an opinion. Opinions can be right, they can be wrong, or sometimes they can be neither one-- depending on what facts are available to substantiate or discredit them-- and that's how simple it is. The "hands up, don't shoot" movement lacks any clear direction, leadership, or even a coherent goal. It's a bunch of people running around yelling about police brutality and racism because a white cop shot a black kid after the kid stole from a convenience store/attacked the cop, the media got a hold of it, and turned it into a clusterfuck. It's stupid. Really, really fucking stupid. If racism and police brutality are such major issues in 2014 for the United States, why'd it take this long to start protesting about them? And why the fuck would you over a case like Michael Brown's, where there was no racism or police brutality?

[QUOTE=Trunk Monkay;46617359]And I'm sure the NFL will fine them for their little stunt. And this may come as a big surprise, but your job isn't quite the same as a fucking NFL athlete. If I ran out into my office and started tackling people, I'd probably get fired from my job too.[/QUOTE] Except the NFL has said they're not going to do anything about it.

[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;46618737]Except the NFL has said they're not going to do anything about it.[/QUOTE] Give it a week. When enough people bitch about it they'll toss the players a 5 grand each.

[QUOTE=snapshot32;46617499]Can people get over others expressing opinions they don't agree with? Also no, because I'm a giant sperg.[/QUOTE] Well seeing how Ferguson officers were banned from wearing "I support Darren Wilson" or "I am Darren Wilson" wristbands, no I cant get over this. Double fucking standards is what this is

[QUOTE=snapshot32;46617499]Also no, because I'm a giant sperg.[/QUOTE] that much is clear

[QUOTE=snapshot32;46617419]Let me lead you out of this mental ouroboros before you sprain a lobe. I'm saying it's not cool to say some people should not be allowed to express themselves. Everyone has an opinion, if you agree with it or not is your problem, but saying that certain people are under-qualified or undeserving to give commentary on issues like this is stupid.[/QUOTE] the irony of you trying to stop someone from expressing themselves because you're trying to defend their right to their opinion(Which no one is stopping by being critical of said opinion) is lost on you, eh?

[QUOTE=Code3Response;46621521]Well seeing how Ferguson officers were banned from wearing "I support Darren Wilson" or "I am Darren Wilson" wristbands, no I cant get over this. Double fucking standards is what this is[/QUOTE] Do you not see why police wearing those wrist bands and T-shirts might be a somewhat different scenario? Football players are athletes and entertainers; police are armed professionals charged with keeping the peace. It shakes the illusion of impartiality if peacekeepers take a strong political stance. That's not even mentioning the specifics of that political stance, which in this case are doubly damning. The police are under heavy scrutiny for the perception of racial stereotyping and undue use of force against minorities, which Darren Wilson was symbolic of, regardless of whether or not these specific charges turned out to be justified. It is inflammatory and risks further alienating the very people who feel most persecuted by them.

[QUOTE=snapshot32;46617499]Can people get over others expressing opinions they don't agree with?[/QUOTE] This is coming from a guy who, judging from this thread, apparently has some inability to get over others expressing opinions he doesn't agree with. And misunderstands the concept of free speech. Man, this just keeps getting better.