Most believe the NFL scam business is on it's way out. Long gone are the halcyon days of so-called professional football. Unlike the past, the NFL zoo (primitive, illiterate, violent primate circus performers) represent nothing normal people (fans) relate to or identify with. Disappearing TV viewership, half full stadiums are now the norm. The NFL needs to be ignored. The NFL should be allowed to (quickly) expire, cease to exist. Already, desperate league owners are quietly, frantically plotting their exit from this failed business model. This end of the NFL scam is a very good thing. BTW, what will the primate performers do when no one is watching, no one cares?
3
No to Donald who is trying to remove U.S. citizenship & patriotism from non-white football players: DT, you cannot make the legal protest of non-white murders by police into WHAT IT IS NOT:
"taking a knee" is NOT a protest against the military or the flag. No matter what you say, It. Is. Not. True.
Make no mistake, readers: DT is trying to redefine American citizenship! As Lesley Stahl (CBS) quoted DT's goal of destroying a free press:
"He said, 'You know why I do it? I do it to discredit you all and demean you all so when you write negative stories about me, no one will believe you.'"
9
"Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
Go Eagles and all Sports Patriots who love our nation and the Armed Services who defend us from mentally ill Republican-Russian collaborators!
12
The generosity and compassion of the members of the Philadelphia Eagles is something that should inspire all of us to give and to be thoughtful about those who are less fortunate. We can almost all do better. It would be nice to have that recognized in the highest office, instead of the team being disparaged for not massaging the ego of the narcissist-in-chief.
15
This president seems to have forgotten or doesn't understand what is means to be a person living in the United States. It means that you can't be ordered by a court, a church, an employer or a president to express one's beliefs or anyone else's beliefs or to be punished for refusing to do so. There is no such thing as a patriotic duty in this country. No one has to kiss the ring of the country's supposedly patriotic elected leader. Mr. Trump, stop your grandstanding and start acting like a leader of all the people.
13
This has nothing to do with patriotism. This is Donald Trump's signal that he is keeping "those people" in line. This strategy is nothing new in the Republican party. They have been demonizing minorities for generations. They have established that those people are a drain on society. With Trump reminding us, besides all of the other horrible things, they also hate the Armed Forces.
11
One bizzarre aspect of this is that the Eagles didn't kneel or protest during the national anthem at any game in 2017 or in the playoffs.
9
As Trump recently tweeted regarding the Eagles visit: "Honoring America! NFL, no escaping to Locker Rooms!" Isn't he the one who dismissed his own incredible self-incriminating misogynistic ramble as "just locker room talk?" Also, very hypocritical for one who dodged military service by claiming bone spurs? More fake talk by the master faker of all.
11
When the President of the United States enters a room, out of a sign of respect, all the people in the room stand. I wish I could have the opportunity to be in that room. I wouldn't stand up for you, Mr. Trump, if someone held a gun to my head.
Respect is earned. You deserve no respect, whatsoever. I might be disrespecting the Office, the position that you hold, but I think it well survive until we have a decent, honest and deserving occupant.
You deserve nothing but contempt. You make me ashamed to be an American citizen.
Quit as soon as possible. Go back to building your cheap and gaudy hotels and golf courses and using and lying to people. You are a mistake and a monumental embarrassment. Just go away.
14
Send the Eagles to meet Kim Jong-un. They will represent the United States in a more dignified manner than the tin-pot banana king squatter currently in the WH.
9
Football players are trying to use their platform of public access to promote causes that they feel passionate about...why are we questioning their patriotism? Chris Long donated his entire regular-season salary to charity; who that is critical of the players that kneel during the anthem did the same thing? The president calling into question the players patriotism is the worst form of hypocrisy...how many deferments did he receive? And for FOX News to use a photo of the Eagles players kneeling in prayer before a game has really reduced this 'debate' to a new low...and that is quite an accomplishment.
12
I go to quite a few games . I’ve been avoiding the star spangled for quite a while now . I get to the game late or run to the bathroom when it is about to begin . The way the “ patriots “ reacted to and expressed feelings towards Barak Obama was the last straw for me . Standing for the banner , in my opinion , shows I agree with the hate , racism and violence that seems to be a requirement for being american in 2018 .
10
Am I the only citizen in the US who now, for the first time in my life, feels compelled to either sit during the national anthem or raise my fist as a sign of protest against Trump's order to stand? Clearly Trump has two underlying motivations behind his constant attack on NFL players--
Trump wants to throw red meat to his most loyal followers who only need the showman to turn up the rhetoric to turn up their loyalty, and most importantly, Trump wants to destroy the NFL. He failed in his quest to merge the USFL into the NFL and then failed in his quest to purchase the Buffalo Bills. The NFL owners did not want Trump as part of their club. He is simply a tyrant who wants to make the NFL bend to his will or destroy them. All I have to say is "FLY EAGLES FLY!!!!"
16
Now, if only the military refuses to show up for Trumpolini's parade in November. If they do show up, it's the duty of all patriotic Americans to refuse to participate in this self-congratulatory farce as a spectator.
5
It's not surprising that Mr. Trump took his ball and went home when the Eagles refused to give him the adoration he constantly seeks.
5
These players CAN have SO MUCH FUN WITH THIS. If they can’t kneel they can stand on one leg only. If they can’t kneel they could give the black power fist salute first made famous at the Olympics in 1968, if they can’t kneel they could all put their index and middle fingers above their upper lip to symbolize that they have been forbidden to assert their first amendment rights by the Hitlerite now occupying the White House. Or they could take the field after the national anthem is played. Or they could come up with some very appropriate alternate lyrics to the Star Spangled Banner that completely humiliate the clown at 1600 and post the lyrics on social media an ask all and sundry to sing along with them.
I HOPE THESE GUYS FIGURE OUT WHAT A HUGE OPPORTUNITY HAS BEEN GIFTED TO THEM BY TRUMP AND DO WHAT IT TAKES TO MAKE TRUMP WISH THAT FOR ONCE HE HAD KEPT HIS MOUTH SHUT.
7
I live in NY but today, I am an Eagles fan..........
10
So, they can't kneel, and now they can't "escape to the lockerooms." What's next, you're going to pick out the jock they wear each game? Are you going to tell them to put one foot in each hole as you dress them as well? If anyone is non-patriotic it's the commander in Chief !
Anyways, GO EAGLES !!!!
7
Donald Trump as a patriotism coach is as ridiculous as Donald Trump the marriage counselor.
13
The embarrassment and humiliation Trump would have faced by so few Super Bowl Champions wanting to meet him at the White House was clearly too much for this ego-maniacal, thin-skinned, hateful, insulting man-child.
8
Anything to keep "the base" fired up and angry. H.L. Mencken said it best:
As democracy is perfected, the office represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. We move toward a lofty ideal. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron
7
Since when does the president get to dictate to anyone "appropriate" behavior during the playing of the National Anthem? If someone wants to stand respectfully or take a knee, it's their own business.
This sorry fiasco is yet another example of Trump playing to his base, donning the crown of King of America and trying to force his ridiculous notions on the nation.
I say, good for the Philadelphia Eagles to skip a photo op with our moron-in-chief.
5
"Blistering" as in a 3rd grade tantrum
3
Trump called off his party because there wasn't going to be a party. It's not the first time he has called an event then cancelled it because no one would come, and it won't be the last. When he plans his functions he assumes that people will come when he invites them because he is the president, as they did for other presidents, like a command performance, but that is obviously not correct. No president in modern history has had so many talented people - artists, entertainers, athletes, CEOs - refuse to associate with him. Trump doesn't attend the events most presidents attend, and he doesn't host the events most presidents host. Sad, very sad (as he would say).
4
Although not much of a sports fan, I was born and raised in and around Philadelphia. Never before have I been as proud of my hometown team as I am today.
13
Herr Trump's rhetoric, including outright race baiting and lying about the details of this event, have moved the administration closer and closer to pure propaganda reminiscent of 1930's Germany. His fragile ego can't take simple rejection by celebrities and so he has to concoct an elaborate narrative replete with allegations of anti-American treason for rejecting his invitation. Never mind reality is far from the image he is trying to engender.
8
President Trump doesn't deserve to be in the presence of and to bask in the glory of these men of character and integrity, who set aside their own egos for the sake of the team, who overcame the loss of five key players without excuse or complaint, who remained humble despite their success, and who showed the country--not told the country--that the are WINNERS!
6
I wish the president would love and defend the First Amendment as much as he does the Second.
I further wish that he would dedicate at least the same amount of time to understand trade issues as he dedicates to harras football players. He would be doing his job.
7
Hope the Iggles fans do to the White House what they did to Center City after the Super Bowl.
Fly, Eagles fly - away from DC.
1
I have no respect for this President or administration. The lies spewed from the President and staff is disgusting. I am a veteran of the armed forces and will take a knee in solidarity whenever I hear the anthem.
6
Bone Spur Patriot continued:
I withdrew the invitation to the Eagles.
It's their fault.
It's the democrats fault.
It's Nancy Pelosi's fault
It's Hillary Clinton's fault.
It's illegal immigrant's fault.
It's Mueller's fault.
It's Jefferson Beauregard's fault
I never ever should have appointed him
but now I am powerless to do anything.
It's Radical Islamic Terrorist's fault
It's MI-13's fault
It's Mexico's fault.
They made me do it!
7
Patriotism has nothing to do with what goes on at NFL games. The Pentagon pays the NFL millions in taxpayer dollars to put on a plastic jingoistic display. The NFL rakes that money in while pretending to do it out of love of the country. The various sponsors get in on the act, using the flag and folks in uniform as props to sell everything from beer to potato chips to pickup trucks. It's one giant money-making dog-and-pony show.
If Donald Trump really cared about people who have served, then he could start showing it by apologizing to John McCain and the family of Captain Humayun Khan.
13
I love the cosmic karma of it all as our Loser-In-Chief is shown to the door of his own personal black hole.
So much winning !!
7
Go Eagles!
8
I don't even follow football, but I have to say this Oakland A's fan is now also an Eagles fan. Go, Philadelphia!
3
Contrary to the article, there are not "deep divisions" in this country about patriotism. The vast majority of people rightly think that the current occupant of the White House is at best a fraud and perhaps a traitor. He merely drapes himself in the flag to cover his bone spurs. Please stop legitimizing him and his racist, mentally defective supporters by suggesting that their views are in any way a reflection of "patriotism."
13
I applaud the Eagles players and staff who opted out of the photo op for Trump. Trump needs to read the constitution and our first amendment rights. If I am ever in the same space as Trump and they play the national anthem I will either sit down or fall to my knee; there is no way I will stand for the national anthem as long as Trump is sitting in the White House.
6
If the NFL, and Trump, say that EVERYONE in attendance MUST stand, then I’ll consider this settled. If they stop the sale of beer, hot dogs, jerseys etc during the anthem, then I’ll believe them. Not holding my breath. It’s about $.
My Dad was a POW in Korea and gets very upset when people either don’t stand, stand and talk, not remove their hat, or run to go to the bathroom or to get on the short line for a beer at the start of the anthem.
2
Why do these events occur at the White House? It started with the Olympians. Then it made sense. Those men and women play for all of us. I could care less about the Philadelphia Eagles, Golden State Warriors or whoever wins the Stanley Cup. They do not play for me. Especially the Philadelphia Eagles. I mean, come on. Don’t like the city, don’t like the players, don’t like the fans. Same thing with Bama football. I can appreciate the things SEC does to win games. But a national treasure? Not.
1
Why? Why on God's green earth do we conflate patriotism, politics and sports? No more playing of national anthem at sporting events! It's absurd! No more playing of national anthem at sporting events!
5
This is a president who firmly believes in the right to free speech...if he's the speaker. And, only if he's the speaker.
8
The Eagles can go to France and see Macron, or Germany and see Merkel, or the UK to see May. The NFL owners would probably like this, perhaps expansion down the road. #users
Thank you to the Eagles players and coaches who said "no thank you" to King Trump. He is POTUS in name only.
5
What a vile, hateful, mean little man, Trump truly is. And there is no vile thing he does that he does not, cannot, turn and manipulate to his advantage.
My God, I'm sorry, but I hate the man and it makes me feel ill to say that. What joy has he ever brought to the world, except to those who live to feel empowered by hating others.
My Dear old Mom is 93 and dying of brain cancer. She's rarely awake but today when I visited her in hospital she opened her eyes and whispered to me: "did Mueller get him yet?". She's been so worried about what Trump is doing to the world, what world her grand and great grand children will be left with.... so I told her that Mueller was close and I pray I'm right.
10
“Where Eagles Dare”...exemplary
5
“They disagree with their president because he insists that they proudly stand for the national anthem, hand on heart, in honor of the great men and women of our military and the people of our country.”
The Eagles didn’t take a knee last season! What a bald faced liar. And Fox News is airing photos of kneeling Eagle players as if during the Anthem — but they were actually kneeling in prayer before a game!
When is this Trump nightmare go to end?
7
"The president saw it as a sign of disrespect for the office of the presidency"
No Donald, it's a sign of disrespect for YOU.
8
Wrong Headline.
This is the problem- the truth is that the vast majority of the team indicated they were not going to attend- but that does not warrant the front page.
Trump calls off the event- which was not going to happen anyway- and the media jumps all over it. This is why the Traitor In Chief thinks he can control the story.
2
I recommend finding online a livestream of Trumpolini's event, happening now. It's like being thrown back to 1930s Germany. You have to see it to believe it, and it will give you chills.
3
A draft dodger who referred to his avoidance of sexually-transmitted diseases while dating as his "personal Vietnam" (and to himself as a "very brave soldier" for doing so) is not in a position to lecture anyone about patriotism and respecting the military. He is a disgrace.
13
It is laughable joke when you have a draft dodger, who used his father to keep him out of the military during Vietnam at least 5 or7 times, while no doubt other boys were killed in his place, use the flag and patriotism to divide and as a symbol of racist divide.....Donald Trump is the most disgusting coward imaginable.
15
What a sad state of affairs, Donald Trump uses Racism and Race Baiting as his calling card, it's a disgrace to have this kind ingrate in the Oval Office.
6
I'm watching Donald Trump pull a political stunt aimed at divisive racism, black players against white player, but he doesn't understand the Eagles are a team and come form the city of brotherly love, and this jerk is having this phony game in front of the Whitehouse the military as props, Trump looks and sounds like an idiot on the south lawn at the Whitehouse.
Listening to Sarah Sanders in her rude, obnoxious and just outright lies to reporters is sickening.
6
When the next NFL season begins I could only dream that ALL the players come out and take a knee. Barring that they should ALL stay in the locker room because leaving the few inside would be pointing a finger...Squealing so to speak. We need an "I'm Spartacus moment.
4
I find it amusing that he has decided to hold a ceremony celebrating ‘our great National Anthem’ and patriotic music when the man doesn’t even know the words to the national anthem. He’s the last person to talk.
5
The Eagles players have handled this issue with dignity and respect for American institutions. Players join with military personnel to hold the massive flag used on some special occasions on game day for the Anthem. There have been no game day issues among the fans who understand the distinction between phony patriotism and real respect for American values.
7
President Trump could not do a better job of picking his enemies or his positions which resonate with the people who matter in the states that he won.
1
The kneeling is a peaceful protest. I would rather have that than riots and burning down the cities. What i am disgusted about is the loudness the GOP supporters and Trump are whining about this. Also we should feel offended that Trump was never in a military uniform as millions of his supporters. Yet they will in a heartbeat get us in a war and send middle class sons and daughters into the fight and Democratic voters sons and daughters off to war. Then they will buy there way out like Trumps family. That is much more of a problem than the kneeling so get over it or go to war like you send us.
3
I love what Trump did. His act only punishes the Eagles who were looking forward to going to the White House.
Fake President, Fake News.
4
Just an after thought, I'm listening to Sarah Huckabee Sanders answering questions about Trump and the Eagles Whitehouse meeting, other then her blatantly lying about the whole issue of the Anthem, she sounds like a complete idiot!
9
So news as usual?
5
Maybe Real Madrid should get the invite instead for their three-peat. I don't recall anyone taking a knee during the national anthem.........
“maybe you shouldn’t be in the country.”
Does this also apply to those who pay to avoid military service?
15
So there! You don't want to do as your told by THE PRESIDENT, then I'm taking back the invitation.
Donald the Great diplomat. I think he has successfully pretty much ruined it for everyone. In fact, the next time I hear the national anthem, it will cause me immediate anger, disgust, and a rebelliousness I've never quite felt before. And I may not stand up.
7
This warped President simply cannot believe that his final word did not stand: He, THE president, demanded that those who chose to kneel should be fired. When that didn't occur, he fumed. Down the road, he was even less satisfied with the NFL decision that they could stay in the locker room, because it defied him. Again! Such are the angry ways of dictators.
8
Now the President will have time for the Mueller interview.
12
The sooner we remove all displays of patriotism from daily sporting events, the better.
12
Trump is the president who forgot the WORDS to the Star-Spangled Banner!
Here he is, in all his 'old glory':
https://youtu.be/28RAKDIwRyw
14
Oh Lordy. That is priceless.
That should be a double-feature with the one of Melania gigging him to put his hand over his heart for the Anthem up there on the balcony of the WH.
Throw in the Bone Spurs deferrals and the McCain diss and you have the essence of this guy.
5
"Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel."
17
CANCELLING TO SAVE FACE...should have been the headline.
10
In which branch of the military did the patriotic "Mr Bone Spurs" serve ??
10
The Richie Rich No-Show/Let Someone Else Go in My Place branch.
11
It's like the other kids told him what they thought of him and so he grabbed his football and ran all the way home to watch FOX and cry in his bucket of chicken. What a baby this pseudo man is.
11
When, as a young man of 18, I swore to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States, I did so to uphold and defend it for ALL people, not just those I agreed with. Today, 47 years later, I still stand by that oath.
16
"Dissent is the highest form of patriotism."
~ Often attributed to Thomas Jefferson
The Donald loses AGAIN. The Eagles SOAR! Kudos!!!
"Indeed, conceit, arrogance and egotism are the essentials of patriotism."
~ EMMA GOLDMAN
1869 — 1940
... and she never even got to meet Donald Trump!
6
Emma was deported back to Russia in part for attempting to persuade young men not to report for the draft at the time of WWI. She found that she didn't like Communism any more than she liked Capitalism.
Even given her dislike of the military I doubt she would have found much to approve of in Cadet Bone Spurs. Under a a Trump administration her political activities and support for one of her many lovers, the man who attempted to assassinate Henry Frick at the time of the Homestead Strike, probably would have gotten her deported a lot earlier than she finally was.
@ Bashhh
No need to lecture me about Goldman.
Emma Goldman was an anarchist NOT a Communist. She played a pivotal role in the development of anarchist political philosophy in North America and Europe.
She immigrated to the U.S. in 1885.
Attorney General Alexander Mitchell Palmer and J. Edgar Hoover, head of the US Department of Justice's General Intelligence Division, were intent on using the Anarchist Exclusion Act expansion of 1918 to deport any non-citizens they could identify as advocates of anarchy or revolution.
The government deported Alexander Berkman along with Goldman, whose citizenship was revoked 1908. Berkman and Goldman were arrested on June 15, 1917 and convicted under the Espionage Act of 1917 of "conspiracy to induce persons not to register" for conscription.
The Labor Department deported them to Finland on Dec. 21. On Jan. 17, 1920 authorities there conducted them to the Russian frontier.
Communists despised her outspokenness about Soviet repression.
In 1933, Goldman received permission to lecture in the US. She returned on February 2, 1934 to generally positive press coverage except from Communist publications.
On February 17, 1940, Goldman suffered a debilitating stroke, then a second on May 8.
Canada accepted her and she died in Toronto on May 14, 1940. The US I.N.S. allowed her body to be brought back to the U.S. She was buried in the present Forest Home Cemetery Illinois.
Id est EMMA GOLDMAN. RIP.
Their loss
Respect the office, if not the occupant
Bar tenant. Get off your stool and change the channel to anything but FOX. The Eagles "loss" is the country's gain. The man's a total blight on our nation and deserves to be shown up.
7
I am not an NFL fan but I am now a fan of the Eagles. This is as good as a million person march in DC shaking the gates of the WH off their hinges. To spoil an analogy , the Eagles are Patriots , true blue.
Remember in November.
12
I noticed a scary trend over the years of conservative media essentially telling their listeners what other people think. It’s a pervasive theme with Hannity and Limbaugh. Explaining why liberals do what they do. And they are almost always totally wrong. Trump is doing the same thing. Never once addressing the real issues behind why anyone would kneel, but instead twisting it into something else like being anti-military.
So there are two types of people in this country, ones that are duped by this and ones that aren’t. Which one are you?
10
Here is the issue with free speech in general and a number of people are not commenting on it. If a company or organization like the NFL can fine or fire you for exercising your constitutional right to free speech, then we do not have a right to free speech. If you say something on twitter or Facebook or flip off the president or take a knee during the national anthem and you are retaliated against by virtue of that speech or demonstration then there is no freedom of speech in this country anymore. Freedom means, the ability to speak ones mind WITHOUT threat of retaliation. If you speak and you are retaliated against because someone disagrees with your speech then this is not freedom.
6
You have a right to speak without the Federal government prohibiting you from doing so. You do not have a right to speak without interference or consequence in the private sector.
See the First Amendment for clarification.
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
5
You are not allowed to exercise free speech while on the job site. NFL players for decades have expressed a wide spectrum of political beliefs off the field. Like it or not, an NFL game is a job site and the workers wear uniforms. You can also be severed if you mention your employer as the basis for your remarks. Unless you own 51% or more of the company, or are the CEO, you do not have the right to speak for the firm. Ownership means something and a brand is an asset. Speak for yourself and only yourself and you will be fine.
2
Ah, yes, capitalism trumps (pun intended) all ... on the job site we revert to serfs.
If Mr. Trump wants to throw a party with bigley numbers, might I suggest he throw his resignation party. Guaranteed dancing in the streets like the end of World War II.
30
Keep in mind, not one Eagles player knelt during the national anthem this season, yet Trump paints them as unpatriotic. They just won't play his silly game.
17
The pathological liar showed his patriotism when he called John McCain a loser for being captured and imprisoned during the Vietnam war. During that time, patriotic Trump was bravely doing his best to avoid sexually transmitted diseases as he romped around NYC, despite suffering from bonespurs. What a man!
17
Many years ago, when Monday Night Football experimented with the likes of Rush Limbaugh and Dennis Miller as announcers, I lost interest in watching because I consider sports an escape from the political drama. Injecting politics into sports is wrong. Despite the martial quality of the game, NFL owners and executives inject the military and patriotism into their sport at their own peril.
While I wish this false patriotism wasn't part of sports, this is an opportunity for the NFL nevertheless. Form and finance an advocacy group committed to improving the treatment and lives of minorities. Players can be the public face, volunteers, and implementers. In return, players conclude their protests have been heard, and admit that protesting during the anthem may not have been the best way to express their passion for this issue.
I doubt the divider-in-chief will approve, because he doesn't believe in win-win, let alone helping others. I assume fans of all persuasions would be happy, players would be happy, owners would have the threat to their revenue stream reduced. Add to all that they'd be taking this cudgel out of Trump's bag of dirty tricks. I call that a win-win-win-win.
5
Torrey Smith - former Eagles player - tweeted that 'No one refused to go simply because Trump "insists" that folks stand for the national anthem'. So why does the NYT article lead with that narrative? It appears that most Eagles players - like the majority of Americans, myself included - simply can't stand Trump. The Eagles have already shown so many better ways to display their American Patriotism than assuaging Trumps fragile ego.
8
How about this: the anthem is just not played at the start of any sporting event? That would solve a lot of problems, not least displays of patriotism inappropriately being forced upon both attendees and participants.
12
Ok then. Let's get petty here. I was taught to stand, remove a hat if wearing one, place my right hand over my heart, and be quiet when the National Anthem is played.
Ever notice all the people at sporting events that are talking during the Anthem and have left their hats on? Why hasn't Trump taken issue with these people?
Most of these "disrespectful" people, not all of course, I would suspect, are Trump supporters and simply aren't smart enough to know what to do. They were probably severely challenged in just finding their seats and getting a beer.
Come on Mr. Trump, what gives?
10
SOP for Trump. Take what is a rejection of him and make it an unpatriotic act. Not surprising when his attitude is that he cannot break the law since he is the law. Some French guy seemed to think along the same lines a few hundred years ago.
7
I think they ought to stop playing the national anthem at all football games until Trump is out of office, preferably so removed by impeachment.
8
Let’s get a new National Anthem. The old one was written by a slave owner, is hard-to-sing, contains verses that nobody knows and is about Old Glory, not about the glories of our people. I would replace it with one about American heroes of all races, colors and creeds and the beauty of the land. (A million dollar prize should be awarded to the man or woman or rap artist who writes it.)
7
The melody was ripped off from a British drinking song- "To Anacreon in Heaven," to boot.
1
John Ashcroft's "Let the Eagle(s) Soar" comes to mind if we are searching for a new anthem for this occasion. Pay close attention to the lyric "...Let the mighty Eagle soar. Soar with healing in her wings. As the land beneath her sings: 'only God, no other kings..."*
*Words and music by John Aschcroft.
1
Stupid, and very sad. Sad that the team didn't want to go to the white house to celebrate (regardless of politics) and very sad that a grown man behaves like an angry clown. What is happening to this country?
1
They can't go regardless of politics. It was not an option. Trump had already made it about politics one way or the other.
2
All bullies are cowards. Trump just proved, once again, what a coward he is.
9
“They disagree with their president because he insists that they proudly stand for the national anthem, hand on heart, in honor of the great men and women of our military and the people of our country.”
This coming from a man who needed to have his wife (and an immigrant at that) remind him to place hand on heart during the Pledge of Allegiance at his inauguration.
The man is a buffoon....
10
This is the same president whose wife had to tell him to put his hand over his heart and the one who didn't know the words to the national anthem and the one with 5 deferments. You can't get much more disrespectful than that.
8
you're fired. You can't fire me, I quit
6
Trump has always been a ridiculous figure. How he ends up in the White House is multiples of ridiculous. What an embarrassment for our country and the American people.
9
Imagine: that the President of the United States of America said this in regards to your son: “Wouldn’t you love to see one of these N.F.L. owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, ‘Get that son of a bitch off the field right now. Out! He’s fired. He’s fired!’” Now, add the layer of race and slavery to the context of “police brutality” toward your son. That’s what this is about, yet the real issue is that people can’t fathom the reality of the Black Other (or don’t try to or don’t care to) — is it the “race” thing? Is it the “history of slavery” thing? Is it the “white police against young black men” thing? Like, all of a sudden, beneath what you really stand for is whether you remember slavery or dismiss slavery, that is, whether or not you believe that slavery marked this nation and the lens through which you see and live. At stake is your integrity, and many lives ... that’s all. Stand, kneel. Your, integrity.
6
Those spoiled players should be ashamed of themselves. The NFL is canceled in my house.
2
I stand with the Eagles. And if they choose to kneel, I will kneel with them.
16
Funny, isn't it, how football players understand the First Amendment better than the "president." All the while he takes his First Amendment right to lie to the ultimate extreme - he lies an average of 5 times PER DAY!
13
90% of Canadians don’t want Trump to attend the G6 1 event in Montreal next week so maybe he will dis-invite himself by saying we’re all a bunch of chumps.
13
It's simple! Our Cartoon Schoolyard Bully President has to un-invite his party guests because none of the kids in school like him and want to go! Poor 2-year old Cartoon President!
17
Good for the Donald!
2
Our president - the Great Patriot with Bone Spurs.
He continues to con and play his base like a fiddle.
15
A perfect storm combining the President's personal pettiness and lasting vindictiveness over his past business foibles with the NFL and racist dog whistling.
9
The GOP has long been the party of wedge issues and this is simply another one. They keep the base fired up by throwing out lots of red meat and half the country will vote for them based on anger, racism, religion- everything but the issues that mean something, on which the GOP is a complete failure.
13
It would be difficult to top the Dems on wedge issues.
1
It’s kind of mind-boggling to witness the madness of a president who is so moronic, hubristic and gung-ho on American exceptionalism that he would disinvite a football team called the Eagles from the city of brotherly love b/c they feel our fallen soldiers died for the right to be able to protest, not for the right to force people to honor their memory.
15
I just keep wondering the same thing: when, exactly, did it become part of one's patriotic duty to show up and kowtow to a guy who's repeatedly attacked me, my teammates, my sport, and my skin, while he preens for the cameras and brags about himself?
For that matter, when exactly did Americans acquire a "duty," to be patriotic, and to wear it in their sleeve and trumpet about it seven days a week?
I was always taught that patriotism is something you feel inside, out of pride in your country's ideas and accomplshments, and basically keep your trap shut about, on the theory that the more people sound off, the less you should trust them.
But then I was also generally taught that it's the Nazis and the Stalins who like the big parades, and I was absolutely taught by the Scouts that you do not drive up and down the street with a big Flag hanging off your truck, honking the horn.
It's disrespctful, ya know?
13
Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel. -- Samuel Johnson
18
It is better to not condone brain damage at the White House. We had too much of that for 8 years.
3
We have heard this Trump tune before and it is getting really tired and pathetic.
12
How would it play with his base if he crammed the WH with black guys that look to be treated fairly by enforcement and the courts? Trump was aching to disinvite the team so he wouldn’t offend red state racists.
8
Donald Trump's presidency is the most blatant disrespect of our country.
11
trump: this vindictive, crass, greedy, ignorant little man is probably looking for revenge against the NFL for his failed foray into the USFL. The USFL fiasco couldn’t have been trimp’s fault, after all—someone else has to shoulder the blame.
So what better revenge than to snipe at the NFL, sow controversy about its players in the press, and make a huge show about disinviting a team to the dirty White House? What more public way to focus attention on himself again, to provide a platform to spew further lies and animosity?
What an awful little man. And his supporters—whatever their motivation in supporting him—have become awful little people.
9
Now, why is all the commentary blaming Trump. I think most people would do the same if only 10 out of over forty invited guests agreed to come and the rest is boycotting the invitation.
1
I think "most people" would not lie with the consistency of this clownish buffoon, nor conspire with a foreign hostile power to destabilize the foundations of our democracy.
6
I’m all for not having any WH celebrations during this administration. It isn’t the people’s WH anymore, it’s Trump’s.
I’m all for not teaching our children competitive sports. It’s all just a conspiracy and marketing ploy to support huge corporations anyway. Maybe all this I’m better than you would stop.
5
As a citizen of Philadelphia I will tell you I do not feel even a little bit let down by the Eagles. I am proud of the Eagles for not caving in to pressure, for showing grit and backbone and for standing up for their principles. Their principled stand will not be understood by the orange emperor in the White House because he has no principles whatsoever and therefore has no way of contextualizing the information.
10
I absolutely see nothing wrong with "taking a knee" when the National Anthem is played. It makes one think. It doesn't make one disrespectful .... it makes one think. I can't believe this draft dodger - not to mention his sons and their dis-service also to the country - would condemn these men. If anything, this draft-dodger should be proud of a peaceful statement of ugly reality.
9
Let's not forget that this is the second team disinvited. The Golden State Warriors were disinvited last year.
8
"...has become a bitter reflection of the deep divisions in the United States over race, patriotism ...."
Nah.
As a NY Giants fan, I've always hated the Eagles.
Like 'em even less now.
They may have won the Superbowl, but they're still not Champs.
But when the birds march daily in North Philly for a reduction in urban mahem and murder, and not just during the Anthem, I'll re-visit the topic.
4
actually their protests are about the killing of civilians by police, which IS "urban mayhem and murder".
8
“They disagree with their president …” Beginning of statement by Donald J. Trump when cancelling celebration.
And from NYT, “Both officials said the president saw it as a sign of disrespect for the office of the presidency and the people’s house.”
No, NYTimes. Trump’s statement was the true reason. The event was cancelled because the players disagreed with their president. Very frightening!
7
Bravo to the Eagles! I never thought an NFL team would become a force for protecting democracy and promoting justice!
6
I was never an Eagles fan, but I am now.
12
What a petty little tyrant. Cadet Bonespurs does not realize that in 1943 the Supreme Court ruled that the government can not compel patriotic speech; to do so would violate the 1st Amendment. And Trump never criticized (to my knowledge) Roseanne Barr’s screeched crotchety grabbing disrespectful rendition of the national anthem. He does not care at all about the concept of civil liberties and civil rights.
8
Forget about the White House, let's throw a party for the Eagles at the Lincoln Memorial. See, DAR vs Miss Marian Anderson.
Soar, Eagles, soar.
8
America: a place where you are free NOT to visit a house inhabited by an egotistical, lying, wannabe King. God bless America and God bless the Philadelphia Eagles for demonstrating true 18th-century Philadelphia-style freedom.
10
The players need a way to shine a light on their cause, and not help a racist president. They lost the first round where they were wrongly painted as unpatriotic. Fans like the players, not the owners. Trump was going to use the White House visit as a photo op that said the player's supported him.
The players should start a promotional tour supporting, "NFL Players against police brutality on African-Americans."
6
Does Trump stand for the national anthem when he's watching at home? Also why don't he attack the PGA for not playing the anthem before the start of it's tournaments? Did the LPGA play the anthem before play at his course in NJ last year? I'm just curious.
7
Another win for the Eagles.
11
Patriotism involves much more than standing with your hand over your heart. But, let’s start there. First, remember when Milania had to nudge Donnie to put his hand over his heart? She wasn’t born here but she had to remind him. The President....
Second, patriotism isn’t saying “I prefer people who aren’t captured” when talking about an American hero.
Third, patriotism isn’t demeaning everyone that doesn’t agree with you.
Fourth, patriotism isn’t telling the Russian Ambassador classified information and disclosing a source.
Fifth, patriotism isn’t selling access to the president, threatening your ( many) adversaries, or paying for silence.
Patriotism is, however, being truthful with your countrymen, serving your country when asked and exercising your right to vote. Let’s hope we see and hear the last of this fool soon.
8
Contradictory statements...
President Trump abruptly called off the White House celebration honoring the Super Bowl-champion Philadelphia Eagles after nearly all of the players and coaches said they would boycott the visit after the president’s demands that players stand during the national anthem at games.
“So many lies,” Mr. Smith wrote. “Here are some facts 1. Not many people were going to go 2. No one refused to go simply because Trump ‘insists’ folks stand for the anthem
1
The Eagles are vindicating their team name—fierce, independent and proud. I would never kneel for our anthem but would stand up for anyone who would like to do so.
4
Eh. The WH invitation was always a victory lap for the players and a chance for the president to bask in reflected glory and connect with fans. It isn’t a matter of state. Now we have a president who declares that bashing players is patriotic and players who wantto avoid a situation where they have to shake his hand. If you want to take sides in this non event, note the players were quietly declining the invitation; the first I heard of this was Trump’s attack on the patriotism of players.
5
This story belongs in the Sports section, not the front page. There are many more newsworthy stories about presidential lies, corruption, complicity, obstruction and incompetence and complicity of Republican cabinet members and Congressmen that belong on the front page that haven't been covered by the NYT to date.
6
In the early years of professional baseball there were numerous disputes about pay, travel, accommodations, etc. so a number of players, many of them stars, created their own league called the Players League. {It did not last long.] But even so something similar could now be considered for professional football, in which many of those players feeling a statement needs to be made as to how they, and particularly others like them, are being treated in our society. This would result in almost 70% of the current players leaving for a new league, followed by woeful TV ratings for NFL games played with the remaining players.
1
"This would result in almost 70% of the current players leaving for a new league" - highly doubtful, but I'm willing to review any data you may have that supports this contention.
The comments, not the underlying action by Trump, have me bewildered and depressed about our country. They presume that the players have no responsibility for their own acts, individually or as a team, and in that, deny the players' moral agency.
Look: all but 10 of the players decided they wouldn't show. They apparently find it intolerable to be in the same room as the president. They're entitled to that.
The president takes an entirely reasonable action in response--cancelling the whole thing--and there's an uproar, as though *he* is the one squelching their right to diminish the festivities (and we know how having only 10 players present would be handled by the press. The kerfluffle over the inauguration crowd pales by comparison).
Time to grow up. You take a public shot at a guy--well, expect him to take one back at you. Isn't that the kind of fire-in-the-belly confrontational stance Democrats (and many commenters here) are forever lamenting that they need to adopt?
3
Oh, for goodness sake, Trump is a petulant little narcissist. Nothing the man does is reasonable or measured or even thought through. A wise statement would have been, “I’m sorry you feel like that, but the invitation is there.” But, no, Donald John has to slap back. He was wrong to interfere in the players’ protests, but that certainly isn’t news, most everything he has done is wrong. He is a liar and a cheat, has proven himself such, and his only recourse is a temper tantrum. How pathetic.
1
Ah, this must be the work that makes him too busy to testify under oath!
16
Question: Can Donald even recite the National Anthem? Word for word? I am pretty sure it would be half mumbles.
19
Trump, a failed team owner, needs to slash and burn out of jealousy, narcissism, whatever. Why is patriotism equated with football anyway? It’s just a sport. Trump has blown this completely out of proportion into an issue that’s meant to divide us.
I’m glad the players, as American citizens, stood up for their 1st amendment rights. Who cares about a visit to this White House anyway?
16
How wonderful would it be if all the players dropped to one knee on opening day.
A common gesture to show the Liar in Chief that they will not stoop to the actions and words of an ignorant individual.
16
Disrespectful to the presidency? Sorry Donald, you've already taken care of that by soiling the office all by yourself.
The Eagles turned you down, and your over inflated ego can't handle the rejection. Get over it Trump, accept the fact that millions of people can't stand the sight of you.
Like the popular song of several years back, the NFL players need to tell the owners and Donald Trump, "Take this job and shove it".
16
The NYT commenters are amazing! This is why Trump won in 2016.
If you really want to win in 2020 then stop calling Trump a tyrant, because he isn’t, I mean how many of your family members have been killed or kidnapped in the middle of the night since Trump won?
When you make these extreme statements you allow Trump to claim “fake news.”
We should be condemning the Eagles for not showing respect to the office, regardless of who the current occupant is. When you wrestle with a pig you both get dirty and the pig likes it! Cover Trump as boring as possible and stop making extreme claims. If the media and liberal voters cry wolf too much then mainstream America will discount the true things you actually say!
I get it, people here don’t like President Trump, but you are so blinded by your hate that he will become president for a second term if you don’t change the way you present your arguments. Your arguments may play well in Manhattan but they won’t play well in Milwaukee and that is who you need to win over if you want to retake the White House.
Liberals thought they had 1984 in the bag, liberals thought they had 2004 in the bag, please don’t assume you have 2020 in the bag. History is not on your side especially with a strong economy and low joblessness rates. The resist movement only plays to your base not the general electorate. Clinton lost in 2016, in part, because her only message was “it is my turn.” You won’t win in 2020 if you’re only message is “I am not Trump.”
11
Trump won because red states, that are subsidized by blue states, have larger electoral representation via the Electoral College. Prime example being a comparison between South Dakota and California of their respective ratios of population to electoral votes. This comparison results in an absurd an obscene ratio of almost 4:1
Regarding you claim about "family members being tortured", thats not an argument. Its an attempt to draw some sort of false equivalence to imply that Donny is actually doing something/anything to "protect" us from a non-existent threat.
6
And in the Senate it's more like 40:1. Some democracy.
1
The President isn't wrong!
5
Sure he is! Consistently.
For example:
Donny claimed President Obama's birth certificate was fake. WRONG
Donny claimed Secretary Clinton was crooked. WRONG
Donny claimed over five million people voted illegally. WRONG
Donny claimed he would build a wall if elected. WRONG
Donny claimed he would repeal Obamacare Day One. WRONG
When are his supporters going to wake up and realize they were conned by the city slicker?
5
By standing up to this laughable, and pathetic at the same time, "patriotic" 5 time draft dodger when he talks about Patriotism, the Philadelphia Eagles said more about their character than an entire team of "kneelers"
15
The Eagles Soar. The Vulture pouts. SAD.
15
Seems to me that liberty and justice for all has to be proven, daily, by a nation expecting loyalty and respect from citizens.
Songs, pledges and political events do not ensure the guarantees of the Constitution and Bill of Rights.
Trump thinks that he can force respect and loyalty with threats which only work with dictatorship to which he loudly aspires to achieve.
His claim to be able to shoot people on the street ad lib and his lawyer's claim, backed by his silence, that he could shoot the FBI Director in the Oval Office without penalty is unsettling for lots of folks.
Presidents who demonstrate respect for the freedoms [all of them] for which our military has fought and died won't get stood up at their parties at the White House.
10
There is nothing less patriotic than the behavior of the divider in chief, Donald Trump.
23
Just like when the Golden State Warriors were disinvited when they were not going to attend the White House ceremony. “You’re not coming?! Well you are not invited!!”
9
Another Eagles’ victory and a classic statement about First Amendment Rights.
Fight Eagles Fight!
14
Trump and his ilk are big supporters of Fake Patriotism, which is patriotism-for-show like standing for the anthem, waving flags, and driving pickup trucks. However, they have absolutely zero respect for true patriotism, which is honoring and defending bedrock American principles like all men are created equal, a government of laws not men, we are a nation of immigrants, separation of church and state, honesty in government, checks and balances among three co-equal branches of government, defending the republic against threats foreign and domestic, etc.
16
"Philly safety Malcolm Jenkins.. co-founded the Players Coalition.. brokered an $89 million agreement in principle with the NFL to fund..[social justice] causes"
The entire league can take a hike and go out of business as now they are going to use Fan Revenue to pay for radical hate filled causes. Boycott for life, strip all federal tax subsidies, and never bring any sports figures to the White House again. That privilege is over!
3
well "fan revenue" would be money paid TO the fans, which is not how the NFL works.
As for "federal tax subsidies (to the NFL)" they don't exist. What USED to exist was the Federal Government paying money TO the NFL to promote the military, which IS "the swamp" in the sense that its corporate-welfare of the military-industrial complex on which most/many/all power brokers feed on.
2
The persistent misrepresentation of the meaning of the symbolic kneeling by Trump and his courtiers is clear evidence that they are promoting themselves by sowing ignorance, duplicity, and misunderstanding. People who do this clearly don't mean us well. This is the opposite of leadership. It intends to harm. It intends to harm our survival. And yet, people who are privileged to have the power to alter this course pretend not to see or understand.
8
I just keep thinking what if Obama or Hillary had done this? What would the would-be Trump supporters and Republican members of Congress had said?
12
Seems to me that the people who claim to love this country the most are actually the ones who hate it the most.
1
I support the Eagles stand.
That said, it's a sad state of affairs that with all the very serious things (many many bad) happening throughout the world and here at home THIS (one more trump) sideshow distraction is what gets top billing.
I loathe trump but must admit his strategy seems to work for HIM but definitely NOT US.
6
The Eagles should have attended, taken a knee during the anthem, then departed
9
As many commentators here and on sports shows have said, STOP playing the national anthem at sporting events.
They are all about making money. The teams' Robber Baron owners might think OUR United States of America revolves around them but WE THE PEOPLE do not agree.
7
Let's stop equating the NFL and other sporting events with the military and patriotism. Almost all NFL and other sports team owners and their children are like Trump...people who have avoided serving in the U.S. military, even during time of war.
24
"League owners appeared intent on finding a way to avoid Mr. Trump’s continued jabs, which they believed had turned many fans against the N.F.L."
Here's an idea for the league owners. Tell Donald Trump to shut his big mouth and butt out.
Quit playing the National Anthem and tell the military and the rest of the heroes to go home, and just have a football game. That's all the fans want. Real simple.
18
I was born and raised in the U.S and heard the national anthem played for decades. Since when did it become just about our military? Lyrics include "No refuge could save the hireling and slave" and athletes protests began over police brutality against African Americans. How quickly we forget.
8
Once again, fake outrage disguised in the name of patriotism, and the ability to hoodwink his base yet again, rules the day.
10
It must get exhausting to live every day in a state of petty revenge. Who was mean to him today? Who didn't properly respect "their president"? Who crossed him 20 years ago? It's exhausting to witness.
8
Very proud when Americans resist. Fewer and fewer really feel comfortable on Trump’s plantation. Rise & resist...
10
If Trump succeeded in his efforts to own a football team, would he be creating the roucous against NFL?
Just wondering ...
3
The President* has managed to make this lifelong New York Giants fan like the Philadelphia Eagles. This just HAS to be an impeachable offense.
7
Nothing more embarrassing then throwing a party and no one shows up.
10
"No Class Trump" will soon run out of controversies when enough of us call it/him like we see it - Our current president is a loud mouthed bully that thrives on "reality show" level theatrics to avoid the truth that he is our nations real disaster.
7
Apparently we find out that "less than 10" = three people.
Plus the mascot in costume.
Now Fox News is fabricating by showing footage of the players kneeling to pray before the game as proof of their "taking a knee" to prop up Trump's delusions.
13
If those Eagles aren't careful, the president won't let them play any regular season games until the fall, either.
10
While President Trump claims to be a true patriot and have a deep love of country, it is clear that he does not respect the constitution and the rights it confers on everyone, especially those who disagree with his policies and practices. It is also clear that the president doesn't understand that the military fight and risk their lives to defend those rights and freedoms. They fight for a just society free of racial, ethnic and religious discrimination. Furthermore, while the president equates standing for the national anthem with honoring members of the military, his patriotism fell short when he used a fake bone spur issue to avoid serving in the Vietnam war. And, his support of white nationalists and neo-nazi radicals further demonstrates just how fake he really is.
9
Why couldn't they have shown up and taken a knee in front of the so-called president - Win, Win!
So much winning in 'Merica!
4
Win, win for DJ Trump, you mean. Trump would think they were doing obeisance to him ... him being the centre of the universe and all.
2
Mr. Trump - if you invite people and no one wants to come, it means they don't like you.
Cancelling doesn't change that.
9
So the person who finagled five draft deferments and a medical letter from a quack doctor about a fake medical condition in order to avoid military service wants to tell football players (some of whom are vets) about patriotism, service, and honoring the nation, the flag, and the military?
Please. Tell me another.
12
Makes me want to go to an Eagles game.
7
Big business football . Owners Trump fans . National Anthem part of the business . The Pentagon provides fly overs . The Players, mainly Black , don’t want any part of this . Good for them
8
The solution is to allow the players in the locker room to view the national anthem on a TV screen. They can then stand or kneel without offending anyone.
For a president who claims to win all the time, loves winners, hates losers, this is strange on so many levels and Trump ends up looking like a bigger loser than we all know he is.
6
Trump dodges the draft and then calls out players that kneel during the national anthem as unpatriotic.
The hypocrisy is just unbearable.
24
Trump, who invokes the flag and the military over protests at NFL games, is a five-time-Vietnam draft dodger. Bone spurs in 1968? No, he’s a consummate coward. The right to protest is an ideal for which America stands. In ‘68 he lost the right to complain.
8
The Donald has a unique ability to poison everything that he comes into contact with.
He has managed to divide our Nation over just about everything, including Pro Football and the celebration of the great American Holiday - the Super Bowl.
Anybody notice that his divisiveness is always along racial lines?
Maybe he should invite the Super Bowl losers to visit him - he can then spin the outcome of the game and award the Pats with the Commissioner's Trophy?
9
"Sometime they’ll give a war and nobody will come." - Carl Sandberg, 1936
1
The headlines are all about Trump this morning- Manafort , the Eagles. Trump loves the attention. Cut off his air supply !
11
Like everything else that involves Trump, all interactions must be about what you can do for him. Being a weak and shallow narcissist there will never be a shared celebration with Trump.
8
In a related story, President Trump just announced that the American eagle will not longer be permitted to appear on US currency.
10
Maybe cadet bone spurs had a flare up of his "military" injury and couldn't make the ceremony.
11
If you disagree with Trump on the Constitution you are on the Founding Fathers side of the interpretation. The lying Lizard hasn’t even read the Founding Document.
Go Eagles!
5
So now Dictator Trump is demanding that nobody gets to stay in the locker room during the playing of the anthem.
I always thought that America was a free country.
This man's mental health needs to really be looked at.
8
This is America, where everyone has the right to their beliefs and practices. What is despicable is that some would support stripping these men of their rights because they don't agree with them.
9
There is a mighty relevant fact worth mentioning in regards to the Trump dis-invite of the Eagles. The Philadelphia players throughout their championship season did not kneel during the national anthem, nor did they remain in the locker room. They clearly decided to do it their way, and they did.
Proving once again that the occupant of the White House is a lying fool.
11
It’s unfortunate that the Eagles aren’t intelligent enough to see that this was their opportunity to speak directly to the president. What a wasted opportunity all in the name of politics. Go back to the field where you belong.
2
The Eagles have spoken to the President, they've told him that they, like all decent people have found him wanting and don't want to lower themselves to his level.
Mayor Jim Kenney of Philadelphia said that disinviting the Eagles “from the White House only proves that our president is not a true patriot, but a fragile egomaniac obsessed with crowd size and afraid of the embarrassment of throwing a party to which no one wants to attend.”
Extremely well said Mayor Kenney.
15
America could not be more proud of the Eagles!
We only wish the GOP Congress had your guts!
8
Bad Headline. It should include that less than 10 accepted the WH invitation.
3
Jenkins/Long 2020.
1
Trump fits the 1775 quote by Samuel Johnson, a Brit, perfectly.
" Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel."
11
I am so proud of the Eagles and all other celebrities who try to help people of color being abused, killed and beat up. I hope they stand firm against Trump who is simply playing to his base. I would never stand for the Anthem either for the same reason as the Athletes.
6
BRAVO Philadelphia Eagles!!! Thank you, for defending Freedom of Speech! Since when is it compulsory to "honor"the flag?! The flag is not God. The flag is a symbol of our nation's freedom and democracy, both which Donald has trashed!
Someone else said this, but it is worth repeating...compulsory patriotism IS fascism!
4
Bravo Eagles!!!!
10
The NYT's commentariat, so sad, so many aging hippy liberals still living in the 60's. It's really pathetic and boring at the same time. I can predict what you'll say before you open your mouths. These athletes ought to do what normal people do at such sporting events, which is to stand for the anthem. Sure they have the constitutional right to act like wealthy tantrum-throwing two year olds but that doesn't mean it's a good idea.
2
The Eagles stood for the anthem throughout the season. The only tantrum-thrower here is the very wealthy, coastal elite NY billionaire draft-dodger tax cheat in the White House, who clearly is more interested in photo ops than patriotism. A word that he can neither pronounce nor spell.
4
if you are an Eagles Fan, it is time to start doing election work. Turn PA Blue. Or help out Beto down in Texas. Work is starting now to canvass for the mid terms. Contact your local Indivisible group or Democratic ward leader to help out. In PA 165 for the State legislature,Jen O'Mara, is a righteous candidate, who supports vets, public education, sensible gun control, and environmental protection is an Eagles fan,and her husband Brad is a twice wounded vet in Afghanistan.
https://www.voteomara.com/
4
Contrary to the statement in this article, this episode is not "a bitter reflection of the deep divisions in the United States over race, patriotism and Mr. Trump himself." It is a direct reaction to Trump's outrageous, bullying stance regarding patriotism and protests. If he had not injected himself into an area he doesn't belong in, players would protest or not as they saw fit, teams would respond as they saw fit, and most of the Eagles would be at the WH today, even though many Eagles players and staff no doubt disagree with Trump on issues of race and patriotism. This is happening today because of Trump, not because of deep divisions in the country, even though there are deep divisions. What this episode does reflect, however, is Trump's weakness. I applaud the Eagles.
7
As always Trump conflates being president with the office of the presidency. The players, prior to recent events, had no plans to disrespect the office. It is clear that they are now asserting their rights to disrespect Mr. Trump himself, and with excellent reason.
4
Remember that video clip of Melania poking Trump's hand to remind him to put it over his heart while the national anthem was playing? This is truly the age of the post-ironic.
8
What does the national anthem and the usa military have to do with football? Nothing. Play the national anthem and on memorial day and veterans day and international sporting events. Not at profit driven nfl games used as military recruiting events.
2
Just how clueless are these people who believe Trump's assertions that the player's are being anti-military with their protests? We will be boycotting the NFL this year not because of the player's exercising their First Amendment rights but because of the spineless and morally bankrupt owners who didn't stand up for the players and allow women employed as "cheerleaders" to be treated like property than actual people.
4
Respondents to Pres. Trump's rants seem to view his 'it's all about me' as rational and yet looney. That perception is not entirely false but it often masks what should be our real concerns about him; he's an unstable person, not just psychopathic but likely bordering on schizophrenia. And his condition will worsen as he feels more threatened psychologically. It is past time for the Congress led by his own Republic party to remove him from office or create a full-proof mechanism to reign him in regardless of the results of the November election.
3
The real disrespect to the office of the presidency is the person itself, who holds the office!! He and his new Trump Republicans are the ones that have disgraced themselves.
We need a thorough cleansing of the people's house and the Congress. Let's make sure we vote his cronies out this November. And make sure we do the same for him in 2020. We should bring charges against him for the harm he has done to the country. He has divided us and brought our standing in the world down to nothing.
Vote him out and then lock him up.
4
This whole playing/standing/singing of the National Anthem is totally ridiculous to begin with. These are professional paid athletes and people attending these games are "customers" who have paid big bucks to see these professionals do their jobs.
I understand this is "traditional" but, like playing Dixie or displaying the Confedeate flag in the South, it is time for this particular tradition to end.
Addendum:
Maybe the Army/Navy/Air Force games on the college level could be justified.
3
So according to Trump, it's okay for him to denigrate a military hero, John McCain, but it's not okay for a football player to express his political dissatisfaction via a WH boycott, or kneeling, as disrespectful to our military. Can't have it both ways, Mr. Trump!
6
The Donald can't deal with throwing a party and so few wanting to attend. Once again, it is all about him, but it will turn into a rallying cry for his jingoist base.
2
I rooted for the Eagles last year in the Super Bowl. Now, I'm rooting for them as a force opposing the Trump administration. Go Birds!
4
This is a five-minute news story. Athletes, many of them people of color, don't want to associate with Trump. Duh. Spend time on a real story, like what is happening in Puerto Rico and how this administration would like to install Trump as a monarch--which on some levels, makes sense, since so many monarchs in history were nuts.
“We’ve got to be careful not to be baited by Trump or whomever else,” Mr. Lurie said during the October meeting. “We have to find a way to not be divided and not get baited.”
While Mr. Lurie's sentiment appears admirable at first glance, make no mistake that he is worried about ticket sales and TV eyeballs, especially among the wide swath of working-class Eagles fans who are rabid Trump supporters, which very well might be a majority of them.
2
I hope trump gets fined when he turns the ceremony into a political re-election campaign event.
2
Once again, DDT has personified the antithesis of grace and civility.
5
Eagles (and Patriots, and anyone else with a public forum), who will lead us when we have to physically overthrow this dictator? Army, Navy, are you going to follow orders against the country you've sworn to protect and defend? I fear it won't be long now before we really see who is on the side of the Constitution, and who on the side of Trump.
3
In the future, the White House should not get involved in professional sports. Any sport. Only Olympic sports. Why? Professional sports teams are profit-making businesses. Athletes are entertainers. Who cares what they do when the National Anthem is played? A total Non Issue.
POTUS should invite casts from the 2018 Tony Awards show on June 10 to visit the White House. Those people are professional entertainers also. Never happen. Who cares about theater in the White House...answer: no one. Fans of Broadway are not a huge demographic whose votes politicians care about.
This is a bit more fleshed out than what i had sent earlier:
In 1968, President Trump, who invokes the flag and the military over protests at NFL games, became a five-time-Vietnam draft dodger. Bone spurs in 1968? Couldn’t serve in the military? Yet miraculously able to play college football, baseball, and basketball.
The right to protest is an ideal for which America stands. Suppressing dissent is the hallmark of autocracy. We’re better than that.
In 1968, I headed off to Vietnam as a military physician.
In 1968, the Prez showed that he’s a consummate coward.
In ‘68 the Prez squandered his right to complain.
4
Quit blaming Trump for the NFL "kneel or else" issue, he didn't start it, but only weighed in with his opinion that it was disrespectful to members of the military. And for liberals who applaud the Eagles for staying away from the WH because of it, may I remind you that recent polls in 2017 showed 80%+ of those who watch NFL games did NOT want politics to enter the NFL games and supported taking the kneeling issue OUT of the game arena.
5
Coming soon from the Trumpian hall-of-funhouse-mirrors doublespeak disinformation machine... some twittering about how the Eagles didn't really win the championship... and cheated... So he's anointing another team as the "winner"!
3
I'm waiting for the President to attack everyone in the rest rooms or getting served food during the Star-Spangled Banner. Or eating in their seats. Or, like him, not knowing the words to the anthem.
The flag is a symbol of our country, which has (almost) always stood for freedom of expression. Let's respect what the flag stands for, and instead of excoriating players for kneeling respectfully during the anthem, address their grievances.
4
I cringe whenever I hear of Trump lecturing others about patriotism, or having any interaction with the military, True patriots don't dodge the draft.
8
Not a single word in this report about the reasons behind the players' protest, but plenty of repetition of the President's false narrative. This is a textbook example of how the media amplifies hateful rhetoric and suppresses the voices of the people.
3
This is unbelievable. The president in Putin’s pocket calls the Eagles anti-American. HE was never going to let this event happen because he needs to pander to his base. And now SHS says that the “Eagles have abandoned their fans” by not showing up. Hardly, Sarah. I’ve got news for you, this republican votes Green.
4
If mr. trump saw the Eagle's decision not to go to the White House as a sign of disrespect to him, he was very correct. Go Philly!
5
Though I’m a committed Cowboys fan, today I’m supporting the Eagles, and I very much doubt Jerry Jones would’ve allowed the Boys to no-show. Trump might feign patriotism, or lack thereof, as being the sole reason for the Eagles being the latest to slight him, but he’s as phony as a $3 bill. Patriotism to him is asking Vladimir Putin to help him win an American election by illegally hacking into the email account of his American opponent as well as all the American citizens assisting his opponent so he can be elected and continue his charade of not disclosing his tax returns due to an unprovable and seemingly never ending audit. Trump, or Elmer Fudd’s human persona, deserves all the disrespect being thrown in his face for the world to see.
4
Blame the Eagles for this. Trump didn't do anything but invite them. If they don't want to show up as a group. so be it.
Serves the President right that they snubbed him. After all, he's the one who turned the NFL into a political football!
4
The first amendment is only available if one agrees with Mr. Trump?
3
In the wake of Football player's disrespect for our flag and country last year, viewership of games dropped way down. Is it a surprise to anyone that Americans are upset and refusing to give the League and their TV sponsors their money? All Trump is doing here is channeling what his base feels strongly about.
@Right, Oakwood. The man who called John McCain a loser for being captured and tortured and whose followers mock this dying man have no disrespect for our country and the men and women who serve in the armed forces, do they?
3
Actually, the only one that lost audience share last season was Papa Johns. And could other Americans have strong feelings too? I think so.
1
So funny! Good for them. Now let's hope they show the same backbone at the next game by defying the owners, et al.
8
Mr. Trump said in a statement released Monday evening. “They disagree with their president because he insists that they proudly stand for the national anthem, hand on heart, in honor of the great men and women of our military and the people of our country.”
Some should tell the president to read the title, as well as both the first and second verses of "The Star Spangled Banner". The national anthem is not about the great women and men of our military, it's about the flag.
I'm pretty sure the athletes were not protesting the military, but rather the actions of our leaders continue to take in their stewardship of our nation. What national symbol most vividly represents our nation, the flag! So really these patriotic athletes were doing what all great Americans should do, protesting injustice when they see it.
King Trump can tell anyone he wants them to do, whenever he wants, however if what he tells them to do is unjust, I expect they'll do what we all should do ... just ignore him.
9
Very few parents would want their children to emulate the behaviors of the current White House occupant. That includes inciting violence at his rallies or suggesting police mistreat suspects.
But I'd bet the vast majority of the parents of NFL players who protest incidents of police brutality and misconduct are proud of their sons' principled position and nonviolent protests.
There's a world of difference between the evils of Trump and the peaceful protests of NFL players.
14
How about the players protest local police department brutality in a way not disrespectful to the American flag and the national anthem.
The American flag represents the ideals of this nation. The national anthem represents our national unity. We stand for the national anthem to show respect. There never previously was a practice of kneeling for the national anthem to show respect. Kneeling is intended as a sign of refusal to wholeheartedly embrace the flag and anthem.
Protesting these symbols surely is protesting the wrong thing. Go march in the cities and the towns against the local police.
But don't turn your back on the ideals of the nation as a whole.
3
Let's stop equating the NFL and other sporting events with the military and patriotism. Almost all NFL and other sports team owners and their children are like Trump...people who have avoided serving in the U.S. military, even during time of war.
13
Do you kneel to pray? Is that a sign of disrespect?
How in the world is kneeling during the national anthem—a song glorifying war—a sign of disrespect?
1
Baby Donnie looks more like the egotistical fool he is every day.
Inherited wealth. Tax it at 90% to prevent people like The Con Don and Koch brothers from getting any "power". People like them do nothing but destroy like spoiled, undisciplined two-year olds.
16
I did not know that act was supposed to be honoring our military -- has anyone else heard that? I thought it was a patriotic gesture, honoring our country but not any particular citizens.
I think Trump is making this up. Like everything else he says. Please correct me if I'm wrong, however.
13
It all started in California. Like most northern Californians, our San Francisco 49ers are not afraid to exercise their First Amendment rights. Thank you, Mr. Collin Kaepernick and Mr. Eric Reid for your bravery and pointing out injustice in America. It was a great experience watching both of you play football. That is what America is all about, not a wannabe king in the Oval Office.
21
as the NHL playoffs look to be going in the favour of the Washington Capitals with a 3-1 series lead, they are likely to be next to deal with this issue. While hockey tends to remain fairly apolitical with the majority of players being non-American (at last count there were 7 Americans on the team), the difference lies in the fact that this could be a 'home team win' for the president. No doubt he will use that as an opportunity to claim some degree of victory for himself. Also interesting is that the team captain and star player, Alex Ovechkin, is Russian and a staunch supporter of Vlad Putin who himself loves and plays the game. My hope is for the Vegas Golden Knights to climb out of this insurmountable hole and pull off the biggest upset in NHL hockey Stanley Cup history. It will be good for the sport, the city after the tragedy last year and to deny trump and Putin the appearance of victory as well.
6
I'm no fan of anything football, so apologies if all this goes way over my head.
But isn't the NFL an association of business enterprises & not a national service?
I fail to see why a national anthem would be even performed at events like these.
If Trump is so keen on having teams of toughs salute this song, he should stick to the troops he's actually commander-in-chief of.
Businesses apparently can honor only what they choose & reject what they have issues with, as we see with this 'masterpiece' of a scotus ruling.
24
Let's have a show of unity starting the first day of the football season: Every player and coach on one knee in every stadium, with the audience members assuming whichever position they individually choose.
8
I think it might be more accurate to say the Eagles players declined the invitation, and rightly so.
39
Awesome EAGLES! You are true representatives of Philly and US democracy, you are great Superbowl winners and great Americans.
37
If professional athletes insist on making political statements, then we should discontinue the practice of inviting them to the White House. It's not like they are renowned scientists, educators, technologists or doctors. While they are incredibly physically talented, they are also often a bunch of overpaid, often semi-educated people with no role model status to the rest of society.
3
You have a pretty limited group of people allowed to have opinions. Also, a group of usually pretty self-serving ego-driven professionals who often sacrifice family for work. How are they looking to you, now?
So many commentators support Eagle protesters. Wonder how many will attent Eagles games to fill the empty seats left by disgusted life long fans..
3
Disgusted Eagles fans should examine their false beliefs that Trump is a patriotic man. He dodged Vietnam due to a mysterious foot condition that miraculously healed after the war. He has criticized and demeaned gold star families.
Quiet kneeling is not a sign of disrespect - Get that through your thick heads!
1
The smarter ones.
1
You obviously don't know Philly fans or you would not have made such a ludicrous statement. Philly fans are 100% united behind the Eagles.
2
I've always had a soft spot in my heart for the Eagles, but I'm especially proud to be a fan today. Forced displays of patriotism are the antithesis of love of country and a repudiation of everything we're supposed to believe in as Americans. Does the fact that someone may elect to sit or take a knee while the National Anthem is played offend me as a veteran? Nope. Not at all. Although I may stand during the playing of the National Anthem, that doesn't make me more patriotic than those who elect to take a knee in order to illustrate and demonstrate against systemic inequalities in our society. Forced patriotism isn't "patriotism" at all...the word for it is "fascism." Go Eagles!
11
It was a brilliant move by Trump. Only ten members of the Eagles organization were going to show up. The left and the media, excuse the redundancy, would have used it as propaganda to attack Trump.
2
Fact: No player on the Eagles took a knee during the national anthem during the 2017 regular season, post season or Super Bowl last season.
That is not what you might believe, however, reading the tweets of President Donald Trump or watching FOX News on Tuesday morning.
...
The majority of the pictures are players kneeling to pray prior to the game and not during the national anthem.
...
One picture that has been circulating online since the news broke is of cornerback Ron Brooks kneeling during the national anthem during a 2017 preseason game. During the regular season, however, no Eagles player took a knee during the national anthem.
...
The Eagles have been one of the most outspoken teams in the league regarding protests during anthem, especially safety Malcolm Jenkins, who was not planning on attending the ceremony on Tuesday.
"There is so much that has been swirling around that administration," safety Malcolm Jenkins said, "I don't see it as beneficial at this moment in time to visit in a celebratory fashion."... media matters
5
Professional athletes are entertainers. Who cares what they do at a game when the national anthem is played? I agree the NFL should not play the national anthem at all. Play that country song “Are you ready for some football” instead.
If NFL games were a meeting of the US Senate, I would be worried. Entertainers? Naw!! Do we place any importance on what Roseanne Barr says or does? No. She’s not the Secretary of Defense. She’s an entertainer! Who cares!!!!
2
Entertainers are people with experience, opinions, biases, intellect. Dismissing them because of their career choice seems a little lame. Should we also dismiss or ignore ministers, teachers, custodians? Who do you deem worthy of expression? Just, perhaps, you?
Tempestuous Trump tramples on Reagan tradition.
He makes a mockery of all things presidential, both the large and small... Mueller please hurry.. this act is getting thin and worn. Does anyone ever take a knee at a Nascar event, if they did would he call that out or is that too close to the heart of his base.
8
This is all spectacle created by the president! He ordered the vice-president to go to a game simply to walk out. Many veterans don't have a problem with the players taking a knee. It is a sign of quiet respectful protest that they and their bothers fought to give us. Does the president even care about the vets he claims to love? He was disrespectful to a gold star family, he has consistently attempted to destroy the VA care system by calling for privatization which will hurt many many vets. Its all about him and this tantrum show it.
23
This lifelong, die-hard Giants fans LOVES these Philadelphia Eagles! A very fitting national symbol (the eagle, that is) for a team who truly embodies the tenets upon which our country was founded.
If I had the owners' collective ear, I would strongly caution against bending to the whim of a man who almost single-handedly brought down another football league, taking with him hundreds of millions of dollars and the jobs of countless people. Don't let it happen again.
Meanwhile, Eagles, continue to soar. Stand up for what you believe is right - whether that is to show a voice against an autocratic "president," or for the underserved in our communities, or for voicing your protests against countless acts of brutality by NOT standing. It's your choice and your voice. Fly Eagles Fly!
11
Thank you, Eagles players, coaches, and Mr. Lurie for standing up for your principles and not being bullied by this shallow person in the White House. Trump is trying to destroy our constitution and everything our country stands for (or at one time did stand for). He is not a patriot, you, your coaches, and Mr. Lurie are.
6
Well done, Mr. Trump. If these players want to kneel, let them do it in a church.
1
They didn’t kneel.
1
Bravo for the Philadelphia Eagles! Considering the damage Trump and his enablers are doing to our form of government, Trump has absolutely nothing to say about someone else's patriotism. A nonviolent, dignified protest against injustice is as American as it gets and extremely patriotic. What Trump believes in and does is much closer to totalitarianism. It's our president who needs to be censored.
2
This is a case of Trump getting everyone's attention on the shiny object. The true root of this crusade is the bruised ego from 30 years ago when he pressured his fellow owners in the USFL to compete directly against the NFL and basically lose their investments so he could sue the NFL. Combined take from that lawsuit for the owners of USFL teams? Three Dollars! Look at anything Don the Con does and it is because of a long held slight or he is proclaiming faults in others that he sees in himself.
18
You may be overthinking his "rationale". This man has no impulse control, Mike.
I am a Baltimore Ravens fan. I am going to take a knee in the stands when I go to the next game. I applaud the Eagles for owning their rights and understanding just how important they are. And since when is genuflecting or kneeling a sign of disrespect? Seems I do it Sundays at church. And the last time I checked God was still God...not trump.
6
There are a number of blockhead trump supporters who don't understand that the players are not disrespecting the military or the country. It was from day 1 about racial discrimination and mistreatment of black people by law enforcement. Nevertheless not a single Eagles player kneeled in the regular season or playoffs this past season. It's another deflection and diversion by a president who is in trouble and widely disliked both here and around the world. He inherited a good economy but has no accomplishments of his own that have helped the so-called "forgotten man" who he snookered into voting for him in any significant way. His major "accomplishments" have been backing out of trade and environmental agreements. He's no deal maker. He is a very good crawfish.
7
Don't protest during your working hours.
I would be fired for doing exactly the same thing.
4
Defining patriotism for other people is like telling what people what they should and should not do at their religious services. Donald Trump and the NFL owners think their version of patriotism is the one true patriotism and all others are inferior.
14
this President considers the White House to be HIS house, not our house. thus, he feels free to disinvite the persons who belong to an organization that permits its members to disagree with this President.
6
I disagree with the statement that Eagles fans are mad at the team. In our home town paper, The Inquirer, the majority of comments are positive just like the top picks here I’m the NYTimes.
I find myself questioning the motives of the NYTimes these past500 days. I understand you need to have subscribers, but we also need the truth.
2
Being acknowledged by the President of the United States used to be a welcomed reward for athletic achievement. The degree to which Trump is disrespected by so many has brought this distinction to the point of being unwanted.
If Trump were to show respect for Americans as individuals to the extent which he pretends to care about the piece of cloth known as our flag or a song known as our national anthem, people would likely respect him more. The problem is that Trump is nothing but man whose life is one big confidence game, which inherently, is at the cost of others. I have created a simple quiz about Trump:
Q: Does Trump tell a lot of lies?
A) Yes
B) I'm an idiot.
12
I just became an Eagles fan.
10
I am now an Eagles fan. Bravo.
30
Fewer than 10 attendees, WOW! I've just become an Eagles fan!
11
A Californian reads this as a cold Election Day distraction.
3
White House officials said the “president saw it as a sign of disrespect for the office of the presidency and the people’s house.”
We see Trump’s entire reign as disrespect for the office of the presidency.
44
"....the president saw it as a sign of disrespect for the office of the presidency and the people’s house."
Baloney!
Canceling the invite to the Eagles is no different from canceling the summit with NK.
So there!
3
If is the pattern here that is frightening
Mr Trump creates an issue -- recall that last fall NO ONE was even discussing "taking a knee." At one of his rallies, out of nowhere, Trump brought this up and started one of his movie script rages.
Base responds. Fox and right wing media amplify the story. Troll and bot-infected social media sites churn out thousands of messages.
In four days a major national issue is created and is roiling the country.
He escalates it into a patriotism litmus test. Do you LOVE America the way I and MY people do???
And now the dictator (find a better word) lays down the law.
Do this MY way:
--Change NFL rules (owners say Yes Powerful One -- do not hurt our money);
--New rules for ceremony -- ALL must come and venerate -- announced at last minute so the attacked have no chance to negotiate or try to regroup.
--New definition of patriotic behavior issued by the President (Sing, stand, hand over heart) and if you do NOT FOLLOW MY RULES my people will be watching. Will we have Anthem Police in the stands this fall? That is how dictatorships operate. Look at N Korea.
I would be reassured if I thought, as many do, that this is just a diversion-from-Mueller or fire-up-base gimmicks.
But it is too planned, too textbook, too deliberate.
Paired with "I am above the law, I cannot be arrested, I can legally do whatever I want" proclamation on SAME day -- and this is a national threat. We think we are smarter than Germans in the 30s.
10
Oh how it makes me smile. The most satisfying part about all of this is that Eagles fans are largely Trump supports. All of the racists, er.."blue collar workers" from the white areas of the city and suburbs. They have the earned reputation of being among the most racist, xenophobic woman haters in all of sports. As a notable comedian once said "the closest I ever got to a Klan rally was sitting in the 700 level at an eagles game". Anyone ever hear of the Wing Bowl? I wonder how it feels for the Red Hat Crowd to have their celebrity president humiliating their prized sports team that finally won something. Life is funny.
18
I hadn't known that going over to the White House and kowtowing while a draft dodger preens for the cameras and brags about himself was required by NFL contracts, the Constitution, and the Bible.
6
I'm with Mayor Jim Kenny.
5
The Eagles do not want to celebrate with a racist liar. This is very easy to understand, and is a moment of pride for the Philadelphia team. Go Eagles !
13
I've been a NFL-AFL football fan for 55 years and think that Donald Trump should watching football and shut his mouth, and I applaud the players on the Eagles who had decided they didn't want to give Donald Trump the platform to use them in his race based game of propaganda.
6
This just shows how closed, narrow minded, and self conscious/seeking this president is. And he is the elected leader of our country.
17
Trump deserves a new title to go with all his puffed up ego and supremacist views—how about Grand Wizard? That would suit the garden party he’s having, plenty of marchin’ and flag wavin’.
19
Is Trump now going to tell US all how we must honor the flag and the military?
This is insane. And the NFL owners are cowards who have capitulated to Trump who has now issued a new directive that players cannot stay off the field during the national anthem. Are the owners going to say:"Yassir boss" to this latest command?
Let US be clear: some of us were boycotting the NFL because Colin Kaepernick did not have a job when he was clearly better than some of the quarterbacks who were hired. This was BEFORE Trump discovered his new political toy.
7
A man who never served anything but himself, dodged the draft, and colluded with a foreign government, demands forced "patriotism" and then also demands respect for it.
9
This what resistance looks like. Take note, Democrats.
14
So-called conservatives say they are at war with the 'deep state' and big government abuse.
What better example than government agents - police (many of whom I know and admire) - shoot unarmed American citizens? Exactly describes what they say they abhor.
But instead they protest the protesters of these shootings. Big government can only abuse white people, I guess.
4
Trump "cancelled" a visit from people who weren't coming anyway. He reminds me of a teenager who "breaks up with" someone who just dumped them.
22
Good for the Eagles! They are the champions and they do
not need an egomaniac shameful person to recognize that
fact. Pro football should allow players to have the freedom
to do what they want.
25
"[T]he president saw it as a sign of disrespect for the office of the presidency and the people’s house."
See? He's not so stupid after all!
Sports teams don't need the approval of 45. They should rise far above the self-serving, egomaniacal, petty guy in the White House. Really, who cares what 45 thinks? A big celebration in Philadelphia means much more.
6
Dear Eagles and Their Fans [and everyone else]: As long as the president continues to sink so low, please continue to fly so high! Look from above while holding your moral high ground [something the president is not acquainted with]...
15
NFL owners are rich enough to take a stand—a knee—in support of black athletes. Those owners who spoke honestly about Trump behind closed doors need to go public. If the NFL let the athletes act freely and also owned up to its real debt to it’s black athletes, Trump would back down.
3
Long live the 2017 Philadelphia Eagles!
America at its best
4
A bully throws a party and no one wants to come and he has a fit.
Sounds like a re-run of Leave it to Beaver: the folks sit Lil Donald down and teach him how to quit lying so he has a friend.
8
So the Draft Dodger in Chief cancels invitations that were already refused? How Presidential. But doesn't that make his statement disinviting them "Fake News"; Similar to his denial of dictating Don Jr.'s meeting a Russian lawyer; similar to his denials of sexually assaulting women; similar to his denial of his trysts; similar to telling his daughter to sell condos by lying.. . Draft Dodging, Fake Newsing, Woman Abusing, Philandering, Con Artist, Fraudster in Chief. Do y'all feel GREAT yet?
7
Its a free country and the players have every right to express their opinions, but if I were a coach or owner, those who refuse to pledge, would sit and not play and/or be traded, period, (my right to express). I would always field a team that respected a country that offers so much to so many.
1
Not the biggest football fan, but my Dad is a lifelong Giant's fan and that rubbed-off. My wife grew up in Pittsburgh and is a Steeler's fan. The Eagles have always been a "arch-rival." I cheered when the Eagles went to the Super Bowl. I cheered when they beat the Patriots. Now, I'm beyond super impressed by them. The more I learn about the team members the greater my respect for them. If the Eagle's owner will pay the National Anthem fines (cue the Jets), I will fly the Eagles colors. Right now the Eagles lead the nation.
11
Talk about a political football.
Unfortunately it is clear to all but the most blinkered partisan than Trump has little interest in the game, the flag, or the values it represents beyond how he can use it to attention seek to his own advantage. No one is paying him for this, and not one person is benefitting.
11
I grew up playing and watching football. When I played, dad would attend practice sessions when he could, never missed a game I played in. Football brought family and friends together, revelling in victory, consoling in defeat. When older the Super Bowl created a reason for old friends living far away to have a reunion, trade stories of how life is going, talk about the kids, later the grandchildren. At times discuss what was going as planned what was not, commiserate and console. Sad topics, a child with a drug problem, loss of a loved one, illness, a career gone wrong. When the National Anthem played the only discussion, did one like or dislike the rendition.
Some will say the players started the mess we are in, some will point to Colin K. Others will assert that Trump, by rejecting a Constitutional right turned a diversion from everyday life into, pardon the pun a political football.
For me, my only hope, dad is not turning in his grave, bemoaning what was and should be a game of enjoyment, not a wedge further opening the divide in our country. Thanks to Trump there is no place left where one can forget the trial and tribulations of life, simply unwind. Why, create a diversionary tactic to shine a light away from his possible crimes. SO SAD!
12
What’s with Trump’s obsession with the military anyway? Since when is the national anthem and the flag somehow a celebration of the military? Since when do we need a military parade down Pennsylvania Avenue?
I think he just feel bad deep down for evading the draft.
15
No, he believes that if he promotes the military, he can use it against the rest of us. All dictators deflect criticism by equating adoration of the military with patriotism.
9
I actually think that as commander in chief, he feels the anthem is a celebration of himself. He wants everyone to honor and celebrate “Trump’s America”—I don’t think he care about service men and women, or anyone else for that matter.
1
I was already boycotting Trump, now I'll just add the NFL to the boycott list. It's a very sad time for American political discourse and the right of free speech.
5
I was already boycotting Trump, now I'll just add the NFL to the list. It's a very sad time for American political discourse and the right of free speech.
3
The NFL is a private business - an umbrella company comprised of 32 franchises. No different than Wendy's, Walmart or any other national brand or sports league. The NFL is not a branch of government or the military. The conflation of televised NFL games (the TV show) and the assumed/required expression of political or cultural values is mystifying.
15
Wrong. The NFL is believe it or not a non-profit!!!
The right answer would have been to STOP playing the national anthem at professional sports events. They are not about national pride. They are an entertainment venue. Next we will have private citizens required to observe "moments of silence" and then "moments of prayer" . When will conservatives stop trying to regulate thought and belief?!
32
Perhaps in November...
2
I was planning to stop watching the NFL this year, mostly because of the owners capitulating to King Trump and his demands for obedience, but now I'm considering tuning in to root for the Eagles.
26
Trump considers himself to be some kind of super patriot. Yet,,he never served. He avoided. He dodged.
33
And he brags about not paying taxes.
12
So you are only patriotic if you pay lots of taxes and are in the military?
Do you mind sharing your service record and your 2017 tax return? We need to judge if you are a hypocrite or not...
This is what character looks like. Bravo, Eagles!
27
Anyone who claimed Obama divided this country and is watching this straight-faced needs a reality check. Trump, for no sensible reason other than political calculus, is driving a wedge between America's most popular sport and patriotism, even driving a wedge between a team and their fans. Over a team that didn't kneel in the 2017 season, whose players didn't give this as a reason for not attending, while Fox News misrepresents pictures of players praying to validate the President. This is the Republican party, the party of wedges creating an alternate reality.
22
I wonder. Does President Trump "insist" that his White House "team" assemble and begin their work day standing, hand on heart, before the flag and sing the national anthem or recite the Pledge of Allegiance? That would be far more meaningful and patriotic than a bunch of football players doing it.
15
This New England Patriots fan is now an Eagles fan as well.
21
Is it 'disrespect for the flag' or 'disrespect for Donald Trump?'
Which is it that seems to trigger the subject of the infantile rage?
9
Thank you, Mayor Jim Kenney of Philadelphia, you hit the nail on the head!
“from the White House only proves that our president is not a true patriot, but a fragile egomaniac obsessed with crowd size and afraid of the embarrassment of throwing a party to which no one wants to attend.”
Love it! Trump is the USA version of Muammar Gaddafi - and if he isn't voted out but soon, we'll be stuck with him, and he will drag this country down just like Muammar Gaddafi in Libya. And, Saddam Hussein in Iraq, come to think of it.
21
The real reason he disinvited the Eagles? They’re big, really big. And macho, really macho. And physically fit, really physically fit. Image conscious Trump would appear emasculated next to these guys, so... better cancel the photo op.
15
How did he disinvite them, when they had declined to visit?
19
To the Eagles - thank you for demonstrating what patriotism really is.
25
If the White House revoked my right to freedom of speech I would stay away as well.
28
Never any acknowledgement by trump of the original reason why players wouldn’t stand for the anthem — shooting after shooting after shooting of unarmed black men. That didn’t fit his bogus little patriot narrative.
17
I stand (and kneel) with the Philadelphia Eagles! I am proud of you all for taking a stand against the dictator.
14
President defers military requirement 5 times as a younger man so he can pursue his womanizing career (remember when he said the AIDS epidemic was his "Vietnam"?) and somehow these Eagles are the unpatriotic ones?
Go Eagles!
24
Last night on CNN, the mayor of Philadelphia painted a true picture of the White House coward. He mentioned how many Philly boys had served and died for their state and their country in Vietnam, whilst little Don deferred due to heal spurs. He went on to say, in so many words, that nothing about the temporary White House occupant resembled a true patriot.
41
Apparently the only kneeling that Trump finds acceptable is when his subjects are kneeling in fealty in front of him while kissing his ring.
11
Or an adult movie star doing her patriotic duty
6
Hope the Eagles wln the Super Bowl again next year - and boycott Trump again!
23
That would be nice but I hope even more that Trump is gone by this time next year.
7
I hope they win in 2021 and boycott Trump again.
4
I'm glad the Eagles didn't want to go, and now Donald Trump is trying to turn it around and say he's disinviting them.
I think the photo-op the country needs to focus on is that stupid one, of Trump grinning with that huge over sized envelope of a letter from Kim Jong-Un presented to Trump in the Oval Office by the North Korean Spymaster...….the Clown in the Oval Office will do anything for the wrong image.
4
All bullies are cowards deep down. This one is no different.
12
It's telling that so few Americans want what has been a remarkable privilege, meeting the President of the United States. What a disgrace to the highest office in the land.
Who wants to meet narcissistic Trump the Tyrant in celebration knowing he will egotistically demand the spotlight shines only on him.
So SAD!
36
Why can't the so-called president do a parade instead? After all, he successfully avoided STD's during Viet-Nam and through the power of prayer (or something) caused his bone spurs to go into remission. Heroic. Patriotic. MAGA
10
I can't imagine any Eagles fan showing up to be around this jerk for any kind of phony celebration.
22
Trump will have "fake" Eagle fans placed in the crowd of sheep he has attending his media stunt.
4
Trump is right. America isn't perfect. But it is a disgrace for our millionaire sports heros act like hopeless quitters and losers in front of America's youth.
8
You just do not get it! And by the way, the kids do!
6
These players ARE HEROES for standing up go a modern-day tyrant who commands how they should act.
They defied the dictator who says he can kill citizens with no punishment, that HE is "above the law."
This is America. We are FREE.
At least for now.
11
Apparently you never played an actual contact sport. Football players are far from quitters. They just are using their voice to speak out against injustice. This is not Russia or China were free speech and debate are part of the process. Trump has shown zero patriotism. In fact, he dodged the draft a half dozen times and claimed bad feet keep him out, went bankrupt a half dozen times and stiffed follow citizens of hard earn money, never paid taxes which cheat the military out of needed funds and collided with Russia, a mob state with aggressive anti democratic institutes. He should get the same treatment that is melted out to traitors, thugs and turncoats. The play about loving the flag is made up to get his ‘base’ worked. If you think differently go sign for course at Trump U. He has shown through actions over 30 years he has regard for the country.
8
How does the president who thought that some mighty fine people marched in the streets carrying torches and swastika banners and calls former POWs losers say that taking a knee during the anthem somehow dishonors the military and is unpatriotic and expect to get away with it?
13
History will be kinder to the Philadelphia Eagles than to Donald J. Trump.
24
Why would the African American members of the Eagles bother to go to such a false celebration? Trump has already told them in no uncertain words that they shouldn't be in America.
Why would they want to stand with a man who is a toxic mixture of pathetic desperate ego and manipulative hatred?
The Eagles are good and decent men who will not feed the beast.
All Americans should join them in rejecting the division and hatred pushed by a disgusting bully.
17
Fan since 1950. Eagles' finest hour. Compulsory patriotism is fascism.
51
Bravo Eagles..
16
"Hand on heart, in honor of the great men and women of our military..."
Quoth the draft dodger who disrespects veterans who were captured and gold star families who are Muslim or Black.
32
It's disgusting to have this White House troll blathering about flag and country.
Putin: Release the videos. Please.
20
Dear 45 and Company,
You're so vain
You probably think this song is about you
You're so vain,
I'll bet you think this song is about you
Don't you?
Don't you?
Sincerely,
The Rest of US
9
Another Trump temper tantrum... Go eagles!
29
It's adulation from all or nobody! Trump is a bully who will get his comeuppance in a court of law.
22
What does much worse damage is to see and hear the xenophobic and racist language and behavior of cowardly sycophants in political office
1
Aesop's fable "The fox and the Grapes." could be used to explain President Trump's behavior with the Eagles
The story concerns a fox that tries to eat grapes from a vine but cannot reach them. Rather than admit defeat, he states they are undesirable.
President Trump being the showman and publicity hound wanted to bask in the glow of the Eagles Superbowl win. When it turned out that very few of the Eagles wanted to go, Trump said he didn't actually want them to come to the White House anyway. President Trump is the Fox and the Eagles are the grapes, and President Trump is the poster child for "Sour Grapes."
14
Clearly, Trump cancelled in order not to be embarrassed by the low turnout of Philadelphia Eagle personal at the event. They, he turns it around so it appears that he decided to cancel because the National Anthem kneeling controversy. Funny, not one Eagle kneeled during the entire season. So, who do I believe?
12
The Eagles play at Lincoln Financial Field. They should honor and assemble for a photograph in front of what has now become the most important building in Washington - The Lincoln Memorial.
2
If they don't respect their country enough to stand for the national anthem they don't deserve an invitation to the White House.
1
If they dodge the draft, then they don't deserve to be in the White House. Right?
3
Congratulations once again, Philadelphia Eagles!! Stay true to your values. The problem we all share, is a problem we can all solve when we go together and go to the polls :) I wish you a wonderful Season ahead; stay focused and healthy. Football is not a military event; its an American pastime. It exists for the enjoyment of the American people; not the spoiler in the White House.
7
Trump cannot do an interview with Robert Mueller because he can't be distracted from important work such as disinviting a football team to the White House because not enough players would show up.
He's busy working on becoming the banana in chief in a banana republic
5
Not a fan of the NFL. Behind the players 100%.
3
Trump forces people to take sides, then acts surprised when they take sides.
20
Every time he opens his mouth or tweets
he provides more proof of his insanity.
In another era he would have either been put in an asylum or as the saying went, run out of town on a rail.
11
It's probably fair to say that when a winning football team refuses to go to the White House [The Whiter-than-White White House] there's a mighty sociological (and political) point being made. Though the whole is greater than the sum of the parts, this is one of those small details that says a lot about the nature of the whole. Future historians take note.
6
I believe the most appropriate response to trump's white nationalist patriotism decrees, is for Americans to refuse to stand for the national anthem and not recite the pledge of allegiance.
5
Being invited to the White House used to be an honor.
With Donald Trump in residence there, it is more honorable to stay away.
10
I wish that some of those Republican representatives in the US Congress showed as much spine as the Eagles.
7
I don't follow the NFL any more...just can't watch since all the head injury data has come out. But the players have an absolute right to not stand "hand on heart" for the national anthem, wherever it is played. This nightmare with Trump cannot end soon enough...he is tearing the country apart. Surely even his "base" can see that. What good has he ever done? Everything is a fight with him, and we are tired of being told how much this pugilistic little man relishes fighting. But his job is to SERVE this country...everyone in it, every last person, no one excluded Sadly, he does not know the meaning of public service.
11
Just like he refused the Golden State Warriors...
It has nothing to do with the anthem. It has everything to do with white nationalism and loyalty to him.
Kudos to Philadelphia's Mayor Jim Kenney. He was on target calling Trump a "fragile egomaniac."
23
With all his talk of patriotism, I believe there is a video of our dear President Dennison mouthing the words during the playing of the National Anthem where it’s fairly clear that he doesn’t know the words. Bless his heart.
14
Never thought I'd see the day when professional athletes are setting a positive example for society, while the President of the United States is a divisive disgrace. But here we are.
30
Positive example? Like drug use, beating women, drunk driving vehicular homicide, yeah great examples.
1
You've just described many in 45's circle of friends & advisors! Add in sexual abuser, tax cheat, draft dodger, adulterer & serial liar and you've described the guy in the WH
You're right!
2
This is just Trump saving face and pandering to his political base.
8
Good for the Eagles players!
8
Yo, all you E-A-G-L-E-S fans in N-J. Today, June 5, the underdogs start a comeback. It's Primary Election Day! Make leadership great again! Choose wisely and get out and V-O-T-E !
17
Thank you, President Trump, for cancelling the event. Apparently the Eagles haven't earned a celebration at the White House with their show of disrespect.
3
Trump cancelled it after the Eagles states that they would not come. Trump is like the little kid who claimed, when no one came to his party that he really didn't want them to come anyway.
1
And yet, where was the huge outcry and petulant whining when Tom Brady and 18 other members of the Patriots didn't show for their time at the WH last year?
The President knows nothing of "respect," and neither do his supporters.
Didn't those Eagles already say they weren't going?
1
Not a single Eagle kneeled nor remained in the locker room during the national anthem at any point in the season yet this is Trump's leading response to the cancellation -- he's simply attempting to play the patriotism card (again) instead of admitting to the real reason the ceremony was cancelled -- bruised ego.
20
"Mr. Trump said in the statement that more than 1,000 fans who had been invited to the celebration would still be welcome at the White House for what the president called “a different type of ceremony...""
Isn't that kind of like holding a birthday party for someone you don't like and not inviting them?
I'm not an Eagles fan or a fan of any NFL team to the extent that I would make a special trip to the White House to celebrate a Superbowl victory.
That said, what kind of Eagles fan would go to a celebration at the WH now that the Eagles have been disinvited?
And what are they going to celebrate? The flag maybe? President Trump? Hatred of the players?
Just curious.
3
I’m not a fan of football (brutal game, debilitating injuries) nor the national anthem (glorifies war), but I am a fan of free speech. This issue is just another example of the bully-baby president’s anti-American, authoritarian tendencies.
7
Congress could learn a lesson from the principles of the Eagles.
15
This life-long Steelers fan salutes the Philadelphia Eagles.
9
And I just want to say, I have no intention of inviting Trump to my house either.
I rescind my invitation.
16
It is ridiculous that the President of the United States meets with winners of professional sporting events. Ending this tradition may be one of the very few good things to come out of the Trump Administration.
6
"Staying in the Locker Room for the playing of our National Anthem is as disrespectful to our country as kneeling. Sorry!” Mr. Trump wrote."
Actually, the surest sign of disrespect to our flag and our country, and our veterans, is when your country is at war and you are of draft age and you use your influence and status and money to fake a foot injury (which foot was it?) to get you out of the draft for medical reasons, which of course means that someone else was drafted in your place. That's what real disrespect looks like. Enough of the phony patriotism already.
18
If the Eagles were smart, they would all go to a veterans hospital today. I'm guessing the players do more veterans hospitals / USO visits than our current President.
7
Since when didn’t the president acquire the power to “insist” that members of sports teams stand with hand on heart during the playing of the National Anthem? Does he pay their salaries?
And why is the National Anthem played at sports events at all? How many other jobs demand that you stand at attention for this before going to work? Does the president partipate in this ritual every morning? Does he do this before a round of golf?
They next time the plumber or electrician comes to my house I will insist that they stand at attention while I play a recording of the National Anthem before they tackle the task at hand.
20
Ain't it sad that a bunch of football players can take a stand on the First Amendment, but the GOP Congress operates solely on greed and ambition?
22
Trump didn't bring politics into football, the players did when they decided to disrespect our flag.
3
That pesky First Amendment is sure something the players understand much better than the president*. And, to be sure, kneeling is not “disrespecting the flag.” Kneeling is a sign of respect. Hence folks kneel in church. Disrespecting the constitution and the flag which represents it is demanding a citizen be deported for expressing first amendment rights.
4
Its all about the context and you know it. Kneeling is disrespectful if you are supposed to stand, as you are supposed to for the flag. You kneel not stand in church bc that is the correct context for kneeling.
It might be better to attempt to understand what you're talking about before sounding off. Nobody has less respect for our country than this President.
Putting oneself on bended knee is the ultimate symbol of humility. We drop to our knees to beg forgiveness. We get down on one knee to propose marriage. We get down on both knees to pray to god. If it's good enough for God, it's good enough for the flag.
5
"the president saw it as a sign of disrespect for the office of the presidency and the people’s house."
It's currently Putin's guest house.
7
I am under the assumption that the NFL is a corporation. Both profit and non-profit. How does trump come off ordering a corporation to abide by his “stand for the National Anthem” rules? He’s not a ruler or a king, and this country is NOT his kingdom. Is there anyone in congress or in any of the branches of government that can make this guy understand that?
3
"... after nearly all of the players and coaches said they would boycott the visit ..."
Obviously it wasn't Trump that cancelled that event. He took the right step.
2
The flag is a symbol of our nation, it is not a military symbol. The military flies the flag to honor the country, not the other way around.
19
Two sentences that should be stated calmly to every right-wing scream of “unpatriotic “.
I don't understand how refusing to stand for the national anthem shows disrespect for the military. What does the military have to do with the anthem? When did feelings of national pride become the same as pride in the military? Our country is not a military dictatorship and we aren't required to support actions taken by our military. I have a lot of problems with our history of military intervention in other countries. Why should that mean I don't love my country? When did those two things become the same?
24
Get your facts, and not the alternative ones, straight.
None of the Eagles took a knee last season.
2
I suggest that all football players who want to protest against racial bias take a knee immediately after the National Anthem is played. Or, kneel before it is played and stand up when it is. No disrespect to the flag or the song but a clear protest that can catch the attention of those who do not understand its purpose and the freedom of speech and protest this country honors.
11
Philadelphia, home of the liberty bell. Let freedom ring. Thank you to the Eagles players who did stand up all season during the National Anthem, and our now standing up to trump. I have been fortunate to visit the White House as a citizen and yes its an awesome place with is history and glory. While we can all agree no elected resident has been perfect regarding policies and truth, but what we are hearing from there these past few months has set a very low bar for our future. This country has fought many battles to keep our liberties and will continue to do so as our leadership tries to undermine them.
39
Take that, Trumpolini! Philadelphia has spoken.
33
It is abdolutely impossible to disrespect the country by kneeling during the National Anthem. The first amendment grants all of us the right to peaceful assembly. There is no stipulation that defines when it limits when one may exercise that right. Therefore it is impossible to disrespect the USA by kneeling during the anthem.
Trump conflates the military and the anthem to create a wholly manufactured political conflict on a personal level to draw emotion into the picture and inflame racial tensions. It is the first amendment rights of those in the NFL who choose to exercise those rights that are being violated here.
35
"the event, which is usually a nonpolitical celebration..."
No event in the Age of Trump is a "nonpolitical celebration." Each is focused on one narrowly focused goal: the self-aggrandizement of our Autocrat.
39
The Philadelphia Eagles are, well, Eagles. Trump is a vulture. Fly Eagles Fly.
39
This is the Philadelphia Eagles finest hour !
18
I've never been much of an Eagles fan, until now. They've shown us how to stand up to this petulant bully.
14
Trump, "if you don't play by my rules, I am going to take my ball and go home." Donald, now you can go home and play by yourself.
4
President Trump has ruined the national anthem and the thought of standing to it now, makes me queasy.
22
I stand for the National Anthem because that’s what I choose to do. No one, especially trump will force me to stand, kneel, sit, or do whatever we choose. Our flag earned the respect, he has not, and he never will in my eyes.
1
A proven draft dodger who had to be reminded by his Slovenian wife to place his hand over his heart when the National Anthem was playing. And he has the cheek to accuse the players of being unpatriotic? Trump has a nerve. He really has.
14
The poison tongue of Trump the Divider has now derided players who he says will "hide" in the locker room during the national anthem, and the mamby-pamby NFL owners are at fault for this continued morass. Without African Americans, there would be no NFL. They owners should continue to solidly stand, or kneel, with their players. Shame on them for taking sides, and not that of their own players.
8
Maybe Donnie should invite Mueller instead and give Eagles nation the honor of hearing him say, “Mr. president, you’re fired.”
3
It ALL MAKES SENSE when you learn that 10 or less Eagles Players planned on attending the White House "celebration". Why isn't the media publishing THAT (beyond MSNBC)?
1
I am not a football fan, but I am proud of every player who kneels to protest racism. I am not a fan of trump. He is a small man and he is an insult to our Constitution. No one should allow his bigotry in the Oval Office. I will not stand for the anthem while he is president.
7
I'm a white guy in his upper 60's and don't even like football.
Now I really want to go to an NFL (Especially an Eagle's game) game, so I can stand during the anthem and give a Black Power salute in support of human equality and the safety of young minority men.
First, the NFL must support the protests or donate the full price of protesting ticket-buyers to human rights causes.
And how does a white couple do an unambiguous salute supporting Black Power - a Black glove?
Sports can really make a better world - WOW!!!
11
President Trump's horrid and disgraceful comments about Sen. John McCain's military service make him unfit to pass judgement on anyone's patriotic duty.
John McCain received the Silver Star, two Bronze Stars, a Purple Heart and several other medals for his service in Vietnam. He was a POW imprisoned for 5 years, and he also refused early release ahead of other POWs. He is the true American hero and patriot.
Trump never apologized for insulting McCain, or for that matter disrespecting the Gold Star family during the election. He has no shame.
7
The American Republic was born in Philadelphia. The Eagle is America personified. Is it any wonder that neither are welcome in Trump's White House?
2
Proud of them. Go Iggles!
1
Not to worry Donald there will be a huge crowd wanting to come to Congress to watch your impeachment proceedings!
38
If we get to impeachment, Trump will surely achieve his goal of the greatest TV ratings ever. I know I’ll be glued to the set.
3
How petty and small of DJT. Pretty much describes him in most every situation and clueless about what is really going on.
20
It appears to me the Philadelphia Eagles cancelled the meeting, not the Whiner-in-Chief. Once again, the way forward in dealing with the madness of King Donnie is to be united in opposition and to simply refuse to play in his game of bullying.
15
Trump can wear his #5 jersey for the number of times he lied to get out of military service. He can apologize to McCain on live tv. Lots to do at Trump’s party for himself. This guy doesn’t get to set the narrative unless we swallow his lies. Just say No.
53
How about IMPEACH #45 instead?
He's our national disgrace!
3
Now I have to proudly stand for a song AND proudly(?) put my hand over my heart (right or left?). Oh Dear Dictator King, your directives grow so complicated. Are we gong to use the futbol stadium like Daish? I know you said you like to see the black players "punished" by their owners.
15
I'm a GIANTS fan since the 60's. I hate the Eagles! Not anymore. Well done Phillie!
32
I've been a Giants fan since 1959. Always despised the Eagles. Not anymore. They've made me proud.
9
I hope Philadelphia wins next year too!
16
It would be great if the Eagles held their own celebration today for their fans - and invite former President Obama.
10
"I demand you honor our brave, fighting men and women," says the man who used his privilege to get out of serving when his country needed him
10
Philadelphia Mayor summed it up perfectly . Trump is just jealous because the Eagles drew a larger crowd than he did at inauguration. Little did we know that “crowd gate” was just the beginning of the untold lies and deception by the Draft Dodger in Chief!
23
Trump wants to turn NFL players- especially black players- into the enemy.
Trump doesn’t care about the National Anthem, patriotism, or America. All he cares about is the power play and taking revenge. What a stand-up guy.
The draft dodger lectures us about patriotism. The demagogue trying to destroy all that the flag represents is pretending to be the defender of the National Anthem. What a con job.
10
“No provision in our Constitution ought to be dearer to man than that which protects the rights of conscience against the enterprises of the civil authority.”
— Thomas Jefferson
"If there is any fixed star in our constitutional constellation, it is that no official, high or petty, can prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or other matters of opinion, or force citizens to confess by word or act their faith therein."
--U.S. Supreme Court
Way to go Eagles......As a Texans fan, I urge to you and all NFL players to kneel at every game in 2018 to protest the attempted creation of Trumpistan in place of our dear Republic.
57
And the fans, if true patriots they are, will take a knee in solidarity.
32
That is a great idea.
Fans. Take a Knee.
1
Trump was play-acting again, pretending he was the president of all the United States when he referred to "their president" -- in fact he only cares about white people who treat him as a cult of personality.
2
The Eagles don’t have to visit the Whitehouse to be champions, they already are!
Now our CIC on the other hand needs to be an adult. #SoSad
3
Philadelphia has long guided our nation in the meaning of true patriotism. You’ve done the city where the Constitution was drafted proud. Go ‘Iggles’
A native daughter
2
Shame on the NFL and Trump for bringing in this new rule to compel players to stand for the national anthem. Freedom of speech, and the right to protest, are at the very heart of our democracy. Trump admires Putin, so presumably he admires the way he has his opponents beaten or killed. So what is next for the nation? Will football players be sent to prison for kneeling? Trump now says he has the "absolute power" to pardon himself for any crime. So he might go to a game, and shoot any player that refuses to stand, and then pardon himself for murder..?
7
Well, if those players drover NASCAR hotrods, it would be a different story. Apparently, our macho president is afraid to have basketball players and football players to the White House. Wonder why? Because they dare to defy him? Or are there other reasons?
Pennsylvania is a swing state. Hope he insults a lot of people with this decision.
16
This is the least of DT's worries, with Paul Manafort facing jail now for thinking he is above the law while he is under house arrest. Good on these Eagle's players, stand up to the dictator some of your electorate elected (along with the Russian help).
19
The biggest problem we’re going to have is when he starts pardoning all these traitors! Look at the criminals he’s already pardoned. All the people that Mueller is indicting aren’t afraid of being accused and found guilty with him having the absolute power he thinks he has.
1
NFL players: time to use your union, agents, personal power, and move the story to the NFL commissioner and stop taking money and propaganda from the military, stop militarizing the police, and get everyone clean from it.
18
Bravo, Eagles!
11
Maybe someone who doesn't pay his share of taxes should not be allowed in this country either. Who is the better citizen, Mr Trump.
"These are the times that try men's souls: The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman."
Thomas Paine
6
Perhaps Congress ought to pass a law making it illegal to do anything but stand during the National Anthem. It would be very popular among the 62 million Trump voters who want to Make America Great Again through legally enforced displays of Patriotism, physically assaulting those with whom we disagree, and demanding that such people leave the country.
As John Boehner said recently, “the Republican Party is asleep, this is the party of Trump”. If , this November, you vote for candidates with an R next to their name—you will have to defend what is indefensible.
Those who say the President and his behavior are not the issue are flat out wrong: Authoritarianism,tolerance, decency and lying are. Nothing can move forward for any of us if a lying charlatan who lines his own family’s pockets and those of his cronies and donors is President. How can Democratic candidates sleep-walk through their careful presentations of well-thought out policy prescriptions with this 600 lb “gorilla in the room”.?
27
Or maybe the NFL owners should force concession stands to close and all fans return to their seats when the national anthem is played. Then perhaps the inanity of their current policy would become apparent.
3
Go Eagles! So good to hear someone standing up to this dotard. Going to get a Eagles T Shirt and wear it with pride.
27
The NFL has caved to Trump and acted against their players in reaction to Trump’s self-serving, racist rants. In effect, the NFL has knelt down at his feet and that is the true violation of American values.
Professional football is exposed for what it is — a big money enterprise owned by outrageously rich white men cashing in on the punishing, dangerous labor of black men. The League has cast itself as the overseer, whipping those men into line because the president demands it.
This is just another reason — perhaps the best reason — to look away from the game entirely. It is Trump’s game now. He has soiled it just as he soils everything he ever touches.
9
It's time for Republicans in Congress to stand up to President Trump. It's time to tell him to stop his assault on NFL players, pressing them to prove their patriotism. Trump has said they should be fired and maybe even removed from the country. It's time to tell President Trump that hugging a flag, or standing for a song or reciting a pledge are NOT forms of patriotism. Patriotism is putting country before self. This can easily be achieved by all Americans by respecting our Constitution. Our Constitution doesn't require that we prove we are patriotic. It doesn't even mention a flag, a song or a pledge. Last year Trump claimed players were disrespecting our flag. That same flag flies in front of most government buildings in America. Therefore, Trump was saying that we can't protest in front of government buildings. Where are we supposed to protest, President Trump, in our backyards? It's time to tell President Trump that he is the most unpatriotic person in America. It's time to impeach this faux president. This democracy is being lost to a bully, loudmouth, uninformed, ignorant, racist, misogynist, xenophobic, narcissist, pathological liar president. If we don't stop him, he will succeed in stealing our rights. Impeach Trump NOW!
8
I don't even have the words to describe how ridiculous and immature Trump is, yet he struts around as if he thinks people should or do admire him. He is just a big nothing burger. I'd almost feel sorry for him if he had any capacity for self reflection, but he doesn't, so I don't. The man is insane.
Go Eagles, Go NFL Players that continue to take a knee to raise awareness about unjust treatment of our fellow human beings. I support you.
I so wish we could all just ignore him (press included) and go about our business as if he didn't exist.
12
GO IGGLES!!
10
These players have the right to kneel (unless their employer says otherwise). Trump, as POTUS, has the right to disinvite them from visiting the WH. Personally, I would never darken the entrance of their stadium with my presence. I am not a fan of the Eagles' disrespect of the USA and their hatred for our veterans is apparent. These players are ungrateful, low brow jocks who should be drafted and sent to the front lines of Afghanistan. Eagles' fans have always been known as the rudest, most obnoxious and most violent fans in the league. So, I cannot say I'm a bit surprised at the lack of character of their players. It's Philly after all. Need we say more?
1
Joshua, you don't know jack squat about the Eagles players. Did you know that Chris Long donated his ENTIRE salary to charity? That Carson Wentz has a charitable foundation? That not one single Eagle knelt during a game this past season? They don't hate veterans. And, BTW, we don't have a draft anymore.
2
When did they say that they hated veterans? Truth is they never did. That's one of the endless lies coming from this White House. I suppose they could follow Trump's lead and join the military to fight...oh, that's right, the brave leader had "bone spurs" that prevented him from doing that.
Need we say more?
2
I have been a Dallas Cowboy fan all
my life. Consequently I have had a rabid disdain for the Philadelphia Eagles. I can now say gladly that I am also a huge Philadelphia Eagles fan!
#TrumpIsADangerousMoron
11
Simple base pandering by a racist President who leaves no stone unturned in trying to maintain his support. He is actually happier canceling the invitation than in fulfilling the tradition.
2
As a former Patriots fan, I was going to swear off the NFL in 2018 because of its cowardice and the loss of any respect for Trump's Team (Patriots). However, there are so many good stories with this Eagles team that I may at least watch their games. I would like to call Kraft, Brady, Belichick and the man-child Gronk names the President deems appropriate but fear the NYT would not publish in the comments. Go Eagles!
17
The entire team should assemble outside the fence of the White House for a group photograph on July 4th.
That photo would be a powerful symbol to this country and to the world of the character of the man who lives behind that fence.
32
Wonderful idea!
12
The National Rifle Association sponsors hundreds of shooting competitions annually. Maybe Trump should invite the patriotic winners of those events to the White House instead of the disrespectful Eagles. Ted Nugent could play the national anthem with the marksmen providing the bomb-bursting sound effects.
9
On what basis do you declare that shooting competition winners are more patriotic than NFL players?
1
"It's my party and I'll ... "
And the imperial presidency rolls on. It's pathetic that he can't brook any criticism at all. That's un-American.
11
The White House statement is something I'd expect from a king or a despot, not an elected official. Why is it acceptable to speak to grown men as if they're children? He is literally attempting to punish adults for expressing political disagreements. But, all of the "Tea Party Patriot" types will likely cheer since it's the liberty of black men acrually being restricted rather than the imagined grievances they've claimed to suffer. I've grown absolutely disgusted with this country. This is what folks I considered to be my brothers and sisters voted for.
3
You know what’s disrespectful to our Anthem and military Mr. Trump? Having a POW WOW with a Russian agent in your Tower with your son and not informing our intelligence agencies about it.
I applaud the patriots that are the Eagles.
16
Trump disrespects the Presidency every day he occupies the office! Go Eagles!
17
The President has it wrong. The flag and the national anthem do not honor the military, they honor the entire nation. I'm personally uncomfortable with with someone kneeling during the national anthem. That, of course is the purpose of peaceful protest - to make people give consideration to the protester's view that an injustice is being done. This president attacks peaceful protesters with a legitimate grievance while excusing violent neo-Nazis. Disgraceful.
5
Yawn. Who cares? And why should the taxpayers be paying for a celebration for a group of highly paid athletes in a private enterprise banging their brains into oblivion?
4
Do you know how many Eagles knelt during the end of the regular season and the play-offs? Zero.
Trump simply can't handle the embarrassment that comes with people refusing to be seen with him.
He is the nasty child no one wants to play with.
49
Trump is tailor made for Samuel Johnson's pronouncement in 1775 that "patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel." Because a scoundrel and a false patriot he is...a patriot does not suddenly develop bone spurs so he doesn't have to serve his country.
12
Not so fast, Donald. This might just work out for you.
Just hire around 200 or so muscle bound men, dress them in expensive suits, and throw a party. Who knows, maybe a few Eagles players might also show up.
During your rambling speech at the party, the hired guns will cheer your every sentence, even if it doesn't make any sense.
Then - the pièce de résistance: get in front on the microphones and declare: "This turnout by all these patriotic young athletes breaks all attendance records for Super Bowl Parties at the White House. In history. Yes - history, folks. I mean, like, Obama had about 25 players at his parties. Maybe 20, probably less. Much less. Look around. There are hundreds of players here. Hundreds. Massive turnout. Massive. Amazing. Just amazing."
2
The Warriors and the Eagles are standing against the racism,and police violence against minorities. This expression is more what America stands for than standing for a flag. Hurrah for these patriots they should be celebrated for standing up. Except for two of the N.F.L. owners they are all cowards who fear to honor our first amendment rights
2
Trump has such a Messiahnic ego which is worrisome, but mostly "un-American"....
Firstly, the reference "they disagree with THEIR president" sounds so imperialistic. It is like these athletes are subservient to Mr Trump and/or they owe some deference to him. Mr Trump forgets that, in America, he is most of all a public servant. He serves the public, not the other way around....
Secondly, he argues that, when a citizen disagrees with him, he or she is disloyal to the National Anthem, the Flag, the military and the USA. His detractors are unpatriotic. Well I think he basically misses the whole point of the National Anthem that speaks to "the Land of the Free and Home of the Brave".
30 more months to go....
3
Shame on NFL and Eagles.
3
Shame on our President, and his anti-American supporters.
I remember the saying “in America any child can grow up to be president.” Our current president skipped the growing up part. Trump is a petulant child who, when challenged, whines and takes his ball home. He expects the players to suffer consequences for their actions, yet he is unwilling to do so himself.
5
If PA has to choose between Eagles and trump it's Eagles all the way!
4
how can he cancel this when no one was coming anyway?
5
Strong work, Eagles! The buffoon in the White House in no way represents what is good and fair in America.
5
All this patriotic talk from a president who has been taped at a football game apparently unable to remember most of the words of the National Anthem? And why has football become synonymous with respect for the military? Let's stop the flow of PR dollars from the Defense Department (our tax dollars) to the NFL asap, play the anthem before the players come on the field, and put this controversy to rest...now.
2
The take a knee campaign will become truly meaningful when the fans begin to take a knee. Let Trump and team owners deal with that.
1
I find it ironic that Philadelphia, the city where our Founding Fathers wrote the Declaration of Independence and Constitution, is getting snubbed by Trump. Just as he ignores the Constitution, Freedom, of Speech, and the right to protest, he treats the Eagles with the same disdain.
4
This seems to be a longer-term trend. I recall last year that many of the Patriots players including the Quarterback decided they were too busy to attend.
Three things:
1. Trump shows his dictator side; now wants to make disrespecting the president a crime; weird, he didn't feel that way six years ago.
2. He will now say this fits his narrative that "those" people (black players) are un-American and we need to teach them how to behave.
3. Why do we continue this stupid tradition? Make the president do some work, not spend time in photo ops with sports teams and other publicity stunts.
8
I have no respect for the Eagles who boycotted the Trump invitation. Why don't these hypocrites quit the NFL? Oh they wouldn't be getting paid their ridiculous salaries. Be kind of hard for these buffoons to earn that kind of money in the real world.
Do you also have no respect for Tom Brady, who declined to meet Obama when the Patriots were invited?
That's fair, Joy. I doubt many patriotic Americans have any respect for you.
The Eagles may have locked arms or had a hand up, but every single player stood during the national anthem for every single game last season.
This is just another way for an authoritarian wannabe to shut down freedom of speech and a cry baby who can't handle any amount of criticism.
9
If only Trump were as concerned about the Constitution, following the law, and telling the truth as he is about the national anthem. What a disgrace he is to this country.
11
This is a prime example of why Trump's meeting with Kim Jung-Un will fail.
If everything isn't exactly the way Trump wants it he backs out.
Just because some NFL players exercised their rights Trump decides that the Eagles have to pay for it, again showing how low he can go.
This man is the worst president this country has ever had and needs to be tossed out of office ASAP.
5
The team has made a good start, and should now come to Washington and picket the White House while waving the Stars and Stripes.
1
Donald Trump lost the ability to stand in judgement about the patriotism of others when he dodged the draft with a bone spur diagnosis. I have no issue with his stating his opinion that he thinks players should not use the national anthem as a time of protest. I would also prefer they did not. But they have the right to stand or not stand. The President should state his opinion and leave it at that. But we all know that he is incapable of doing this on any issue. No matter what the issue, Donald Trump will make himself the issue.
2
A simple choice: soaring with the Eagles or wallowing with a Trump.
The majority of the team made the correct decision.
MB
5
Here is what the Philadelphia Eagles have demonstrated:
Philadelphia was the cradle of American democracy in 1776, maintains that distinction in 2018, and will continue to be the beacon of freedom for centuries to come.
2
I haven't seen mention of why Colin Kaepernick took a knee in the first place - to draw attention to the shooting of unarmed men by police.
Trump is burying this issue by changing the subject. Every article related to behavior during the National Anthem must mention Kaepernick's intent.
Don't change the subject !
9
When 70% of the Eagles decline to attend a ceremony at the White House that honors their victory, it is an deliberate slap in the face to our president. These guys are spoiled brats making millions in a country that has given them such great opportunity. The fact that they contribute a small % of their earnings - a tax deduction - to charity does not make them patriots.
President Trump's stance on kneeling during the National Anthem is correct for no less a reason that millions of Americans died fighting for our freedom. When the Anthem is played, we stand to respect the sacrifice they and others made to make all we have and cherish possible.
1
Talk about respect for the military from a man who called a long-time Senator a loser because he spent terrible years in North Viet Nam as,a POW and even now does not speak out against the callous and cruel statements made about that Senator is nothing but offensive hypocrisy. Trump wears his patriotism likes he wears his ties, badly.
More than 70 percent. Only ten out of eighty invitees accepted. That's closer to a 90 percent rejection rate for Trump. 87.5% to be exact. If you consider there are technically only 53 players allowed on a NFL football team, the number is actually over 100 percent. There must be coaches and staff attending.
1
I'm not a football fan. However, I will now tune in to watch an Eagles game or any other team that supports the players' right to peacefully protest issues that are important to them. The players are heroes. The team owners, though, do not deserve any respect for their attempt to avoid taking a stand against a narcissist and demagogue who has demonstrated his animosity for those who stand up for what is their rightful heritage in this country of peaceful protest. The fans will just have to bear witness for a couple of minutes. It's a balance of interests that we can all live with.
2
“They disagree with their president because he insists that they proudly stand for the national anthem, hand on heart, in honor of the great men and women of our military and the people of our country.”
Commander Bone Spurs.
3
Unsportsmanlike behavior at the top always wins its race to the bottom. Always.
Fewer than 10 players were planning on attending. They created the divisiveness. I would have called it off as well.
He just did that last year with Golden State Warriors. The kneeling wasn’t involved, but once the players said they wouldn’t show up, he instead cancelled the invitation, in order for his 30% fans to believe he’s a « strong boss » [strong boss aka the antithesis of all leadership publications in the US for the past 20 years].
Since his fans have also been proven to be die hard fans of Santa, it wasn’t hard.
1
"Somewhere I read of the freedom of speech. Somewhere I read of the freedom of press. Somewhere I read that the greatness of America is the right to protest for rights." Martin Luther King, Jr.
1
I suspect even Patriots fans are laughing.
1
They should change their name to the Philadelphia Bald Eagles. I'm so proud of these patriots for taking a stand, or a kneel, for freedom and justice.
4
The players who kneel during the playing of the anthem are protesting racial injustice generally and the killings of young blacks by police particularly. Mr Trump ignores and exacerbates those issues and focuses on symbolism. And he meets with Kim Kardashian to discuss prison reform.
7
After calling off the visit by the Eagles, Trump now says wants to go ahead with a “different kind of ceremony…” at the White House. Sounds to me like Trump just wants yet another political rally, but this time using a federally owned property as the venue. Is it legal or even vaguely ethical for the president to use the White House as the setting for a clearly partisan political rally?
9
Trump doesn't seem to realize his weak ego plays out front and center all the time. He looks smaller and smaller as his body becomes larger and larger. I'll be so glad when his stumble onto the world stage in a job he's so obviously completely ill suited for in every important way comes to an end. It cannot be soon enough. Drowning in the poison of his ocean of scandal makes daily life upsetting and frightening to many of us. I hope something is left once he's gone.
4
Good for the players. I applaud them for refusing to be a pawn in Dangerous Donald's propaganda campaign. It is ironic that the one person in America who is most antithetical to the values we as Americans stand for is King Donald.
2
The invitation by the White House was a privilege. Apparently, the Philadelphia Eagles are not worthy of that privilege. These millionaire players don't deserve the privileges that they are given. Hope they don't have to look back one day and wish they had used their heads.
1
When you get down to the nitty gritty, this cancellation has nothing to do with football per se other than the invitees are football players. He is using our national anthem (A former British military club drinking song) as the ruse. This is all about numbers and Trump's ego. He doesn't want to appear unpopular to his fans/voters and the optics of this event and the photographs which would likely ensue showing a paltry turnout was more than his narcissistic ego could handle. As he still brings up the election constantly, the one thing he never brings up is he lost the election by more than 2.5 million popular votes.
2
"...the president saw it as a sign of disrespect for the office of the presidency and the people’s house."
I'm sure this decision by the Eagles shows absolutely no sign of disrespect to either of those two things. It actually shows FAR more respect for the Office of the Presidency and the People's House than the petty, little man currently occupying both, does.
8
Inviting sports teams to the White House is an anachronism- it gives more publicity politically to the Oval Office than it does to the fans.I am not aware that winners of the Pulitzer Prize are invited to the White House or the National Spelling Bee- a visit to theWhite House is a political exercise,not a visit to honor achievement.
2
It's "my way or the highway"...this country is in deeper peril all the time.
DT does love his power. Hope once the Republican legislature make it through the midterms, they rein in this sham of a would-be leader and protect and serve this country as they have sworn to do.
2
I have been boycotting all things NFL but feel a sudden need to buy an Eagles tee shirt. Thanks to the Philadelphia Eagles for this symbolic gesture in a very confused time.
2
Football players, not the brightest bulbs, continue to annoy the fans that pay their salaries.
Nobody wants to know the political opinion of a defensive tackle while the national anthem is played.
These entitled demonstrations mark the end of the football era.
The scared mothers, seeing much more medical evidence of the damage football can do are already refusing to allow their kids to play.
As the kids stop playing, football dies.
Players are attempting to damage the league and their revenue for political purposes are cutting off their nose to spite their face.
As for Trump, he definitely doesn’t need the completely forgettable NFL “stars”.
The Philadelphia Eagles have shown themselves more courageous than most of the media, the entire Republican party, and a good percentage of our population.
3
I didn’t know that one had to be in the military to be patriotic. Is the national anthem only about the military?
3
Steelers Fan here.
Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh, remember the values that made this country truly great.
Immigrants made our cities great : with hard work, and deep love for our families, our cities, our state, our nation. We have always fought for change , and we won't stop now.
We stand with the city of brotherly love, the cradle of liberty, where the Declaration of Independence and Constitution where signed:
Philadelphia.
5
Leave it to trump to make even a visit to the White House (America owns this house by the way- not trump) a political mess.
3
I bet the NFL owners didn’t think of this (obviously they didn’t think that their players are the ones making their money) and their kneeling ban has now amplified with a national megaphone. What’s next? Players have to go but can stay at the White House lawn if they don’t want to meet the President?
I don’t see how anyone can accuse The Eagles of “disrespecting the Presidency.”
The current incumbent has made it impossible for anyone else to disrespect his office, he does a rather comprehensive job all by himself.
3
A Giants fan here. I stand with the Eagles and their fans today. The players sought to call attention to an issue. But this president has chosen to smear them as unpatriotic. That is cynical and divisive.
The players chose to not go to the White House because of the man in the White House; not because they disrespect our country or our veterans. This has turned into such a cynical smear campaign against the players.
13
Kudos to Trump. The Eagles were embarrassed by POTUS who told them in no uncertain words, NOT IN MY HOUSE!! Trump properly would not tolerate the disrespect of the players and owners by failing to show up just to make a cheap kaepernick type political statement. Just like Trump won the battle with the NFL (they all must stand now at the playing of the national anthem) he won the PR war with the renegade Eagles. So stay home Eagles and cry in your soup.
2
Duh...it used to be called THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE.
Let's just call it what it has become under Trump ... The Whiteguys' House.
Wouldn't it be amazing if the whole stadium knelt during the Eagles first home game!!!
3
I just became a Philadelphia Eagles fan.
18
I'd love to see some of the Eagles fans take a knee during the National Anthem at the president's party.
2
Jack Kraft said in 2017, “It’s interesting, this is our fifth Super Bowl in the last 16 years, and every time we’ve had the privilege of going to the White House, a dozen of our players don’t go. This is the first time it’s gotten any media attention.
“This is America; we’re all free to do whatever’s best for us. We’re just privileged to be in a position to be going.”
Jack Kraft donated $1million toward trump’ inauguration. The Pats were welcomed at the White House.
Jeffrey Laurie contributed to Hillary. Under similar circumstances, the Eagles are disinvited.
Once again with this president, money talks.
2
...and this "patriotic" Trump is the same robust person who used bone spurs as an excuse to avoid service in Vietnam 50 years ago? He uses the military and the anthem as a prop for his overt racism and hatred while during the one time he could have shown his true "patriotism" he ducked and ran. Yes, tell that loud and clear to his "base".
1
Why are some fans so angry? Why is Trump so angry? That is the question. The anger seems all out proportion to the deed and and would pass over except for the anger it incites in some. The anger isn't about patriotism, it is about control. It is about people defying the order to jump. "How dare they defy me? Who do they they think they are? They should be grateful we let them risk their health and future for our entertainment!"
The flag. Patriotism is just a convenient political hook to hang the anger at people who don't know their place and have the temerity to speak out about how they are treated by the same society the celebrates a game.
1
Rock On, Eagles and Philadelphia. You've got American spirit!
3
Again it is all about Donny. If people would quit rising to the bait. He has to keep is name in front of everyone else. Congrats to Eagles for not going.
1
No reasonable or ethical person would want to have anything to do with Trump, a President whose governance is based on sowing hate and division. Being embraced by Trump is to risk being associated with his racism and misogny, and most teams, businesses can't afford this. Before it is all over, Trump will have only one audience only: the folks with torches and pitchforks who attend his Nuremberg-like rallies and are moved by his calls to assault protesters, members of the press, and fire NFL football players who dare to kneel in peaceful protest.
2
That a championship team would refuse to sully its character and reputation by being part of any event that included this president should surprise no one. Boycotting him will earn them far more fans than the feckless few who will show up today. If he was incensed and disappointed at the small size of his Inaugural crowd, wait until he sees this one.
5
How long before Mr. Trump designs his own flag and demands a straight arm salute to it, and him. Mr. Trump, dissent is patriotic.
7
The President can tweet all he wants; he can lead the effort to have the NFL stifle its players. But he can't make them act as if they respect him. He does have limitations.
Trump damaged the players, along with the right wing lie machine. He was part of the effort to turn protest over the deaths of many black men at the hands of a few undisciplined and under-trained police officers into some sort of implied insult to our troops. The anthem, the Pledge of Allegiance, are not symbols of how we feel about our military. They are symbols of our nation. And kneeling - mourning the death of some ideals - is not anti-American.
Trump should thank his stars the Eagles are avoiding the event. Imagine the platform they could have if they turned their back on *him.*
2
Wouldn’t it have been worse for the president if they did come and all took a knee ?
1
While I respect the players right to protest, one wonders if the reaction would be the same if they were kneeling for a "conservative"cause. And as much of a fan as one may be, there is a bit of hypocrisy in a league that countenances so much violence on the field as "entertainment."
2
I’m in MA so I wonder if Mr. Kraft requires all of his employees to stand for the national anthem before reporting to work. Does he and Jonathan and their agents and accountants and lawyers and administration and Human Resources staff all have to sing loudly before starting each day?
Maybe they should start or run this risk of losing their jobs.
A good compromise is to play the the Anthem during lunch hour and if anyone wants to express their constitutional rights, they can eat their sandwiches in the bathroom.
5
This is silly and another heart break. I am a white woman and don’t feel like standing for the anthem because I support the right to protest peacefully. Can you imagine if we came together and discussed why these men choose to kneel instead of continue to discuss that they didn’t stand. Why do we continue to waste time instead of seek positive change? The Eagles are patriots for not attending. Resist.
1
Why can’t the NFL play “America The Beautiful” Instead of the National Anthem ?
1
We really should change our national anthem to America the Beautiful. It's a much more appropriate song. I am honestly confused by the statement that the national anthem honors our military. Are non-military citizens suddenly not "real' Americans now? These are very strange days we live in.
3
And he already had the green "Trump 45" jerseys made and printed out. I know that just galls him no end. Now he is going to have to send them back to the manufacturer to rebrand the shoulders with shamrock stickers. He can at least recoup some loses during his St. Patrick's day merchandising, so it's not a total wash.
Still. Irritating.
I have just become a diehard Philadelphia Eagles fan.
5
Trump should not have called off the celebration, because even if 100 people would have shown up, in his eyes it would have been the largest, football crowd ever to assemble at the white house.
I am proud of my Eagles. They are the antithesis of Trump-patriotic young men who have donated their time and money to worthwhile causes. I stand, or kneel with them . This is one more instance of Trump attempting to bully those who don’t agree with him . My team. My city. NOT MY PRESIDENT.
3
The kneeling doesn't bother me. Our country is strong enough to take it. What bothers me are the relentless attacks on our institutions such as the press, judiciary, FBI, and Justice Department all for his own dishonest purposes. Truly frightening. I wake up every morning hoping it was all a bad dream. Snake oil salesman that people have bought into. Sad!
1
Mr Trump embodies perfectly Samual Johnson's pronouncement that "patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel". If the eagles wish to keep their feathers clean then stay away; stay far away. True patriotism is supporting the first amendment which guarantees freedom of expression. It is when we don't like what is being expressed that this matters most.
12