Mckinley25

I wonder sometimes as well how much our development programs affect the quality of our prospects. Some teams always seem to churn out good goalies, are they better drafters or developers? Or both?

The national focus of this event is precisely what makes it appropriate to make a stand. I couldn’t respect myself for participating in a nonsense ceremonial event with someone so detestable. If I had an opportunity to have meaningful discourse with said person I’d be there with bells on. Smtih-Pelley can certainly do more for his cause, and whether he will remains to be seen, but this has already been an effective start. We absolutely should speed up progress to suit our needs! We are talking about the alleviation of suffering, we study cancer and aids with as much focus as possible for the same reason we address issues of race relations. What we can’t do is stifle progress to suit the needs of tradition or superstition!!

Yes the accusations are very harsh, I don’t think this forum is the place to get into whether or not they are accurate, but they are severe enough that not participating in a completely ceremonial event under those circumstances is warranted. There is not a problem with “social justice” advocates, the problem is the internet, as it gives an equal voice to anyone with an opinion. It may distract from, but it doesn’t undermine the efforts of progressivism all over the globe. The world is becoming a better place, it does so on the backs of progressivism as it always has. Some metrics by which we measure the quality of life waver, (suicide is trending in the wrong direction currently) but overall everything is moving in a favorable direction. Race issues have been a problem long before Obama, he demonstrably did not make people more racist, his divisive policies just coincided with the rise of social media, and the shrinking of our world has just illuminated an already boiling pot. But that pot is still cooling, whether our perceptions tell us this or not. For argument’s sake let’s pretend Smith-Pelly’s charges are warranted, this is precisely the same type of awareness that brought previous outdated world views to their knees and left us with a more tolerable world. The protests of the anthem have already awakened people to the idea that respect of what the flag stands for outweighs respect for the flag itself. We will be a stronger country because less people will lose site of that. The pendulum continues to swing so don’t be discouraged when it reaches its mirrored extreme, for it’s narrowing with each pass.

I dont think a good faith gesture in light of the accusations made is advisable. I agree that more than the protest is advisable though, but the event hasn’t even occurred yet, so we can hardly discuss that. I also very much live politics and as always, change is occurring. There’s a reason every generation improves upon the previous one. These issues are definitely changing the way people think and if we look back at this in twenty years, the prevailing opinions will seem antiquated by comparison.

If the White House visit wasn’t just ceremonial nonsense then I might agree with you, but it’s hardly an avenue to discuss something of substance like what Kim Kardashian did. So taking a stand gets people talking about it and it absolutely does work, it already has, the issue is being discussed nationally and a spotlight pointed at the problems. Historically this is often how change is initiated.

He’s very much not making it just about him. It’s the treatment of fellow citizens that he’s protesting. Whether his position is right or wrong it can’t be stated it’s only about him. These issues are much larger than sports.

Isn’t that his point?

This is exactly how I feel, the Caps have been working to get better every year and it’s paying off, but I doubt a Vegas situation ever happens again, so it’d be a great sports story if they completed their journey.

I don’t get to watch the games, so what is it about this team? Well coached? Drafted brilliantly? I mean did anyone in the league suspect Karlsson would get 40 goals?

Maybe, but that’s hardly an advertisement for its entertainment value!

I never claimed there are not incorrect accusations of racism as you seem to assert here. My contention is with those situations having any impact on ending racism, in fact I pointed out why that won’t work. I know I don’t always speak with the precision and clarity these topics deserve or even demand, but my victim blaming comment is not about incident specific events but a larger trend in shifting focus to the blowback as if the solution hinges on the casualties rather than the cause.

It doesn’t make sense. It is easy not to be racist, victim blaming is a poor attempt at deflecting. If people stopped being racist, racism would end. It’s simple, any confusion that follows only follows the primary cause. Obfuscation doesn’t serve moral action, it only hinders that envoy. Contemptuous mention of social justice warriors just adds another layer of transparency to an already indigestible position.

It used to be until players got so strong and fast that it was injuring other players.

I was thinking about this last year when I was at the Denver airport on a shuttle bus with my 3 year old, and the bus had to have been going 50-60 miles and hour. In my car my toddler is buckled in a secure car seat but at the same speed on a bus he’s sitting on my lap with no protection at all. I started looking at the airport logistics closer after that and now avoid any situation where we need to be transported in that manner.

Haha, Certainly some are making some things worse, but overall likely not.