Posted on 09/28/2017 8:04:27 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Joel Ward will not be the first player in NHL history to take a knee during the national anthem, the Sharks forward announced on Thursday.
But his announcement came with a heartfelt message for equality and bridging the gap between communities:
"Over the last several days, I have been asked if I would consider kneeeling during the playing of the U.S. national anthem. It's something I have spent a lot of time thinking about.
"As a black man, I have experienced racism both inside and outside of the sporting world. I have been pulled over by law enforcement for no reason. I have been looked at suspiciously because of the color of my skin. "I hold an immense amount of respect for the many players -- across the sporting world -- that have chosen to peacefully bring attention to a couple of big issues in today's society, which are inequlaity and the use of excessive force against people of color in the United States of America. Make no mistake that racism exists and that people of color are treated differently on a day-to-day basis. "I also feel that the original message that was trying to be communicated has been lost. The focus has shifted to the act of the kneeling itself or to a protest of the flag or the military. What are we really talking about here?
"I feel extremely lucky to be able to play this great game of hockey, but even within our own game, we can treat each other better than we currently do at all levels of the sport. There is still progress to be made.
"And that's where I want everyone to re-focus their attention -- on moving progress forward. We need to be working on bridging the gap between people of all oclor, and between law enforcement and minorities. How can we be a part of the solution and not a part of the problem -- or be another distraction from what the real issues are?
"Although I fully support those who before me have taken the lead in bringing awareness to these issues, I will not kneel during the national anthem like my brothers have done.
"But now that I have the world's attention, let's meet at the kitchen table, the locker room or in the stands and continue the healing process. Let our collective focus be on bridging the gap between communities -- on working to heal generations of unequal treatment of people of color in the United States of America -- and not turning our backs on that which is hard to face head on.
"I will continue to work within my community to help improve the lives of others, and I intend to partner with groups dedicated to bridging racial inequality and fostering a better relationship between law enforcement and people of all color.
"If we spend more time talking about these real issues instead of the actions that are taking place in an attempt to raise awareness about them, we will be a much richer and stronger society.
-- Joel Randal Ward
"I believe in the goodness of a free society. And I believe that the society can remain good only as long as we are willing to fight for it, and to fight against whatever imperfections may exist." -- Jackie Robinson
As the players stand there during the National Anthem, they should imagine they are standing in front of many soldiers, fully dressed in combat gear, ready for action, possibly facing death that day.
that’s what i don’t get..where are they getting this garbage??...those so called “high profile” shootings were all adjudicated...they gotta admit that they got a problem with authority...not to mention a terrible inferiority complex...god,we’ve all bent over backwards the last 50 years. Get tired of it after awhile.
There are quite a few around Iron Mountain Michigan and the super clubs up there serve both. When I go back home we always head out to those places. I feel like hell for hours after.
Cant find great food like that ANYWHERE in AZ or VEGAS. ANYWHERE.
Oh they claim that this place serves it and that place is a good Italian place. I went to them and I swear they open up a can and warm it up and claim its good. PUKE!
Good spaghetti is served with a sausage on top of it and thats the way I like it.
ive had cops point guns at my head 3 times...once in my own driveway...everybody goes thru crazy stuff at times...
My kind of guy!!
Every Sunday (sometimes Saturday) is angel hair with sausage!! :)
LOVE Angel hair.
And i AM fat lol
My granddaughter visited Sicily last spring and fell in love with the place.
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I know.
I just can’t imagine it - I’ve worked in the Silicon Slum for decades now, and ANY political grandstanding is just totally out of bounds and will earn you a trip to HR, possibly with a bad ending.
Don’t see where any of these guys get off politicizing their jobs, just because of their skin color.
Oh well. Rules for thee, but not for me, right?
That’s the world we live in now.
:)
Good for her!!
It is beautiful.
Maybe 60 years ago, my friend’s father looked up at a second story window and smiled at a girl and said hello.
The father of the girl went to his father and wanted to know his intentions :)
Things have changed since then :)
I have pulled over for being white and rural. Fits drug runner profile.
I was denied a job at a majority black owned company because i wasn’t black. In advanced college courses asians judge you if your white.
And everyone is flabbergasted when they learn I can dance.
No black people want to live in my neighbor.
Many other people assume that because I am white I will work hard and support others.
The real racists are the ones who think that all "minorities" must think alike, and are disappointed if said "minorities" decline to publicly protest against their "oppressors".
When the movie Black Men Can’t Skate or Swim we can talk.
“Things have changed since then :)”
They sure have-——nothing,absolutely nothing,is out of bounds today.
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Who cares...he’s a Canuck.
Great :(
I’ve not been there in many years and the small towns were still quite old fashioned.
Sad to hear it.
PK is likely much better anyway—though I don’t follow the west much, so I can’t say for sure.
Do you have a link to his statement?
I wasn’t referring to Sicily,I meant the world in general.
My granddaughter certainly didn’t share any escapades with me——she just raved about the beauty of the place,the food,and the beaches. I’m sure she was a complete angel while there. :-)
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Effn A.
Ravs with white sauce, red sauce you name it! Cheese and Meat, or both. And a nice glass of wine.
Steak and spaghetti or chicken an spaghetti.
Gotta get back up there and go to Romonelli’s or Bartoletti’s, or the TNT. And thats just three places.
BTW, all those places make their own spaghetti or noodles and ravs, etc. Aint no store bought stuff there.
https://www.sbnation.com/2017/9/27/16374140/pk-subban-national-anthem-protests-nhl-donald-trump
This is the one I came across. Quote is at the very end
Good grief... the bogus meme in a different form.
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