Hamilton-may take a knee

[Dare]

Politics and sports don't mix. I may take a knee and stop watching F1 like I have the NFL


http://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/11060508/lewis-hamilton-may-take-a-knee-at-the-us-gp-as-he-backs-nfl-protest

[jimclark]

They're clueless. 

(btw, I've been meaning to compliment you on your signature  )

[Scott]

I don’t think (at least haven’t heard) that the blacks vs police issues in Britain are anything close to the US, so Hamilton taking a knee is nothing more than some kind of solidarity gesture. 

I think the Yanks have a bit of an anal view of patriotism though.  Standing for a song or a waving piece of cloth is icon worship, and that kind of thing should be personal and up to the individual.  I do more for patriotism by having a Maple Leaf Sticker on my car than any of you do standing at a football game while someone sings.

But many have said it better than me, like the many military vets that have spoken up by saying that although they stand for the anthem, their military service stands for nothing if the rights of others to choose not to, are taken away.

[Dare]

They're clueless. 

(btw, I've been meaning to compliment you on your signature  )

If these protesters don't like our country buy a one way ticket
to he country of your choice and if your not happy there protest
and see what happens. Millionaire football players protesting how
their mistreated is a little far fetched

[Jericoke]

They're clueless. 

(btw, I've been meaning to compliment you on your signature  )

If these protesters don't like our country buy a one way ticket
to he country of your choice and if your not happy there protest
and see what happens. Millionaire football players protesting how
their mistreated is a little far fetched

American police are killing innocent black motorists.  Surely that's worth protesting when you're considered the best black motorist in the world.

The football players aren't protesting their own treatment, but they are people with power.  Surely a defining characteristic of people with power is what they do with it.  Agree or disagree, in their mind they're trying to make the world a better place.  I don't know that the world has ever been made better by people in power saying 'shut up and do as you're told'.

[Scott]

Most western countries, even those leaning way left allow protest, so probably nothing will happen. 

The players aren’t protesting how THEY are being treated, but standing (kneeling) for how those who haven’t a stage to stand on, are.

Love them or hate them, you are talking about the USA and football.  There will be boycotts for a couple of weeks, then Trump will find something else to tweet about while he’s ignoring other national crises and then America will go back to NFL.

[Scott]

Oh, Jeri kinda said the same thing while I was typing.

 

[lkjohnson1950]

I try to avoid politics as it seems to mainly ruin friendships, but here I agree with Jeri and Scott. These men are protesting the fact that people of color are  treated  differently by the authorities than whites. That's wrong. NFL players are protesting because they have more visibility than the people who are on the wrong end of a gun. I can respect that. It's a non violent way to draw attention to the problem. This is a great country and I love it, but there is always room for improvement.

[Andy B]

I hope he stays away from this.

[Jericoke]

I try to avoid politics as it seems to mainly ruin friendships

One of the things I LOVE about GP Wizard (it is the only forum I post on) is that we aren't a hive mind and we're willing to disagree, and listen to the 'other side', call them idiots and then move on to the next thread where those same 'idiots' have our back on something else.

The friendship/respect here is real and can survive a healthy political debate.

[lkjohnson1950]

Yeah. Cossie and I have gone a round or two. 

[Robem64]

I fear this will fast become the media focus of the GP weekend in Austin - will Hamilton protest or not. It will overshadow the real reason for being there - a title fight that I, for one, hope goes down to the wire. However, I'm sure the likes of Ferrari will hope this affects the focus Lewis is able to bring to the weekend.

We shall see.

[Dare]

Wonder what his boss Mercedes says thinks of this? From
comments I've seen on articles many Mercedes owners in
the US said if this happens they'll never buy another Mercedes.
This could cost them a huge amount of money.

[Jericoke]

Wonder what his boss Mercedes says thinks of this? From
comments I've seen on articles many Mercedes owners in
the US said if this happens they'll never buy another Mercedes.
This could cost them a huge amount of money.

White supremacists hate a car company that supplied the Nazis?  That's more free advertising than any world championship could ever earn them.

[Dare]

Wonder what his boss Mercedes says thinks of this? From
comments I've seen on articles many Mercedes owners in
the US said if this happens they'll never buy another Mercedes.
This could cost them a huge amount of money.

White supremacists hate a car company that supplied the Nazis?  That's more free advertising than any world championship could ever earn them.

It may come as a surprise to you but the US isn't full of
white supremacists. But it does have many Mercedes owners
that don't go along with kneeling.