Seahawks Players: Equality & Justice For All Action Fund

[kidhawk]

[urltargetblank]http://www.seahawks.com/news/2017/09/29/seahawks-players-announce-equality-justice-all-action-fund[/urltargetblank]


[tweet]https://twitter.com/Seahawks/status/913844689341521922[/tweet]

Looks like they've taken the next step

 

[Mindsink]

We ALREADY live in the most inclusive society in the world, despite what the media is feeding us.

 

[hawk45]

Read the article. As a non-millionaire I can't justify putting my dollars towards something so unfocused.

"Education and leadership programs" scream out more racial theory degrees or sensitivity training.

"Equality and justice" are the targets, nice to see they set attainable goals.

This is supposed to be about an epidemic of law enforcement using lethal/excessive force against African Americans out of proportion to their percentage of population and crime rate. With such an urgent issue as that sounds like, what in the world are they doing with this? There are a million specific things that might help:

- More funding for lethal-force training scenarios for cops
- Funding for body cams or pushing for penalties for not activating them
- Funding to push for increased DOJ oversight
- Funding for better/more analysis of lethal force usage to prove/disprove or understand the extent of the problem and where in the country resources and scrutiny might be better devoted
- Setting up regular interactions with police outside of responding to calls

I mean it's becoming clear to me that the players aren't serious about lethal/excessive force. They make Kaepernick seem like a bastion of integrity for at least having a reason for disrespecting the flag.

 

[kidhawk]

Things like this are never solved overnight, and they certainly won't be solved by a single NFL team and it's players, but taking a step like this is progress towards a goal, and shows that this has the ability to move past the anthem protests taking place at the start of games and out into the real world in a possibly meaningful way

 

[hawk45]

Things like this are never solved overnight, and they certainly won't be solved by a single NFL team and it's players, but taking a step like this is progress towards a goal, and shows that this has the ability to move past the anthem protests taking place at the start of games and out into the real world in a possibly meaningful way

We can agree to disagree.

It demonstrates they are willing to do "something". But by keeping what divides us front and center without laying out specific things that can actually be addressed, it does more harm than good.

I still would like to know, if lethal/excessive force is such an urgent thing, why does this appear nowhere in their verbal language and in their mission statement when it's an issue that people actually do think is worth looking at?

No one reads that mission statement and thinks for one second it will make an ounce of difference. It's the epitome of virtue signaling.

 

[kidhawk]

Things like this are never solved overnight, and they certainly won't be solved by a single NFL team and it's players, but taking a step like this is progress towards a goal, and shows that this has the ability to move past the anthem protests taking place at the start of games and out into the real world in a possibly meaningful way

We can agree to disagree.

It demonstrates they are willing to do "something". But by keeping what divides us front and center without laying out specific things that can actually be addressed, it does more harm than good.

I still would like to know, if lethal/excessive force is such an urgent thing, why does this appear nowhere in their verbal language and in their mission statement when it's an issue that people actually do think is worth looking at?

No one reads that mission statement and thinks for one second it will make an ounce of difference. It's the epitome of virtue signaling.

I could see your point if this was the only thing that was ever done, but this is likely just a first step towards more. You can't do everything all at once. Issues like these take time and many levels of cooperation to make any meaningful change. This is just a tiny step forward, it's not the end all be all resolution to the issues at hand.

 

[Osprey]

And finally we arrive at the true point of the protest: create a SJW slush fund.

Originally it was pressure on the NFL, now it's extended to the fans as well.

Letter co-signed by Michael Bennett to the NFL:
http://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/nf ... 59121.html

Financial support of groups/organizations, including personal donations as well as hosting events to raise funds or resources

 

[SixSeahawk]

We ALREADY live in the most inclusive society in the world, despite what the media is feeding us.

You live in Canada?

 

[RockHawk]

And finally we arrive at the true point of the protest: create a SJW slush fund.

Originally it was pressure on the NFL, now it's extended to the fans as well.

Letter co-signed by Michael Bennett to the NFL:
http://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/nf ... 59121.html

Financial support of groups/organizations, including personal donations as well as hosting events to raise funds or resources

*Owner speaking* - Careful about using terms and phrases like SJW's; they signal political, and need to be kept out of these discussions. The point you're trying to make is fine, but keep clear of political terms when you make them*

Ok, as for my own response, I don't know if what they're setting as goals will solve anything, but I applaud them for actually doing something outside of just bringing light to those subjects via the protest (putting their money where their mouth is, so to speak).

But I WILL say that it's frustrating for me that one of the major themes I hear from those against the protests are that "These guys should stop these divisive protests and actually go out and make a difference in their communities directly", and yet on the first direct sign of the players & team doing exactly that, they are criticized for not being exactly what the critics think they should be doing. You talk about disrespect, if I were one of those players trying to do something, I'd feel a bit of that myself.

And secondly, if those that are against the style of protest but support what the protests are about (whether you think it too broad or not), what exactly are YOU doing to help the situation? Seems there's a lot of people on top of Mount Pious criticizing these players for trying to make a difference while they sit at home and do nothing (or very little) to make improvements in our world.

 

[kidhawk]

To play a bit of devil's advocate here...I think generalizations are a large part of the problem (on both sides of the equation). There are plenty of people who may criticize the protest simply because we all look to football as a game. I can't speak for anyone other than myself (and a few people I've spoken to), but I find that football has always been a great respite from the everyday issues in life up to and including (and maybe even especially) politics.

 

[hawk45]

I could see your point if this was the only thing that was ever done, but this is likely just a first step towards more. You can't do everything all at once. Issues like these take time and many levels of cooperation to make any meaningful change. This is just a tiny step forward, it's not the end all be all resolution to the issues at hand.

Kid you're clearly arguing in good faith and I appreciate that.

My bugaboo is that there is a very important problem to be solved, and that slushy weasel worded injustice tracts are just wasted energy.

They've done the job of convincing me that there is a perception of black men being targeted. It's frustrating me that the urgency that they successfully created isn't being matched by a similar focus on that very specific problem.

One question: do you think it would be obvious and better if they maintained a clear focus on use of force vs vague and unsolvable (in our lifetimes) issues of justice and inequality? This is where I can't help but feel Kaepernick kept his eye on the ball whereas this donation fund has not.

If the website proposed penalties for body cams being turned off I'd donate, for example. Folks are ready, hell, desperate for a solvable or at least addressable issue!

 

[RockHawk]

If the website proposed penalties for body cams being turned off I'd donate, for example. Folks are ready, hell, desperate for a solvable or at least addressable issue!

Bud, I am 100% behind you on this part. To me, this should be a no-brainer, and there needs to be teeth behind enforcement.

 

[ivotuk]

We ALREADY live in the most inclusive society in the world, despite what the media is feeding us.

You live in Canada?

Funny. I'm not allowed in Canada, and although it's tempting, let's not get off track here.

I think what he's trying to say is that the U.S. is one of the best countries to live in. We have a lot that we could improve on though.

 

[GeekHawk]

Is this like where I saw a Facebook post (copied a zillion times, obviously) where Mark Zuckerberg challenged people to contribute to a hurricane relief fund, and bragged that it was up to like $150,000 or something? Because I did the math, and with my engineer salary that would be like me contributing $150 to something. Except he didn't actually contribute that much. So it would actually be like me bragging about getting you guys to contribute $150 to something. I have a problem with millionaires touting a fund that others fill up, and putting themselves out there as saints for starting it.

 

[SixSeahawk]

To play a bit of devil's advocate here...I think generalizations are a large part of the problem (on both sides of the equation). There are plenty of people who may criticize the protest simply because we all look to football as a game. I can't speak for anyone other than myself (and a few people I've spoken to), but I find that football has always been a great respite from the everyday issues in life up to and including (and maybe even especially) politics.

I'm going to assume some of your "everyday issues" don't include being targeted by cops for the colour of your skin on a regular basis. I'm going to assume your "everyday issues" don't include being discriminated in professional and social settings due to the colour of your skin.

Unfortunately, for minorities, this is an "everyday issue" for them.

It's hard to realize our privilege when we've been incredibly comfortable our whole lives.

 

[Maelstrom787]

We ALREADY live in the most inclusive society in the world, despite what the media is feeding us.

I don't like this view.

Complacency is evil. I don't care that we "already" are the most inclusive society (probably not).

The point is that it can be better. We should, therefore, try to make it better.

 

[Osprey]

*Owner speaking* - Careful about using terms and phrases like SJW's; they signal political, and need to be kept out of these discussions. The point you're trying to make is fine, but keep clear of political terms when you make them*

Fair enough, my bad. What I should have said is raise funds for overtly political organizations that appear to exist primarily to 'raise attention' to issues and offer little in way of solutions.

 

[sc85sis]

You may be right, Osprey, but I think it's too soon to make the assumption you're making. They are in the very early stages of this. Let's see where it goes before we proclaim it a waste.

 

[Osprey]

You may be right, Osprey, but I think it's too soon to make the assumption you're making. They are in the very early stages of this. Let's see where it goes before we proclaim it a waste.

Trying not to be a cynic, but it's unfortunate how often people with good intentions are lead down the path by those who are willing to exploit.

If an enterprising journalist really wanted to cover this angle it wouldn't be too hard to investigate who is in Bennett's orbit and what groups they are affiliated with.

Although I'd argue it's an article intend to rehabilitate his reputation, the NYT provides some pretty good background on Kaepernicks affiliations with Nessa, BLM, and progressive academia.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/07/sports/colin-kaepernick-nfl-protests.html

 

[Mindsink]

I'm going to assume some of your "everyday issues" don't include being targeted by cops for the colour of your skin on a regular basis. I'm going to assume your "everyday issues" don't include being discriminated in professional and social settings due to the colour of your skin.

Unfortunately, for minorities, this is an "everyday issue" for them.

It's hard to realize our privilege when we've been incredibly comfortable our whole lives.

Oh here we go with this "white privilege" crap.

The whole concept of "white privilege" is based on the RACIST idea that only white (specifically, cis-gendered males) enjoy preferential treatment in every aspect of society solely based on the color of their skin and that whole line of thinking does not accept the fact that:

1 - Merit doesn't see color.
2 - Equality of opportunity does not necessitate equality of outcome.

It may be an uncomfortable truth, but all kinds of people are judged and stereotyped every day based on identifiable characteristics, such as race. It is human nature. Many of these realities offend groups of people. But facts don't care about your feelings.

To me, the idea of equality is absurd. We are not, and don't need to be, equal.

Here's an example: An overwhelming majority of violent crimes are committed by men. Where is the social outrage suggesting that men are unfairly targeted and prosecuted by law enforcement? Why are there so few women in prisons?