Some band, students kneel during national anthem

[PonyPride]

Yes, this thread has been moderated and moved. It's very possible that more latitude has been granted here than in any other thread in this board's history. If not, it's close. The thread was moved because it no longer had anything to do with football. But many posts were left in place that initially sparked a reaction to delete, because many of the issues being discussed are relevant to so many in so many ways. Maybe I deleted something I shouldn't have, and if so, my apologies. But this is a thread that led to political party commentary, name-calling and insults. Of I deleted any that shouldn't, then I am guilty of erring on the side of caution, but those posts, at the very least, needed to be deleted.

We will leave this thread up and active, but if the political stumping, insults and name-calling return, it will be deleted entirely. The issues surrounding these protests merit discussion, but please keep it civil and don't get lured into political campaigning. Thanks.

[Glenn Sosbee]

Institutional racism does exist. Please stop arguing about a peaceful protest. You can argue about riots but to spew ignorant statements as some of y'all continue to due on this topic, just proves why minorities in Dallas will continue to not support SMU the way they should.

Have you ever heard of Jerry Levias?

[East Coast Mustang]

"Pay attention to me, I need attention!" -anyone who kneels during the anthem

[smudubs]

I have already posted my experiences at SMU in the past so I will not do that again. I will say, in general, many people here just don't get it. For those of you who believe racism is dead, I will share something that happened recently. My son and several of his friends went to Wendy's in Boston earlier this month. My son arrived earlier than his friends and went inside. While he was insider, he saw people order and be served their food. When the rest of his friends arrived, most of whom are African American, the store refused to serve them. To put this plainly, white customers were served but African-American customers were not.

While this is slightly off topic for this thread, I figured I would share since some of you believe racism is dead.

[StallionsModelT]

Being a victim is a cottage industry in America nowadays. If you want to be a victim the world will have no problem turning you into one.

[StallionsModelT]

Yeah racism isn't dead like the white kid who was beaten and robbed in downtown Charlotte during the "peaceful protest". Racism goes each direction. Spare me the victim card.

[Rebel10]

White police officer fired after posting a selfie saying "I"m the law today n*gga": (link: http://buff.ly/2dkK4qL) buff.ly/2dkK4qL

[smudubs]

Yeah racism isn't dead like the white kid who was beaten and robbed in downtown Charlotte during the "peaceful protest". Racism goes each direction. Spare me the victim card.

I did not play the victim card. Nor did I say that only one group was racist. All I did was share my son's experience in response to what others have posted. I can not speak to what other people experience. I can, however, speak to what my family has experienced.

[RGV Pony]

Agree w dubs. As a kid who grew a block from and walked to the projects to catch the bus and missed a fair share of school days until I learned to fight back, and as a guy married to someone of a different race, I've seen it both ways and don't think any group has a monopoly on being a victim, being subjected to racism, or having contemporaries who engage in racist behavior. First person experience is something that should command empathy and can be learned from.

Oh, and I'll add religious persecution as it relates to a family member as well.

[Rebel10]

I guess in general when the people that have the most power and authority are racist that is when the most damage can be done to the opposite race.

[RGV Pony]

And perhaps more importantly, my run-on sentence above is unbecoming of an smu alum. Mea culpa

[East Coast Mustang]

Any chance that all of these BLM losers who block traffic and disseminate lies and misinformation to advance their narrative could sign up for the police force? Be the change you want to see in the community. Oh wait, that's probably too hard

[Rebel10]

Being a victim is a cottage industry in America nowadays. If you want to be a victim the world will have no problem turning you into one.

I would tend to agree. Those women at Baylor who are playing the victim card should have just sucked it up and moved on.

[smudubs]

Yeah racism isn't dead like the white kid who was beaten and robbed in downtown Charlotte during the "peaceful protest". Racism goes each direction. Spare me the victim card.

Before i responded to this, I decided to go and view the video. What happened to the young man is inexplicable. On that we can agree. But like with the police shooting videos, which I have never commented on, I will reserve judgment until more information is available. We have no information that explains what caused the attack. That being said, there is nothing that could have been said that justifies the beating.

[smudubs]

Any chance that all of these BLM losers who block traffic and disseminate lies and misinformation to advance their narrative could sign up for the police force? Be the change you want to see in the community. Oh wait, that's probably too hard

I think we can agree that there are some thug protesters. I think we can equally agree that there are thug police officers. For the record, I do not read your comment to mean that all BLM protesters are "losers." I hope you do not read my comment to mean that all police officers are thugs. If you meant that all BLM protesters are "losers" then I would disagree with you strongly. Any sweeping generalization of any group on either side of this issue should be met with skepticism.