• derfunkatron@lemmy.world
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    9 months ago

    This is such a non-thing that it hurts to even consider how stupid it is.

    But, let’s consider:

    1. The Super Bowl is a private corporate event; any song may be performed ceremoniously. That’s protected speech.

    2. Not standing up for the Black National Anthem is whatever. That’s protected speech.

    3. The Black National Anthem is a colloquial title and has no legal status. That’s protected speech.

    4. While there is a statute outlying etiquette for performances of the National Anthem, there are no penalties for not adhering. That’s protected speech.

    5. “America the Beautiful” was also performed and there’s no legal basis for etiquette or participation. This song also has a long history of being performed alongside the Star-Spangled Banner to the point that it’s sometimes referred to as the National Hymn, even though that is a colloquial and non-legal designation. That’s protected speech.

    6. This is apparently the fourth year that “Lift Every Voice and Sing” has been performed at the Super Bowl. That’s protected speech.

      • derfunkatron@lemmy.world
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        9 months ago

        The larger context of why anyone is talking about what is sung at the Super Bowl should have been enough of a set up, but apparently not.

        This entire stunt is predicated on the right’s frustration that they couldn’t do anything about black athletes and allies being disrespectful during the National Anthem (a legally defined song with etiquette spelled out in the US legal code), which is protected speech.

        Now, in my opinion, they have a Super Bowl to posture about eight months before a presidential election. They want sound bites and over-the-top reactions so that they can paint themselves the victims of a hypocritical, leftist, anti-freedom conspiratorial media machine. This part of that “projection” plank in the modern GOP.

        My original post was simply outlining that no matter how you slice it, there is nothing to be mad about them “protesting” the Black National Anthem. I added in a rhetorical refrain to drive home the point while beating a dead horse for effect.

    • Wanderer@lemm.ee
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      9 months ago

      I never understand this argument from Americans.

      Why can’t people be pissed off with what a private company does? Like if there is a sweet company that makes blueberry flavour and it’s the best. If they stop selling it then I can be pissed. The argument “well it’s a private company it can do what it wants” is in no way related to if I get to be pissed at it.

      • 4lan@lemmy.world
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        9 months ago

        They have freedom to do as they please, but whining about it does about as much as whining about blueberry flavor.

        We aren’t saying you can’t be pissed, we are saying it is completely stupid that you are pissed and there is nothing you can do. There are far more things to be worried about in this country. We are eating ourselves alive, life expectancy is dropping, suicide rate and overdose rate is climbing, our jobs are being given to foreign countries and robots, no one owns anything anymore.

        I’m starting to believe people whine about these pointless things in order to avoid confronting the more complicated and deeply rooted issues we have.

        • Wanderer@lemm.ee
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          9 months ago

          Culture and community is absolutely important to a lot of people. In fact it could be very important for happiness.

          Maybe people don’t care about monetary things as much as you. Or maybe they care about both. It’s possible to care about everything you said and the superbowl.

          • 4lan@lemmy.world
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            9 months ago

            The only people not thinking about money are those who are privileged by wealth.

            Some of us paid for our own school, car, etc. some had a $100k head start. Willing to bet you are in that second group.

            If people care about these things why are so few people talking about it? Why are we whining about flavors and pop stars so much instead?

            It’s cool that you don’t have to worry about the future, but some of us want our children to not be slaves

            • Wanderer@lemm.ee
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              9 months ago

              No. My capitalist country paid for most of my education the rest I paid for on a low interest government backed loan. Total came to just over a years median salary.

              I used my grandads old car as it was largely worthless until it completely died on me within a year then I bought my own secondhand car. But that was after uni and working for a bit, so I used my own money for that car.

              • 4lan@lemmy.world
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                9 months ago

                my government gave me a loan at 6.8%. The amount I have paid into it is the same as the original principle amount, I still owe 80% of it because of the interest. I am making 2x the average American and am still on a hamster wheel of the capitalist death cult. I will never own anything at this rate

                • Wanderer@lemm.ee
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                  9 months ago

                  Yes the poltical system in America is terrible.

                  But there are more capitalist countries without stupid education loans than with, it’s kinda just you guys. You really need some form of proporional representation.

      • Mongostein@lemmy.ca
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        9 months ago

        Well, you can choose the things you care about. Why waste your energy getting upset about something that has zero negative consequences in your life when you could be doing something productive, <s> like arguing on Lemmy? </s>