The Somafree Institute of Psychoplasmics

babyanimalgifs:

This hedgehog got stuck in a slice of bread

j3dose:

redbloodedamerica:

Everyone Should Stand for the National Anthem

The national anthem stands for freedom—even the freedom to do foolish things…like protesting the national anthem.

But, like my mama always said, just because you are free to do the wrong thing, it doesn’t mean that you should.

Despite what we’re told by Black Lives Matter and their media allies, the police are not engaged in a coordinated campaign to destroy the black race.

As Harvard Professor Roland Fryer—who happens to be black—and others have shown, there is no evidence of racial bias in police shootings. In any case, the thing that makes headlines—police shootings of unarmed black men—is very rare. How rare? Statistics show that an unarmed black man is more likely to be killed by lightning than by a policeman.

So, if police are trying to persecute black folks, they’re doing a really bad job.

Am I saying racism doesn’t exist? Of course not.

Am I saying racist cops don’t exist? Of course not.

But I would say this: Blacks have a lot more to fear from black criminals than from the police. The police keep us safe. And they risk their lives every day doing it. That sounds like it’s a lot more deserving of a “thank you” than a “screw you.”

Now, problem two:

The protest is misdirected and self-defeating.

The American flag and the national anthem are symbols that represent our country. Even if some police officers are racist jerks, it doesn’t make sense to protest those particular jerks by demonstrating against the country as a whole.

Martin Luther King, Jr. protested discrimination against blacks on city busses by boycotting city busses. He never denigrated the flag or the anthem. In fact, he did the opposite. He argued that the people who oppress blacks are the ones denigrating the flag and what it stands for.

And what does it stand for?

Ironically, it’s the protesters themselves who give us the answer: it stands for freedom. The fact that you can disrespect the anthem and the flag proves that you’re free!

Anyone who doesn’t stand for the anthem would do themselves a favor if they studied some current events. They’d learn that oppressive countries don’t allow anyone to publicly disrespect national symbols, much less earn millions of dollars while doing it.

You won’t see anyone sitting for their national anthem in North Korea or Iran. Well, you might—but that will be the last time you see them.

Which brings me to my final point: In America, where you are free to sit or stand during the national anthem, sitting when you should be standing is more a statement about you than about America. And you don’t come off too well. You come off, frankly, as ignorant and ungrateful: ignorant about a country that works to correct its faults, and ungrateful for the opportunity and freedom that it offers all its citizens.

I was really concerned about the direction of this video, in that it was going to be some blatant nationalist perspective; but I was really surprised by what direction she took it.

I still get a patriotic surge from the National Anthem. Call it brainwashing from kindergarten on, or call it “I love this damn country”. Either way I agree with the sentiments of the clip. I also get Red’s warning about being careful about the current trend of nationalism. Nationalism can unfortunately pave the way to authoritarianism and to much government control, if left unchecked. Admittedly, I am guilty of cheerleading for President Trump and I unabashedly voted for him and I am very happy with that choice. After all, “it’s the economy, stupid ”.

@redbloodedamerica your subtle warnings are noted. Thanks for another informative post and yes, as you’ve stated, we know

You “love this damn country”.