So brave [/sarcasm]:
An American who medaled in fencing at the Pan American Games took a knee during the national anthem to protest racial and social injustice.
Race Imboden, who earned a bronze medal in the individual men’s foil event and a gold in the team competition, kneeled as the national anthem was played during a medal ceremony during the competition on Friday in Lima, Peru.
Imboden is pictured on the podium kneeling as his teammates Gerek Meinhardt and Nick Itkin stand.
“This week I am honored to represent Team USA at the Pan Am Games, taking home Gold and Bronze,” Imboden said on Twitter following his protest. “My pride however has been cut short by the multiple shortcomings of the country I hold so dear to my heart.”
Imboden, 26, added that “racism, Gun Control, mistreatment of immigrants and a president who spreads hate” were atop the list of shortcomings he sees in the United States.
“I chose to sacrifice my moment today at the top of the podium to call attention to issues that I believe need to be addressed,” he said. “I encourage others to please use your platforms for empowerment and change.”
He didn’t sacrifice a thing. What a selfish act of narcissism and personal politics throat-shoving.
So a U.S. fencer has pulled a Kaepernick. And the reaction amongst conservatives may be predictable (exemplified by my post); but so too are the reaction of support amongst Kaepernick-loving liberals:
what a brave young man. He knew when he did this that people would never understand and yet he felt the need to kneel and hope that we all understand why.
~~~ When are ignorant people going to finally understand that people kneel in prayer? A prayer position during our national anthem is much more respectful than anything else you can do. If more of us kneeled for unity our nation would be so much better off. This athlete is so correct. Colin was so correct. The same people condemning these athletes are the same people who down beers and inhale hot dogs during our national anthem while they condemn others for exercising their freedoms.
~~~ For the first time in my life I’m following sports news. So impressed with these athletes and patriots. It’s easy to wave our flag around mindlessly; it takes much more courage to protest what you believe is wrong.
~~~ How sad so many miss the point. He didn’t turn his back he kneeled! He humbled himself to respect the flag and show sadness. Pay attention.
What bravery? Maybe half the country will criticize him (Is that alright? Or does free speech work in one direction, only?). But look at the other half including many in media: Praise for being bold, for standing- er, kneeling- for what he believes in, by openly opposing the current PotUS, racism, gun violence, etc. In other words, his “sacrifice” and “bravery” has elevated him to hero-status and positive notoriety for those on the left side of the political/culture aisle.
At any given time, apparently you can use/abuse your platform as an appropriate time and place to push your own personal political dissatisfaction for any number of causes and concerns that distresses you. After all, for Kaepernick, it wasn’t just about perceived “police brutality” and racism. And for Imboden, he seems to have made it about “gun control”, “mistreatment of (illegal) immigrants”, and opposition to the sitting president.
Well then what political grievance and venue will ever be off-limits as inappropriate? Don’t like how no one is doing anything of significance over climate change? Take a knee (as if that bit of inaction is taking action to stop global warming). Don’t like any given political policy or issue? Take a knee. The country is in distress! Why limit it to flags and sporting venues? Take a knee at a wedding or graduation ceremony to draw public attention to yourself and your pet cause. After all it’s free speech. 1st Amendment rights! Who cares about decorum and decency anymore? If you have a platform, use it!
Another Facebook comment I read in support of Imboden the Imbecile:
there are many of us kneeling with you.
So does that mean you’re going to “take a knee” at your daughter’s soccer game and set an example for your athlete and all the other soccer moms? You know….stand- I mean kneel- with Imboden? Actually put yourself physically at risk for ridicule? Or is this another one of those social media activists who virtue signal and put their money only where their keyboard is?
A former fetus, the “wordsmith from nantucket” was born in Phoenix, Arizona in 1968. Adopted at birth, wordsmith grew up a military brat. He achieved his B.A. in English from the University of California, Los Angeles (graduating in the top 97% of his class), where he also competed rings for the UCLA mens gymnastics team. The events of 9/11 woke him from his political slumber and malaise. Currently a personal trainer and gymnastics coach.
The wordsmith has never been to Nantucket.
time to kick the snowflake’s ass of the team. endless expression ” I stand for the Flag and kneel for my God” no brainier. Plutarch in his work The Moralia , noted that inappropriate behavior to the state in manner of respect indicates a low breading and low intellectual capacity to understand moral virtue. the POS’s action is a one trick pony-he is only a hero in his own mind.
“This week I am honored to represent Team USA at the Pan Am Games, taking home Gold and Bronze,” Imboden said on Twitter following his protest. “My pride however has been cut short by the multiple shortcomings of the country I hold so dear to my heart.”
I would have respect for this clown if instead of his Twitter comments he said:
“I will not be lending my talent by participating in the Lima event or representing the USA due to my perceived short comings of the USA.”
OK, Bubba, that, at least, would be putting your money where your mouth is. Instead, you took a knee in disrespect to all those American fans that cheered you on. And you sure didn’t mind the nation that you seem to have such little respect for paying your way to Lima, did you?
Imboden has First Amendment rights. He doesn’t have the right to bash the nation paying for his talent. And exactly what has he done to end the “racism” he perceives is so rampant? Has he, a white boy, worked in an inner city day care center so a woman of color could go look for a job, or better yet, go to that job? Has he donated any money to an inner city health clinic or helped out at an inner city school? Exactly how is he putting his money where his mouth is and doing nothing but trying for his 15 minutes of fame?
Perhaps one could somewhat understand and respect this person’s “protest” if it weren’t based on invalid lies that he has simply heard on MSNBC and, before shaming himself and his nation, he obviously never bothered to verify. I have ZERO respect for such useful idiots. All he wants is attention focused on HIM, just like Rapinoe.
@Deplorable Me:
agree and with it he disgraced the US. in 1936 in Berlin, Jesse Owens, stood proudly despite the all out efforts of discredit him by Hitler. no fist, no knee, he stood straight as one could to receive the gold. another snow flake believing he is a hero.
Another deluded athlete:
Just think how partisan politics will make every athlete at every sporting event in every era behave as though there were a crisis requiring them to address and take a stand; to “take a knee” or hold up a fist to protest whatever political issue strikes their fancy at the time. *roll eyes*
Another self righteous, self absorbed SJW. If he wants to know what real sacrifice looks like he should go to a Veterans’ cemetery or a VA hospital where the amputees are.
This is all such a painful cliche. The Leftist media succeeded in maintaining the race hoax, and now our youth…living in the one to the most diverse, free, and safe republics to every have existed…think they are not.
Appreciating how good you have it is somehow seen as failure by this athlete
What does his kneeing action achieve?
It doesn’t improve even one of those areas he thinks the USA falls short in.
But will he do more than take a knee?
That, if it is all he does, is just empty virtue signalling.
What did the great writer, Voltaire say, “the enemy of the good is the perfect.”
Wanting perfection paralyzes.
The Bible put it another way:
Whoever watches the wind will not plant;
whoever looks at the clouds will not reap. – Eccl 11:4
Well, perhaps is the Soycolist doesn’t like it here he can find a country more to his liking. Personally, I’d strip him of his medals and throw his ass off the team.
@MOS # 8541: “what attempt to discrace him by Hitler?” Jesse said Hitler acknowledged him twice, but he got nothing from American president Roosevelt. No phone call, no telegram, nothing. Hitler didn’t meet him and shake his hand, but from his seat by gesture, Jesse said Hitler gave him approval of his achievement, but not his own President.
@MOS # 8541</a@Wilhelm Berg: “Hitler didn’t snub me—it was [FDR] who snubbed me. The president didn’t even send me a telegram.” ~Jesse Owens, quoted in Triumph, a book about the 1936 Olympics by Jeremy Schaap.
Ironically, the real snubs of Owens came from his own president and his own country. Even after ticker-tape parades for Owens in New York City and Cleveland, President Franklin D. Roosevelt never publicly acknowledged Owens’ achievements. Owens was never invited to the White House and never even received a letter of congratulations from the president.
Jesse Owens was a Republican.
Not only did he disrepect the country he was representing, he disrepected the entire games and everyone there;.
@John: And disrespecting the country makes him a hero of the left. Think about THAT.
So he’s been reprimanded by the IOC with a 12-month probation; and I’m reading comments from supporters who are so stupid. Some of them seem to think his 1st Amendment rights are being violated; that he’s a hero for exercising a “moral compass”.
So would they still feel he were exercising his moral compass if his protest was against the 14 million black American babies that have been aborted since 1973? Or as a symbolic stand against illegal immigration?
It isn’t the U.S. government fining him, arresting or imprisoning him. It’s the IOC. He signed an agreement form with them in order to compete, with an understanding that political protests are not allowed. He broke that pledge. They can and should reprimand him.
@wordsmith:
Duh. Would anyone that supports this idiotic behavior possess intelligence?
What took the IOC so long?
@Deplorable Me: I’m reading a comment from someone that liked my comment on an FB post:
Then the next person to comment under his is:
LMAO!
@wordsmith: Seems they just want to make sure no one mistakes them of intelligent beings.
And then there’s still Rapinoe:
@Wordsmith: Well, some people simply don’t care if the entire world is FORCED to accept the gay agenda. Some people look at what is best for MOST people and think accordingly.
Some would say a bitter, America-hating, self-loathing lesbian is who should be in therapy.
@Deplorable Me:
Remember when the gay movement said their only goal was to keep the government out of their bedrooms? Once that was done (based on a lie), it then became their only goal was equality of marriage. Right!!!
Now we have Drag Queen Story Hour where five year olds are indoctrinated (remember, the Marxist Gramsci said “get them while they are young”) and if parents object, those parents are labeled “homophobic.” Kids, as young as five, are indoctrinated into the gay life style in kindergarten.
It never ends. It is part of the Progressive movement. And we wonder why mental illness in our young is on the rise.