SEATTLE RED

You can’t advance justice by dishonoring the flag

Sep 28, 2017, 6:03 AM

national anthem, NFL...

The Seahawks elected not to participate in the national anthem on Sunday. (File, Associated Press)

(File, Associated Press)

When prominent athletes refuse to stand for the national anthem, their defenders insist they’re not dishonoring the flag, but pushing the nation toward social justice.

But how can you possibly advance your cause with public gestures that most Americans find irritating and offensive?

Pete Carroll: Seahawks’ demonstration was ‘for the flag,’ not against it

What milestone must society reach to convince those athlete activists that we’ve made enough progress so they can stand again for the anthem?

As for President Trump, his harsh comments only enlarged the number of players participating in the protests and prodded NFL owners — the best hope of getting team members to honor patriotic traditions — to support them in their showboating.

If we really want to end this silly, pointless battle, the players must understand that fans look to them for athletic excellence, not political guidance, and President Trump must see that giving the issue so much passionate attention only serves to expand and perpetuate the protests he seeks to end.

President Donald Trump speaks with reporters upon arriving, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, at Joint Base A...

Associated Press

Trump said he would dine with Anthropic CEO amid mounting AI debate

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump had plans to dine late Sunday with the CEO of Anthropic, one of the leading voices on artificial intelligence but also someone who’s sparred with the Trump administration over the military’s potential use of AI. Trump told reporters after returning to Joint Base Andrews in Maryland that he was […]

2 minutes ago

President Donald Trump, from right, and first lady Melania Trump attend a tea with China's Presiden...

Associated Press

Trump asked China’s president if he wants to buy US arms, ambassador says

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has justified the pending U.S. arms sale to Taiwan to Chinese President Xi Jinping by downplaying it as just one of many sales Washington makes around the world — even asking Xi if he’d be in the market for U.S. arms, Trump’s ambassador to China said on Sunday. David […]

2 hours ago

Ohio Sen. Jon Husted speaks at the Republican convention in Dallas, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026. (AP P...

Associated Press

Trump to travel to Ohio to stump for Sen. Jon Husted as the Republican faces competitive challenge

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump plans to visit Ohio on Saturday in support of Sen. Jon Husted as the Republican tries to fend off a competitive challenge from Democratic former Sen. Sherrod Brown. The trip to Vandalia, just north of Dayton, is scheduled to come after stops in Oklahoma on Thursday and Alabama on […]

3 hours ago

Associated Press

Sheriff: 12 teens wounded in a shootout at a birthday party in Georgia park

MACON, Ga. (AP) — Two groups of people shot at each other during a birthday party at a Georgia city park, resulting in gunshot wounds to 12 teens, a sheriff said Sunday. The shootout occurred early Sunday morning, shortly after midnight, at Carolyn Crayton Park in Macon, Bibb County Sheriff David Davis said during a […]

5 hours ago

President Donald Trump pumps his fist on the first tee box prior to the Presidents Cup golf tournam...

Associated Press

Trump administration begins airing 2024 Trump campaign ad in latest taxpayer-funded messaging

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is using taxpayer funds to air a television advertisement from Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign in the latest in a series of ads promoting the president ahead of the midterms that the White House maintains are “public service announcements.” The 30-second video, which is virtually identical to one that […]

5 hours ago

FILE - A Walmart sign stands outside a store, Sept. 3, 2019, in Walpole, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Sen...

Associated Press

Walmart says it’s not using personal information to set prices as it expands digital shelf labels

NEW YORK (AP) — Walmart is aiming to assuage customers’ fears about its new pricing technology as it rolls out digital price labels at its stores. In a statement posted on the company’s website, Walmart Inc.’s CEO John Furner vowed that the Bentonville, Arkansas-based retailer isn’t using personal information like income, shopping history or a […]

6 hours ago

You can’t advance justice by dishonoring the flag