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  #1 (permalink)  
Old Thu Oct 27, 2016, 12:05am
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Officials protesting anthem–SCHSL speaks

All South Carolina High School League officials got this email...

MEMO Wednesday, October 26, 2016

To SCHSL Certified Officials,
I hope that each of you are doing well and enjoying the slight change in temperatures across our beautiful state. Traditionally, officials have been expected to stand for the playing of the National Anthem and address the American flag, also referred to as “Old Glory.” The expectations of the SCHSL and member schools are that SCHSL officials will continue to honor this tradition. However, with the recent social protests that are occurring during the National Anthem throughout our country, we realize there may be officials who may be considering this action during a SCHSL athletic event.
Therefore, if any official plans to make a political or social statement (words or actions) while on an assignment for one of our contests, he/she must contact our office in writing (email) no later than two days before the date of the scheduled contest so I may notify the school of your intent. Once the school has been notified of the planned action(s) to be taken by the official (s), the school will advise our office if they are able to provide adequate security. If the school decides the proposed action(s) by the official(s) risks crew or public safety, the official will be removed from the game as a precaution and we will re-assign the position to another official.
By this action, both First Amendment rights and safety issues are being protected and addressed. If you wish to share feedback on this topic, please do not hesitate to contact the SCHSL office immediately.
“The South Carolina High School League has been in existence for over 100 years…all while displaying a total respect and admiration to this country and the people who make it unique, generous and unbreakable. ALL people make the United States of America a family of many cultures and beliefs. It is the hope of the SCHSL that we continue to support one another while being proud Americans working as One Team. Athletics are meant to bring us together and highlight our strengths, skills and for lack of a better term, our hopes and dreams. We are truly better together,” states SCHSL Commissioner Jerome Singleton.
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Old Thu Oct 27, 2016, 05:59am
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I wish these organizations would stop throwing the First Amendment around. They obviously do not know what it means, nor do the protestors. 1A protects you from the government putting you in jail for your speech, any other entity can tell you to go pound sand.
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Old Thu Oct 27, 2016, 12:45pm
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I got this email, too, and here are my thoughts:

Schools are not going to pay for extra security to protect an official who kneels or stands during the anthem. Not a chance that will happen, in my opinion.

I don't see this being an issue with any of the partners I work with and 99.9% of the officials statewide.

That being said, I think if an official wants to protest our national anthem, take the jackets back to the dressing room and wait there until the anthem is over. Then no attention is paid to the crew and the concerns about additional security are curtailed.
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Old Thu Oct 27, 2016, 01:08pm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bballref3966 View Post
...

That being said, I think if an official wants to protest our national anthem, take the jackets back to the dressing room and wait there until the anthem is over. Then no attention is paid to the crew and the concerns about additional security are curtailed.
I see that being the smart way to go about it. We don't kneel or sit at any time after we enter the confines of the court, so it brings way too much unneeded attention for an official to kneel during the national anthem.

Just excuse yourself to "use the restroom" or take the jackets back or just slip out into the hallway.
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Old Thu Oct 27, 2016, 01:13pm
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Originally Posted by BadNewsRef View Post
I see that being the smart way to go about it. We don't kneel or sit at any time after we enter the confines of the court, so it brings way too much unneeded attention for an official to kneel during the national anthem.

Just excuse yourself to "use the restroom" or take the jackets back or just slip out into the hallway.
I'm not saying it's right or wrong, but isn't this the point of a protest?
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Old Thu Oct 27, 2016, 01:13pm
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Quote:
Just excuse yourself to "use the restroom" or take the jackets back or just slip out into the hallway.
But then people won't know that they're protesting...
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Old Thu Oct 27, 2016, 02:00pm
Courageous When Prudent
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by UNIgiantslayers View Post
I'm not saying it's right or wrong, but isn't this the point of a protest?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Altor View Post
But then people won't know that they're protesting...
Not necessarily. The first time Kaepernick "protested" (sat on the bench) nobody even knew he did it at the time, and he did not advertise it after the fact. Fans and the media are the ones who made a big deal about it days after the fact and brought it to the forefront, and then complained about the attention the subject was getting.

The gesture is against standing for the national anthem and honoring the flag for XYZ reason. I see it as less of a protest and more of a refusal to participate in a ritual or symbolic gesture they don't believe in.

Protests are not always designed to be "in your face". Often they are designed to create dialogue. An official refusing to participate in the national anthem proceedings would create dialogue amongst officials, and then branch out from there.
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Old Thu Oct 27, 2016, 01:18pm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SNIPERBBB View Post
I wish these organizations would stop throwing the First Amendment around. They obviously do not know what it means, nor do the protestors. 1A protects you from the government putting you in jail for your speech, any other entity can tell you to go pound sand.
I'm not a lawyer, but the SCHSL may be required to adhere to some level of First Amendment protection since it's not a completely private entity.

But, we're independent contractors (at least in form, not always in substance ), so I guess the SCHSL would have the right not to use our services for any reason it chooses.
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Old Thu Oct 27, 2016, 07:06pm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SNIPERBBB View Post
I wish these organizations would stop throwing the First Amendment around. They obviously do not know what it means, nor do the protestors. 1A protects you from the government putting you in jail for your speech, any other entity can tell you to go pound sand.
Who pays the officials and makes up the association? There's your state action. And jail isnt a requirement. And I'm not a fan of the protest,but, seeing Jacksonville punt every time I flip the channel to that game has more to do with me not watching. Bad football. Been a lot of bad boring games...

Last edited by BigCat; Thu Oct 27, 2016 at 08:45pm.
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Old Thu Oct 27, 2016, 08:46pm
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Recently worked a game with a partner who asked what I would do if he knelt during the Anthem.

What would you do?
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Old Thu Oct 27, 2016, 08:50pm
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Originally Posted by DRJ1960 View Post
Recently worked a game with a partner who asked what I would do if he knelt during the Anthem.

What would you do?
Do my job
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Old Fri Oct 28, 2016, 08:24am
Courageous When Prudent
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DRJ1960 View Post
Recently worked a game with a partner who asked what I would do if he knelt during the Anthem.

What would you do?
Most you could do is address it with your assignor.

I would, as posted above, do my job. I would stand there with my hand over my heart like I've always done. I'm retired military. My dad and step-mom are retired military. My first wife is retired military. I'm paying my respect to the country that I love despite its many maladies and imperfections. What someone else does during the national anthem does not affect how feel and how I conduct myself.
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Last edited by Raymond; Fri Oct 28, 2016 at 08:30am.
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Old Fri Oct 28, 2016, 10:24am
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BadNewsRef View Post
Most you could do is address it with your assignor.

I would, as posted above, do my job. I would stand there with my hand over my heart like I've always done. I'm retired military. My dad and step-mom are retired military. My first wife is retired military. I'm paying my respect to the country that I love despite its many maladies and imperfections. What someone else does during the national anthem does not affect how feel and how I conduct myself.
Exactly as I would do. And I would still have a beer with my partner after the game.
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Old Fri Oct 28, 2016, 11:00am
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BadNewsRef View Post
Most you could do is address it with your assignor.

I would, as posted above, do my job. I would stand there with my hand over my heart like I've always done. I'm retired military. My dad and step-mom are retired military. My first wife is retired military. I'm paying my respect to the country that I love despite its many maladies and imperfections. What someone else does during the national anthem does not affect how feel and how I conduct myself.
Even though I am not a retired military, but my father was and is buried in a veteran cemetery. I have for some time now put my hand over my heart as an official for that reason. It really has nothing to do with what I do as a personal citizen when hearing the same anthem. But that is what I would do. I do not think this is worth the fight, even if I might agree with the overall protest on some level. My job is to officiate the game, not make any major statements. I can express my opinion in other ways.

Peace
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Old Fri Oct 28, 2016, 01:45pm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DRJ1960 View Post
Recently worked a game with a partner who asked what I would do if he knelt during the Anthem.

What would you do?
Work the game...what else is there to do?
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