Give up football?

The scornful rhetoric on social media and elsewhere castigating National Football League players and the league itself are reminiscent of and frighteningly similar to hateful things that were said of the Vietnam War and civil rights protesters in the 1960s and ’70s.

A common sentiment in both cases is that the free speech and peaceful protest of demonstrators is unpatriotic and disrespectful of the country and individuals who serve the country. The question that must be asked of those who believe this to be true is, do you feel strongly enough about your beliefs to take action that is meaningful?

There have been countless declarations made in social media to the effect that the NFL no longer deserves the public’s respect and attention unless punitive action against protesting players is implemented. It should be self evident that the only effective way to force the NFL to act is through economic pressure.

Are unhappy fans willing to forgo that outing to Lambeau and let the tickets that have already been paid for go to waste to make a statement via empty seats? Are we going to wear Packers gear on game day? If we planned to watch the game on TV, are we instead going to tune in to something else?

These are tough choices, but if we feel strongly enough about the wrongness of the players’ actions, don’t these things need to be done? It’s easy to talk the talk, a different matter entirely to walk the walk.

Mark Stauffer Town of Lisbon