Flagging the NFL’s advertisers

Seattle: I’m just one simple football fan. However, my television is no longer tuned to any NFL game. I won’t buy a Snickers or Under Armour and I’m driving my last Ford — as much as I adore the Budweiser commercials, I’m through! I don’t care if players protest, just not on my dime. I want to watch football, not a protest. What happened to being focused, in tune to your game? This is so distracting it has taken all the fun out of the sport. I’m not sure when these players decide to play football if I will tune back in to watch! I know I will always boycott all the sponsors who bowed down to the players without respect to the fans! They don’t deserve my dime. Good luck NFL you are going to need it! Patsy Davis Brooklyn: The NFL owners should invite the men and women of the Armed Forces to stand on the sidelines of every game for the playing of the national anthem.

This way, when these protesters take the knee they can be staring at these men and women — the real role models — the ones who took an oath to protect every American citizen.

They’re not the ones who took a few million dollars without ever having played a professional game. They’re not the ones who are able to go on vacation to a $10,000- a-night villa in the South of France or Cabo San Lucas. No, they just protect that flag you’re disrespecting.

Joe Fusco

Condescending racism

Forest Hills: Voicer Stephen Klausner’s letter was outrageously racist. His message to black athletes is that they should be grateful for all that the white man has so “benevolently” bestowed upon them, so therefore they should just shut up and play football. These athletes are not disrespecting the flag. They are protesting the treatment of black men and women who are murdered by police officers with no consequences. This is not a totalitarian country (yet) and they are allowed to protest injustice.

Libby Gurgis

Why they protest

Manhattan: Voicer Stephen Klausner: Do you know how racist you sound? “These black athletes”? The “civil rights acts”? These “minority men”? These black men are American-born citizens. The owners of these football franchises benefit a lot more than these athletes. The black athletes are paid large sums of money for their athletic abilities. They are protesting because of civil rights violations against blacks. Mainstream America decided to make their stance about something else totally different. But I suspect you would not understand this (you being a Trump supporter). Terry Burts

Get the facts

Copake, N.Y.: Voicer Harvey Beyer wrote that the NFL player protests aren’t “about race, inequality or solidarity.” To prove his point, he argues that “you (NFL players) didn’t pull this when Obama was in.” Mr. Beyer needs to educate himself on the facts. Former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick began kneeling for the national anthem during the pre-season last year in August 2016 and did so throughout the 2016 season, when Obama was indeed the President. Kaepernick held a lengthy post-game interview following his first protest in which he went into great detail as to why he was protesting — to bring attention to police killings of unarmed people of color. Despite what Beyer might think, President Trump has nothing to do with the protests other than attempting to redefine their purpose and to rile up folks like yourself; something, unfortunately, he is all too good at doing.

Joseph Cannisi

Why they fought

Manhattan: These soldiers sacrificed their lives so that NFL players and the rest of us are free to protest. You think that we dishonor their sacrifice by actually protesing? They’re not antiAmerican; they’re trying to call attention to the seemingly rampant use of force by police on unarmed black people.

Hal Cohen

Trading boycotts

Pleasantville, N.Y.: To Voicer Anna Marie Henderson: You say you’ll boycott the NFL until they force all players to stand for the anthem. I’ll boycott the NFL when they try to force all players to stand. I’m not sure which flag you’re thinking of, but here’s a hint: It’s not the American one. You’re thinking of the Nazis.

Laurence Stephen Fishkorn

Guns and drugs

New Paltz, N.Y.: After the tragedy in Las Vegas, before the victims were buried, the Democrats were demanding more gun control. While most people agree bump stocks should be outlawed, unfortunately criminals don’t obey the law. That’s what makes them criminals and the bump fire stock looks fairly easy to make. We’re told guns kill 33,000 Americans every year. True, but two thirds are suicides leaving 11,000 killings. Fifty eight people were killed in Las Vegas and the gun control activists demand more laws, some even want to eliminate the Second Amendment. In 2016, 60,000 Americans died from drugs. That’s about 164 a day. This doesn’t include drug-related deaths, those killed in the drug wars, victims being robbed for drug money and those who die from drug related diseases. When the government shows any ability to stop the flow of drugs smuggled into this country every year, I’ll think maybe they could stop illegal guns. Gun laws will be obeyed by the law-abiding; the criminals will get them illegally just like they get drugs. Only the law-abiding will be disarmed, making the criminals bolder knowing their victims are unarmed. John Habersberger

Cheering all New York

Ozone Park: Even us Mets fans congratulate the New York Yankees for their sterling comeback, being down two games to zero to advance to the American League Championship Series. They will represent our great city and we will have baseball in October. Mike Colasanti

The truest fans

Manhattan: It sounds to me that Voicer Leo Barta is the one doing the criticizing. Isn’t that the pot calling the kettle black? Met fans are true fans. We love them through thick and thin. We know that it is mostly through thin but that’s part of being a Met fan. We don’t consider ourselves losers and there is no jealousy of Yankee fans. I think he’s the one who needs to get over himself.

Kathleen Gilhuley

Team class

Brooklyn: In response to devoted Yankee fan and Voicer Leo Barta: So you say Met fans have no class? Did you read the article “Derek not saying if he’d kneel” the same day (Oct. 12) as your letter in Voice of the People? The great Yankee Derek Jeter takes no issue with athletes kneeling during our national anthem. Real class. I’m glad I’m a Met.

John Sherman

Keep Joe around

Hazlet, N.J.: Joe Girardi is an excellent manager and an even better person (“Say it’s so — Joe stays,” Oct. 11). The fans that are speaking out against Joe are in the minority. Forget the “boos” the other night, those are just “bandwagon” jumpers! Look around MARCIO JOSE SANCHEZ/AP and tell me who are your replacing Joe with? And if he does leave, the Red Sox, Mets, Tigers and even the Marlins would probably take him in a second. Even if Jeter lets go of Mattingly. Do you want Willie Randolph? Love Willie but he is not a better manager than Joe. Brad Ausmus? Joe was terrific with young player in Florida and he has proven the same here in New York. To change managers in the beginning of a youth surge would be very “George” like. Love you, George, but I love patience with the young players and Joe Girardi better. Steve Owens

What does Bo know?

Brooklyn: So, Bo Dietl. You said at the mayoral debate that you voted for President Trump, but now you would not. Curious. If the election were held tomorrow, does that mean you would vote for Hillary Clinton or you would not vote period? Diane Hunt

What’s the scoop, Coop?

Brooklyn: Does anyone know why Cooper Union, one of our national historic landmarks and a school of architecture to boot, had five massive steel grates erected on its historic facade last weekend? The foreman says he doesn’t know the purpose of the grates. They are being installed by a company from Far Hills, New Jersey. Perhaps it’s to deter students from protesting Cooper Union’s sellout to the dollar now that they charge tuition. What’s going on? Diane Pagen