Rashard Mendenhall defends Bin Laden

[BU54CB]

Again, I disgaree with wht Mendenhall said, but I also disagree with the NFL and the Steelers taking action against him for it. What he said he didn't say as spokesman for the Steelers or the NFL. If he said "On behlaf of the NFL and the Steelers, I would like to say......" that would be different. What he said he said not as an employee, but as a private citizen. Would you like it if every little thing you did as a private citizen was used against you by your employer? Your employer doesn't pay you 24/7.

The fact that his team and the NFL is currently locking him out makes any action that may be taken against him by the NFL or Steelers even more dubious.

On top of that, isn't part of the reason the US went to war against people like Osama Bin Laden to protect it's freedom - including freedom of speech for it's people? Wouldn't it be hypocritical to attack a country like Afghanistan in the name of defending freedom, but then destroy the career of someone who uses this freedom?

There is that great old saying "I may not like what you say, but I will defend your right to say it." That's my feelings to Mendenhall - I may not like what he says, but I will defend his right to say it.

How is it different? Mendenhall doesn't have to announce that he's speaking on behalf of the Steelers and the NFL, as an employee of the Steelers and the NFL, he is associated with both whether he likes it or not. Being employed by a professional sport team and league is different than a private citizen, the rules are different. Despite the fact the players are locked out, he is still under contract and is still employed by the Steelers and the NFL.

I am not a public figure, Rashard Mendenhall is, therefore his words and actions are viewed differently. Nobody gives a sqat what I have to say, but I'm sure if I did something publicly that effected my company's image, I'd lose my job.

Mendenhall chose to make his private thoughts public, I can't help that. When one makes their private opinions public, those opinions are subject to public opinion and commentary, are they not? People have the freedom to speak as they wish, people also have the freedom to speak against those opinions, do they not? Nothing has happened to Mendenhall's career yet, but if something does, then isn't that his own fault?

When using your freedoms as an American citizen, the consequences of your actions should be taken into consideration before you decide to act. Just because I have the freedom of speech doesn't mean I can say whatever I like and expect no consequences.

[pghin08]

You are wrong and misguided on so many fronts. Just because the media hates Bush doesnt mean everybody else does. I know all the cool kids hate Bush, but most rational people dont. You said it yourself. most people hate Bush for the lies he told about Iraq. The only problem is that he didnt lie. You will never admit or understand that and its an argument that people like you have won. its just like the 9-11 truther crap. Most people like me are just tired. The endless assault from the media just wears normal people down and they give up. We cant devote every moment of our lives combatting the lies and distortions. niether could Bush. Thats why he mostly ignored it and did his job. i guess he assumed people would wake up after dan rather went down. maybe people would realize what the media has become, but no. Everybody just went on like it never happened. You probably didnt know that Bush is loved by millions all over the world for what he did to fight aids. They love him in Africa. You wont find pictures of Bono or anyone in the Hollywood crowds hanging on those kids walls. You will find pictures of George Bush. He did more for the world than any other president and most of it you have never heard about....Now its trendy to invade other countries and take out dictators. Now its just fine to do everything bush did as long as the president is on thier side. Its just sad.

Are you talking about Bush I or Bush II? Bush I was a better president than his kid.

And by the way, Jimmy Carter has done more after his presidency than most anyone has ever heard about. Dems can play the card too.

Anyway, this isn't a "Love Bush-bash Bush" thread. You were the one that brought Bush into this, nobody was attacking him. Let's get it back to Mendenhall.

[tdaddy1979]

Alright, let me get this straight. These 9/11 "truthers" think that the US had demolition gear set up in preparation for the terrorist attack on the WTC. And we detonated the buildings in coordination with the Plane attacks. Not only is that extremely outlandish, what could America possibly gain from that scenario. And further more, how could you hide it for a long period of time. The comments made by Mendenhall during our moment of triumph were not necessary and I hope nothing but the worst for him. Good thing I already disliked the Steelers.

[pghin08]

Alright, let me get this straight. These 9/11 "truthers" think that the US had demolition gear set up in preparation for the terrorist attack on the WTC. And we detonated the buildings in coordination with the Plane attacks. Not only is that extremely outlandish, what could America possibly gain from that scenario. And further more, how could you hide it for a long period of time. The comments made by Mendenhall during our moment of triumph were not necessary and I hope nothing but the worst for him. Good thing I already disliked the Steelers.

See? This is my problem. Why do you hope for nothing but the worst for him? That's like me saying, "I don't see how anyone could like the Seahawks, I wish nothing but the worst for Seahawks fans". It's completely ridiculous. So he has a different opinion. Big deal!

[Titantron]

See? This is my problem. Why do you hope for nothing but the worst for him? That's like me saying, "I don't see how anyone could like the Seahawks, I wish nothing but the worst for Seahawks fans". It's completely ridiculous. So he has a different opinion. Big deal!

This is not just about the physics of how a building falls. 9-11 truthers need to realize what they are saying. Bin Ladens death just kicked up another reality for all of us. "the movement" and everything they believe implies that America is evil. It suggests that Bin Laden is innocent. it would also mean that Al Qaeda are innocent victims of America and that none of those people that died on 9-11 were innocent victims. It is anti-American at its core.

[pghin08]

This is not just about the physics of how a building falls. 9-11 truthers need to realize what they are saying. Bin Ladens death just kicked up another reality for all of us. "the movement" and everything they believe implies that America is evil. It suggests that Bin Laden is innocent. it would also mean that Al Qaeda are innocent victims of America and that none of those people that died on 9-11 were innocent victims. It is anti-American at its core.

Sorry, I'll just never judge someone who looks at something and comes to a different conclusion that I do. You and I pretty much believe the same things about 9/11. I'm just open to the fact that I COULD be wrong, and I'm willing to hear other sides. There's nothing un-American about that.

[Porbeagle]

You are wrong and misguided on so many fronts. Just because the media hates Bush doesnt mean everybody else does. I know all the cool kids hate Bush, but most rational people dont. You said it yourself. most people hate Bush for the lies he told about Iraq. The only problem is that he didnt lie. You will never admit or understand that and its an argument that people like you have won. its just like the 9-11 truther crap. Most people like me are just tired. The endless assault from the media just wears normal people down and they give up. We cant devote every moment of our lives combatting the lies and distortions. niether could Bush. Thats why he mostly ignored it and did his job. i guess he assumed people would wake up after dan rather went down. maybe people would realize what the media has become, but no. Everybody just went on like it never happened. You probably didnt know that Bush is loved by millions all over the world for what he did to fight aids. They love him in Africa. You wont find pictures of Bono or anyone in the Hollywood crowds hanging on those kids walls. You will find pictures of George Bush. He did more for the world than any other president and most of it you have never heard about....Now its trendy to invade other countries and take out dictators. Now its just fine to do everything bush did as long as the president is on thier side. Its just sad.

This is definitely the most hilarious stuff I've ever read! Bush being loved by millions all over the world? Come on, you must be joking! Why do you think there were so many mass protests in whatever country he visited? I still remember the headline of a british newspaper after Bush's re-election that read: "How can 59 million people be so stupid?" This illustrates better than anything else what people all around the world thought about him!

But I agree with pghin08: We are getting carried away from the topic of this thread. Now, if you would excuse me, I have to dust off the George W. Bush picture on my wall...

[Titantron]

You said it right there. media coverage shapes people's opinion. Look at that headline. You call that news. does that sound like an objective media? Did the massive protests of obama make the front page there? No. You are probably not even aware that they happened. thank you . You made the argument for me.

[pghin08]

You said it right there. media coverage shapes people's opinion. Look at that headline. You call that news. does that sound like an objective media? Did the massive protests of obama make the front page there? No. You are probably not even aware that they happened. thank you . You made the argument for me.

We get it. You don't like the liberal, mainstream media and (probably) President Obama.

[GiantsSB42Champs]

This bothers me from another perspective. Not the comments, but the way people reacted to comments. I support Obama and will probably vote for him again.

However, I do see Mendenhall's point in how can you celebrate someone else's death, because then from an ideal standpoint it makes you no better than them. In the same token the third tweet I find stupid and don't know why he said it, like who knows that happened. I don't believe this to be a conspiracy theory at all and think that is just stupid.

The important part to me that bothers me is the way people are lashing out at Mendenhall and the comments the President made. He stated things like what makes us strong is our abilities to put our heads together and when we want to get something done we can achieve anything. I don't think it was all of our goals to kill Osama (certainly not mine, not to say it upsets me) and I think it was a ploy to use this for political gains.

That's not what this was about, all of our heads weren't put together to kill Osama. And we haven't won anything out of all of this? Except for more defense jobs, and more wasted money then ever before. The same way Osama spread propaganda our government does in certain ways (just doesn't convince you to blow yourself up and is not necessarily propaganda, but censoring). I just don't see this as a moment of closure or celebration. Closure because you can not think he hasn't been planning on being killed soon in the next ten years and has others who can take his place. This isn't getting us out of there anytime sooner. And it's not to say that these guys can't be replaced, think about if Obama went down, ya it would be said but how many able bodied men could take his place, better believe its more than just 1. A hundred could but that is a number i completely made up, just they weren't placed in the right situations with the right backers.

And I do agree with Mendenhall on 1 point, I don't agree that killing a man is ever anything to be celebrated. What does that make you? God bless America, and for those who lost someone in 9-11 I'm happy if this provides some sort of closure.

You know in some ways acknowledging that you don't have many freedoms, feels better than lies that you have control over everything.