What is the appropriate response to the riots in Charlotte?

[Doc Holiday]

The Panthers this Sunday due in part to the events currently going on in Charlotte, will be whether the team likes it or not the center of the national media attention.

So the big elephant in the room is.... what are the Panthers going to do this Sunday during the national anthem?

IMO, I'd like to see the Panthers take the Seattle approach, lock arms and stand together.  I'd rather the team show that unity is what is needed now. rather then some players kneeling and others standing during the anthem, that would show a divide and a sign of separation in the group.

Ever heard the saying divided we fall, united we stand.  Same thing applies here. Panthers need to be united in their response to what has happened this week.

I also think it would be a good touch if the team entered the field together with locked arms instead of the usual individual introductions. the message this Sunday needs to be about unity, and healing in the community.  but thats just my 2 cents.

So what say ye huddle? what do you hope to see for the team this Sunday in response to what is going on?

[MurkN]

What do I want to see this Sunday?

[cardiackat88.]

Not trying to be funny, but why don't they just keep the players in the locker room during the National Anthem for this game?

[ichigo1057]

6 minutes ago, MurkN said:

What do I want to see this Sunday?

If I could give you pie more than once I would 100 times lol. I may like the Vikings but when they play against the Panthers they are mortal enemies ^_^! As for if they do anything I would prefer it to be as a full team to show unity above all else.

[The Huddler]

I think tear gas and riot shields are the appropriate response. Maybe rubber bullets

[Kuhndog94]

Could close the game to the public and just broadcast it like they normally do. The Baltimore Orioles did it during the Baltimore riots, given those were probably worse.

[KillerKat]

I agree that Seattle did it way better than anyone else.

[KB_fan]

I know this is a football forum...

but I have to say that when I read the question in the thread title, I wasn't thinking about football, I was thinking more personally.  For me the response begins with prayer and humility.

(Please forgive a few reflections, as I don't have too many folks around me here in Africa whom I can talk with to try and process what's happening in Charlotte right now.)

It's shocking sitting here from 4,000+ miles away having Charlotte be the lead story on world news headlines.   I can't really believe what I'm reading, it seems so unreal.   Maybe I'm just too new in CLT (having moved my US residence there in late 2010) and too rarely in the US to really know the city well, but seriously, if you'd asked me to come up with a top 10 list of U.S. cities LEAST likely to erupt in this kind of rioting and looting, CLT would have been near the top of that list.

Be it the southern hospitality or the Bible Belt influence, CLT is one the most pleasant places I can imagine to live.  I've been bowled over by the friendliness and the integrity of so many.  I'm THRILLED to call it my home in the U.S.

It's deeply sobering to see what had previously only been headlines to me about the police violence issue and subsequent riots suddenly become a reality being played out in Charlotte before our very eyes.  I feel ashamed and humbled that somehow I fell into the trap of thinking "we're better than this" "it couldn't happen here"  but I did.  So now that it IS happening in Charlotte, it's shocking and confusing.

Not to get all theological or philosophical, I should have known better, because human hearts are all the same everywhere.  We do all have the capacity, sadly, for great sin & evil.  Sometimes all that's needed is the leader of a mob to start something (e.g. looting) and one can quickly get swept up in a tide of evil, putting self-interest above all even when one started out with GOOD motives.

So I'm trying to avoid finger pointing today, and instead sitting here wondering about my own heart and the pride that caused me to think that my home town was so much better.  But also wondering, what can I do to MAKE it better?  What love or good can I do today that will help overcome evil?  Because only love can change human hearts...

I feel for all who are in CLT today.  You are in my prayers.  Stay safe.  Be careful.  

I feel too for the Panthers who through no fault of their own are caught up in this storm.  I hope and pray these struggles will not only make them stronger as a team, but even better as men and leaders.  I hope and pray that somehow through their response as a team and organization they can help bring healing to a city that is hurting.

 

[PandaPancake]

2 hours ago, The Huddler said:

I think tear gas and riot shields are the appropriate response. Maybe rubber bullets

[Jmac]

How about they just play the football game.  

[PandaPancake]

Remember when they cancelled the Orioles game for fans? That would be a weird game 

[d-dave]

My personal hope is that the Panthers can prove a worthy distraction from the terrible events that have happened this week.

As someone who's lived the vast majority of my life (since 85) in the Charlotte Area, I am so hurt, confused and disappointed by everything.

Best thing the Panthers can do?  Pull out the actual good Christian stuff, you know the stuff that isn't practiced enough.  Strike a tone of love, patience, and reconciliation.  While the polar opposites of the argument will want blood and lines in the sand drawn, it's not going to solve a darn thing.  

Let's pray for the lost and the wisdom to move forward towards a just society.

Then let's have the Panthers come out and play a great game against the Vikings!  Get a win, help give everyone a brief respite on the terrible week that's happened in our city.

[pstall]

Normal pregame stuff but an extended moment of silence and let the individual decide who they are reflecting on.

[truthjuice]

An appropriate response? Justice. I'm not a fan of rioting but it happens because time and time again, we've come up on the short end of the stick. We are tired of them killing our babies, some of us are tired of us killing our babies, we just want change and equality. If a police officer who is employed to protect and serve shoots a black person down, all they have to say is "I thought he had a gun" or "I was in fear" even if their hands are up and they're following orders and they get off. If a black person guns down a police officer, we are immediately hanged out to dry. When officers arrested Dylan Roof, they rook him to Burger King. When they arrested Alton Sterling, they shot him dead and he was only selling CDs. So understand the frustration in the people. Again, I don't like the rioting and looting because you don't make any moves like that. But I fully understand the anger and frustration. I'm angry, frustrated and hurt too. Some of you can benefit by going out and protesting and participating in townhalls and trying to understand. I do think it is unfair to ask these players to be your voice when you have your own, but everybody needs to be involved. ALM needs to meet up with BLM and take make strides. 

This is bigger than football right now.