Darrell Castle talks about the NFL protests and asks the question “Should we be allowed free inquiry as to whether the protest allegations are true or not?” Transcript / Notes THE NFL PROTESTS—IS FREE INQUIRY POSSIBLE? Hello, this is Darrell Castle with today’s Castle Report.  Today is Friday, October 27, 2017,  and as you listen to this Report, I will be in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for the Constitution Party National Committee meeting. Today, however, I will be talking about the NFL protests again, not because I want to save the NFL but because I believe that free inquiry, or the policy of allowing all points of view to be heard on an issue, is vitally important for our society. Playing the national anthem at sporting events is a tradition whose time has probably come.  Playing of the anthem at baseball games was begun during World War l to build patriotism and support for the war.  Like most temporary things it continued after the war, and by World War ll, had become a tradition at virtually all sporting events.  With the United States constantly involved in wars around the world there is always a need to build support here at home.  The NFL protests make stopping the anthem more difficult, though, because it would appear to be capitulation to the intimidation of the players. Having said all that, I will also say that it is sensible to show respect for symbols like the National Anthem because they are part of the national consensus, part of what we are as people.  Disrespecting the anthem upsets the country at its very basic level.  It is crass and revolting, and in the long run will harm race relations in the United States. Let’s take a look now at what started the protests that have spread around the country.  The quarterback for the San Francisco Forty-Niners, who at the time was Colin Kaepernik, remained on one knee during the Anthem and then stated: “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color.” He went on to say several other things but that is the statement that started it all it all. The NFL is now 70% black so white players, whether they want to or not, must show solidarity with their teammates or face ostracism.  Virtually all players, it seems, are now in support of the protests and it has evolved much further than just the on field kneeling.  There is a video which shows Michael Bennett, a player for the Seattle Seahawks, burning an American flag in the locker room while all the other players and coaches, including head coach Pete Carroll, stand around cheering him on.  It is a very insulting and alarming video but it does serve to illustrate the deep divide that exists in America. I present a question today; How can this divide ever be closed without free inquiry? The owners considered a proposal to require the players to stand as a condition of their employment agreement but decided instead to just encourage them to stand.  The players were not so inclined, however.  Recently Jesse Jackson made the statement that playing in the NFL is “like slavery.”  That remark is totally absurd and serves only to cheapen what human slavery actually was and is. I still think the problem can be solved through the free market by just not going to games.  The solution is easy, just stop going.   A group of Veterans are trying to organize the weekend of November 12th as a boycott day in honor of those serving and those who have served.  The 11th is Veterans Day and the 10th is the Marine Corps birthday so perhaps fans will honor that and stay away in droves. Colin Kaepernik’s original statement perfectly reflects the prevailing narrative of the ruling elite in Western Societies today.  Not just in America, but all across the Western World, his view is, in varying degrees, the prevailing one.  It is passed down to us rubes through politicians, the media, entertainment, including professional sports, but especially Hollywood, and of course, education.