The bigger question is how does an athlete in 2020 have any idea what happened in 1903? Does anyone believe he just randomly googled the Eyes of Texas and came across it? No, someone is feeding these guys this BS and getting them riled up over something that happened once in 1903.....crazy stupid stuff here.
It must really blow your mind that a person of color, a minority, can objectively consider the actions of another minority group, identify them as misguided and wholeheartedly disagree.
I have lived in Texas since 1991 - it will be 30 years shortly. I have never once heard that The Eyes was racist. The BON article reads like urban myth to me. The players probably heard it from other coaches who are negatively recruiting. Reminds me of “Russian collusion” that turned out to be Russian disinformation combined with political dirty tricks.
Boomer Sooner origin is not exactly pristine ... Examining the origin of 'Boomer Sooner' To get to the bottom of it, Boomers and Sooners are two kinds of criminals,” Savage said. “The lesser one in the 19th century is the Boomer, because the Boomer was just trying to steal from Indians. Sooners were trying to steal from white people, and that’s unforgivable. “You can’t sugarcoat a Sooner,” Savage said.
They get benefits not afforded to 99% of the students at UT. Sounds like equal treatment to me, please
Can someone explain to me why an institution of higher learning is admitting and giving free rides to scholars whose academic achievement to get such largess is that they excel in a contest of physical fitness that is known for its tendency to cause brain injuries? To generate enthusiasm among a bunch of teenagers who attend the school and then to wring money out of them later, they created a monster and now it wants to have a say in how the place is run
Here is the statement Eagles made: “Okay so for all my brothers out there that are student athletes, do you really think athletics should be a man focus right now during this time that we live in? At the end of the day if that is the main focus i [sic] find you blind to the fact that your platform can change this,” Eagles tweeted. "Thousands of people come to watch for Entertainment, revenue is built from that, money is generated from us. If it wasn’t for athletics we would’t have coaches/trainers. Doctors wouldn’t perform as many surgeries, etc. the list goes on. I’ll be damned if you think I’ll play Another snap with the platform i have that effects majority of people that contribute to the sport who don’t actually play. Know your value is all I’m saying. Athletics brings people together all over but at the end of the day I’m not going to play another snap knowing what’s going on in our society due to color and the system being broken… i just can’t…….let’s look at the bigger picture. Don’t care if you yellow or blue that goes for every athlete/Supporter out there." So, where is the request you speak of? That is a "do this or else" demand type statement and an ultimatum which is defined as "a final demand or statement of terms, the rejection of which will result in retaliation or a breakdown in relations." Here's more from The Texas Tribune; "Brennan Eagles, the school's sophomore wide receiver, and Brandon Jones, a senior defensive back, were among the students who posted the statement, detailing a list of actions Longhorn athletes want the university's athletics department to take. These include donating 0.5% of the department's annual earnings to the Black Lives Matter movement and black organizations, establishing a permanent black athletic history exhibit in the Athletics Hall of Fame and renaming parts of the football stadium after Julius Whittier, the first black football letterman at UT-Austin. "In addition to demands specific to the athletics department, athletes also want UT officials to rename campus buildings named after Texans who were proponents of segregation or held other racist views, remove a statue of prominent segregationist James Hogg and discontinue the school song, “The Eyes of Texas,” which has ties to minstrel shows and was created during segregation. Other calls to action include requiring a module on the history of racism at UT and increasing outreach efforts to inner-city schools in Austin, Dallas and Houston. "Athletes will continue to practice and participate in workouts and team activities this summer but are asking for a "plan for implementation" before the fall semester begins." Still sounds more like demands than a mere request. This is an issue for the BoR to review and respond to. I agree that some of the issues for example, removal of Confederate statues and renaming buildings should be done and some, not all, have been removed. Requesting donations for a non-centralized organization opens the door to a path the that leads the University away from its primary function - which is to educate and prepare leaders of the next generation. The University could support student lead initiatives to form social justice organizations, oh, right, they already do. CODE and the MEC are already existing social justice organizations currently sponsored by the University. At the end of the day, these student athletes appear to not have immersed themselves in, or even educated themselves on, the diverse cultural environment the University of Texas offers. This is offensive to administration, faculty, alumni, and current students who worked hard to create the initiatives to lead the University on a better path of inclusion and education. Does Texas have a checkered past in regards to racism and social justice issues? Yes, I was in school there in the 70s. But good progress is slow, and considerate, and comprehensive. Capitulating to the whims of students who are not engaged with campus organizations who are working towards these goals is a reckless and irresponsible precedent, that I don't want my Alma Mater to engage in.
Watching LHN on Sunday eve and ISU and Texas playing soccer. Nice stadium my money helped build. Too bad there are only 20 people in the stands and another 30 or so in the bleachers on the track. If we had real gender equity there would be 80,000 people there. Maybe the ticket prices are too high?
What is your opinion on the degree of racism in America, with zero being no racism whatsoever, and 100 being the most extreme racist society imaginable. Unless your answer is zero, then even you admit that America has work to do.
So, the left claims / believes the Constitution should be a living breathing document. It should be viewed and adaptable to current times. So, why can't a 117 year old song be treated the same way?
The players aren't complaining about the song. They're complaining about the songwriter's performance in 1903. They didn't complain in November about Jimmy Fallon's arrival yet he did the same thing in 2000. Why are the players holding a guy from 1903 to a higher standard than a guy from 2000?
I have seen these players be the center of attention at parties, walk on campus with a certain swagger, and can have any pick of the female litter in Austin. It seems like they are having the best time of their lives, judging from their smile and actions. In addition, they get this entire experience for free (full scholarship). It doesn't seem like life has handed them a ****** hand. With the younger generation today, do you think athletes feel entitled to threaten change or else? Woud they be forcing these changes 4-5 months ago? Some of these changes seem doable, some not. You wonder what else they might continue to push for if we continue to bend over backwards.
You really should repost this in the brennan eagles forum right now. It is on topic of current course of debate. Great post, BJ
Can you name a country today — or in the history of the world — that can claim “zero?” Your benchmark is utopian and not realistic. It can never be achieved. And perhaps that’s the point. Extort and leverage the imposible because those naive enough to buy in will never stop giving, and seeking repentance. This country has made great progress. If many, perhaps apparently like you (?) are looking for perfection, you will be looking for the rest of time. And if this is the basis to realign our culture and eliminate our past, God help us.
Can we please just call communism, communism? Dukesteer: Can you name a country today — or in the history of the world — that can claim “zero?” Your benchmark is utopian and not realistic. It can never be achieved. And perhaps that’s the point. Extort and leverage the imposible because those naive enough to buy in will never stop giving, and seeking repentance. This country has made great progress. If many, perhaps apparently like you (?) are looking for perfection, you will be looking for the rest of time. And if this is the basis to realign our culture and eliminate our past, God help us. Communism is literally unreasonably pursuing unobtainable equality at the expense of freedom until nearly everyone is miserable so the few in control of such pursuit can obtain and maintain power.
Thanks BevoJ. I actually meant the very active and contentious "Eagles requesting campus changes" thread, but.....its my error for not being more clear. I just believe it is a very relevant and important topic....especially for those on the "other side" of this debate who want to argue specific rights, legalities, or obligations and responsibility of the university. What they really want is for it to only apply to the degree that it supports their position. It is legalities or rights when supporting their stance and feelings, decency and courtesy instead, if not that. Always a moving target. .. And they pay no attention to the other party's level of responsibility in the matter...apparently none exists to them.
Don’t do this here. From the Posting Guidelines: Personal attacks, name-calling and aggressive messages are not acceptable. Thank you.
I talk about academics, but it does feel like someone is trying to tear this nation apart at the seems everywhere. Unfortunately, I feel it is ourselves. It is strange that those who claim to have the most empathy for african american voices have absolutely no empathy for any other voices, which they have deemed "racist and evil" without taking any time to critically think about what those voices are saying. They do not seem to get that "shut up and do what we say or else" does not lead to unity. Fear and mobs can create a false sense of unity for a short time, but it only leads to disaster in the long term. We are on the road to disaster as a nation at the moment. I pray that people will be better to each other.
You do realize that the University is going to give in to every one of his demands. There is no backbone in any University but especially the University of Texas. They are already a very liberal school, if they don't give in, it will look as though they aren't woke, and they can't appear to be unwoke.
That may be, but, as I stated above, the University cannot donate to non-centralized organization opens the door to a path the that leads the University away from its primary function - which is to educate and prepare leaders of the next generation. Such action by the University would also open a door for other such organizations to demand equal donations to their organizations. Such changes in policy might require legislative action since UT is a public not a private, University. In addition, CODE and the MEC are already existing social justice organizations currently sponsored by the University.
