Northern Light
Superstar
You can protest all you want, just stop mixing it with sports please.
No politics in music? No politics in cinema? No politics in business?
When exactly does one get to have an opinion?
In this context by the way, the German protest (covering mouths) was not actually about the subject of Qatari policy at all, but rather about FIFA, soccer/football's governing body telling players/teams they can't express their opinions, even subtly lest they offend the host country.
That said, people in all walks of life have opinions and I don't see why they ought to be restricted from sharing those, in general. No one requires you (or anyone else) to agree with said opinion.
Do I think wearing armbands is particularly useful at this juncture; or that will induce Qatar to reform? Probably not, no. But Qatar, isn't afraid to go back on its word and impose its views on FIFA and the players; a bit of turnabout is surely fair play.
There are many injustices in the world:
- Children are being abused all over the world. Do they get an armband??
Protesting a global, but generally illegal injustice that most people already believe is one would seem a tad futile.
- There is still to this day slavery in many parts of Africa. Do they get an armband??
Are any of the countries in question currently holding a World Cup?
- Right now allegedly there are a million Uyghurs being held in concentration camps in China. Do they get an armband??
If the World Cup were being played in China, why not?
- There are many 3rd world countries where women have almost no rights and are assaulted daily. Do they get an armband??
Again, which of the countries in question (where such practices are disproportionately common, and/or legal) are currently hosting a global spectacle?
I could go on and on.
Yes, you are.
So why do LGBQT people keep demanding we protest on their behalf??
I hadn't noticed a broad-spectrum demand. Activists, and people who are passionate are always looking for opportunities to highlight such things, as presumably they ought to.
Do other marginalized groups not get a voice??
Ummm, did you miss the whole 'take a knee' thing in the NFL?
Did you miss players in the NFL and NBA refusing to stand for the national anthem?
That was not about LGBQT.
Did you miss the U.S. Women's Soccer team threatening to strike (refuse to play) until they got equal pay and resources with the men?
Lots of groups and lots of sports players advocate on lots of subjects all the time. Its not just about one cause.
Most people I talk to are getting tired of it now
You know, I'm the first to say that many of these protests are ineffectual. They often get ignored by sportscasters or given quick brush-off; and without the opportunity to make a detailed case as to what a given problem is; and what might be done to solve it; I'm not sure it changes much.
That said, I think you talk to a lot of people who simply hate being asked to think about anything other than mindless distraction. Perhaps that's more their own problem than it is one of players trying to support social justice?