So, it's finally official....The Washington Redskins are no more. Well, at least the Redskins name is no more. Of course, the unconventional name drop has been in the works for many years. And since we're in the middle of the biggest political correctness storm ever, that poor Indian mascot never had a chance. Ironically, according to a poll released by the Washington Post in 2016, 90% of Native Americans were not bothered by the Washington football team's name.* But the nail in the coffin was when big money sponsors like Fedex and Nike backed the Redskin's owner into a corner and essentially gave him little choice to move forward with the name change.
So, with the latest development in DC, you know it's only a matter of time before other sports franchises like the Kansas City Chiefs, Cleveland Indians and Chicago Blackhawks are forced into that same corner.
With this being said, I can't help but wonder why other mascots are not being considered for retirement. For example, has anyone ever asked a bear how he feels about the city of Chicago using him as their football mascot? By the way, I've been to Chicago several times, and other than maybe the zoo, I don't recall any bear sightings out there. We really need to take a poll among the bears to get their take on all of this.
And what about the Dallas Cowboys? There is a current push to rename the John Wayne airport in Orange County, California due to some controversial comments that were recently dug up from an old Playboy interview. So, if The Duke, America's most renown cowboy goes down, it doesn't seem like the Dallas guys will have much of a chance.
The New Orleans Saints....is anyone being sensationalized by this one yet? I mean there's already supposed to be a separation between Church and State. Will someone demand that the same separation be extended to the NFL? And let's not forget that Drew Brees is QB for the Saints. He's already been in hot water recently for saying that he's proud of his flag and would never kneel during the anthem. Think about that.....the guy had to apologize for loving his country!
And on that note, you also have the New England Patriots. In today's cancel culture, can a name associated with the American Revolution really still exist? For that matter, can anything pro-American still exist? Fast-forwarding a couple hundred years, modern day conservatives are often referred to as patriots. When word of this spreads, there will be surely be calls to change the name. Aside from all of this, how ironic is it for a patriot to take a knee during America's National Anthem? It's just too much contrast to handle...
Yeah, I know I'm being a bit facetious and these ideas might sound crazy. But with some of the recent suggestions that I've heard, nothing would surprise me anymore. For example, there has also been talk about changing the name of Washington DC. So, it's possible that the team formerly known as the Redskins might also be playing for a new city before it's all over...
kw
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_Redskins_name_controversy
Tuesday, July 14, 2020
Saturday, July 4, 2020
Independence Day 2020
"Let freedom ring, let the white dove sing
Let the whole world know that today
Is a day of reckoning.
Let the weak be strong, let the right be wrong
Roll the stone away, let the guilty pay
It's Independence Day."
- Martina McBride
As we prepare to celebrate America's 244th birthday, there's no doubt that this one will be a bit different. Along with with ongoing the COVID restrictions, we are also dealing with rebellious protests across the country.
Amazingly, on a day where we should all be coming together and celebrating the greatness of America, there will likely be crowds of people burning flags and trying to convince us that America's not so great. The first responders, who never get enough credit in my opinion, will be working hard to deal with the inevitable chaos that will ensue. These folks work hard and put their lives on the line every day for us. But still, there are calls to defund or even abolish the police departments around the country.
The division in our country today is heartbreaking. Yes, there is always room for improvement. But we should be working together instead of beating each other up. Maybe we should try to see what we have in common first. And then we can have a civil discussion on how to resolve our differences. One thing, hopefully, that we can all agree on is that we're all Americans. Let's start there and see where it goes....
Today, I will be relishing in the fact that I was born in the greatest country in the world. I will be thinking about all of the sacrifices that were made (and are continuing to be made) to make America what it is. If I happen to hear the Star Spangled Banner today, I will mentally transport myself back to 1814 where I will watch the fireworks with Francis Scott Key at Fort McHenry. I will also remember America's greatest generation for saving the world during the Second World War. I will remember our first responders who selflessly rushed into those Twin Towers on 9/11. And I will remember all of those great Americans who have ever worn the uniform of the US military. America is forever in your debt.
If you don't happen to agree with everything I've said, that's ok. After all, we're in America and it's our right to disagree. But as we move forward, don't ever give up on America. We've come too far to turn back now. Wishing all of my American brothers and sisters a very safe and happy July 4th!
kw
Let the whole world know that today
Is a day of reckoning.
Let the weak be strong, let the right be wrong
Roll the stone away, let the guilty pay
It's Independence Day."
- Martina McBride
As we prepare to celebrate America's 244th birthday, there's no doubt that this one will be a bit different. Along with with ongoing the COVID restrictions, we are also dealing with rebellious protests across the country.
Amazingly, on a day where we should all be coming together and celebrating the greatness of America, there will likely be crowds of people burning flags and trying to convince us that America's not so great. The first responders, who never get enough credit in my opinion, will be working hard to deal with the inevitable chaos that will ensue. These folks work hard and put their lives on the line every day for us. But still, there are calls to defund or even abolish the police departments around the country.
The division in our country today is heartbreaking. Yes, there is always room for improvement. But we should be working together instead of beating each other up. Maybe we should try to see what we have in common first. And then we can have a civil discussion on how to resolve our differences. One thing, hopefully, that we can all agree on is that we're all Americans. Let's start there and see where it goes....
Today, I will be relishing in the fact that I was born in the greatest country in the world. I will be thinking about all of the sacrifices that were made (and are continuing to be made) to make America what it is. If I happen to hear the Star Spangled Banner today, I will mentally transport myself back to 1814 where I will watch the fireworks with Francis Scott Key at Fort McHenry. I will also remember America's greatest generation for saving the world during the Second World War. I will remember our first responders who selflessly rushed into those Twin Towers on 9/11. And I will remember all of those great Americans who have ever worn the uniform of the US military. America is forever in your debt.
If you don't happen to agree with everything I've said, that's ok. After all, we're in America and it's our right to disagree. But as we move forward, don't ever give up on America. We've come too far to turn back now. Wishing all of my American brothers and sisters a very safe and happy July 4th!
kw
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