God bless the game and just play ball already!
All else being equal, I should have shared these thoughts last summer or wait until April. But due to a certain team in New York trading for a certain Major League slugger, the issue has been in the news lately. Well, at least in the sports news, and if you live in New York, you've almost definitely heard something about it. Unless of course you live under a rock.
Since baseball returned to action after the events of September 11, 2001, fans at stadiums all across the country have grown accustomed to being asked to stand and remove their caps at the 7th inning stretch for a rendition of "God Bless America." If you remember, members of Congress spontaneously gathered on the steps of Capitol Hill and sang the song, because they genuinely felt a love of country that day. What else would you expect after you've been attacked in such a manner? From that day on, "God Bless America" turned into the country's second national anthem, becoming yet another way to prove the extent of your patriotism.
At first, we did it for comfort, strength, and unity. To what else could we ordinary citizens turn to show how deep the 9/11 attacks affected us? It became a daily ritual. I remember watching the first professional sporting event played in New York since the attacks. It was Friday September 21, and the Mets were hosting the Atlanta Braves. My brother and cousins went to the game, and I watched with my family at my grandparents. We all sat in front of the TV, with tears welling up in our eyes, as we watched Diana Ross sing "God Bless America" with such grace and added tempo, it almost made you want to get up and dance. Then, with the Mets down 2-1 in the bottom of the 8th, Mike Piazza slugged a game-winning 2-run homer. The place went wild. Even Yankees fans celebrated. It was described around the country as Piazza's greatest moment as a player. With one swing of the bat, he literally carried on his back the entire city of New York to victory. (The Mets were still in the hunt for a playoff spot, and what a story it would have made if the they actually made the postseason. But alas...)
I also remember sitting in the Yankee Stadium bleachers that October, as they played against the Oakland A's in the playoffs (the A's won that game, 1-0). I proudly stood up then too, and removed my cap when "God Bless America" was sung. They even had a bald eagle fly in from center field to make the moment even more poignant.
In the following years, each MLB team had the freedom to decide how they wanted to handle "God Bless America." I don't remember the progression after that, but now most teams don't play it anymore, while some play it on Sundays and on other special days, like July 4th or Memorial Day. The Yankees have to be different, of course. They still play it during every single home game.
Personally, I've gotten sick of it. I became sick of it a long time ago (ask anyone who's gone to baseball games with me between 2002 and now. I don't stop complaining about it.) I'm tired of having this "patriotism," bordering on, if not already jingoism, shoved down my throat. Since when did baseball games become a tool for fostering national pride? It's got nothing to do with my feelings towards US foreign policy or my support for the troops serving overseas. Singing the National Anthem before the beginning of the game is one thing. It's a tradition, which I frankly don't know the origins to, but I have no problem with it. But "God Bless America?" What happened to "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" as the traditional 7th inning stretch song? And what about the baseball team that still resides in Canada? Why do those players still have to stand and remove their caps to pay homage to a country they don't live in?
Carlos Delgado, the aformentioned slugger, decided he didn't want to stand for "God Bless America." While playing for the Toronto Blue Jays, he initiated his own quiet protest, calling the war in Iraq "the stupidest war ever" and also used the protest as a show of solidarity with the people of his homeland- the island of Vieques. He's been working hard to get the US government to pay for the absolute mess they left behind after using the island as a weapons training ground for 60 years. (What's left is 50% unemployment, abnormally high cancer rates, and deep poverty.) No one really noticed his protest until two years after the fact. And now that he was traded to the NY Mets, everyone wondered if he would continue to not stand outside the dugout during the singing of the song, and what the reactions of the fans would be.
Frankly, it doesn't bother me one bit that he has decided to not stand up. I hear people saying that he should keep his political views outside of the game and when he's wearing the jersey, he should do what's asked of him. But if he should keep his politics outside, shouldn't Major League Baseball and each team keep politics out as well? The singing of this song is clearly political. And isn't freedom of speech a protected right?
But, to the disappointment of many, Carlos decided to be a good soldier (excuse the pun), and toe the company line. Apparently the Mets have a "team" policy that requires every member of the team to stand (but no one can tell you who actually initiated the rule). Am I disappointed in my team? Yeah, a bit. But Delgado's approach is the right one- "I will not put myself in front of the team."
I've read a lot about this over the last week or so, and here's one piece I found to be the best.
Me, well, I don't remove my cap and sometimes I don't even stand. It's my own little protest. I'm a free thinker and don't need to be told that this is the way I must show my love of country. I'm at the ballpark to enjoy a game and watch the Mets win. So God bless the game and just play ball already!
Since baseball returned to action after the events of September 11, 2001, fans at stadiums all across the country have grown accustomed to being asked to stand and remove their caps at the 7th inning stretch for a rendition of "God Bless America." If you remember, members of Congress spontaneously gathered on the steps of Capitol Hill and sang the song, because they genuinely felt a love of country that day. What else would you expect after you've been attacked in such a manner? From that day on, "God Bless America" turned into the country's second national anthem, becoming yet another way to prove the extent of your patriotism.
At first, we did it for comfort, strength, and unity. To what else could we ordinary citizens turn to show how deep the 9/11 attacks affected us? It became a daily ritual. I remember watching the first professional sporting event played in New York since the attacks. It was Friday September 21, and the Mets were hosting the Atlanta Braves. My brother and cousins went to the game, and I watched with my family at my grandparents. We all sat in front of the TV, with tears welling up in our eyes, as we watched Diana Ross sing "God Bless America" with such grace and added tempo, it almost made you want to get up and dance. Then, with the Mets down 2-1 in the bottom of the 8th, Mike Piazza slugged a game-winning 2-run homer. The place went wild. Even Yankees fans celebrated. It was described around the country as Piazza's greatest moment as a player. With one swing of the bat, he literally carried on his back the entire city of New York to victory. (The Mets were still in the hunt for a playoff spot, and what a story it would have made if the they actually made the postseason. But alas...)
I also remember sitting in the Yankee Stadium bleachers that October, as they played against the Oakland A's in the playoffs (the A's won that game, 1-0). I proudly stood up then too, and removed my cap when "God Bless America" was sung. They even had a bald eagle fly in from center field to make the moment even more poignant.
In the following years, each MLB team had the freedom to decide how they wanted to handle "God Bless America." I don't remember the progression after that, but now most teams don't play it anymore, while some play it on Sundays and on other special days, like July 4th or Memorial Day. The Yankees have to be different, of course. They still play it during every single home game.
Personally, I've gotten sick of it. I became sick of it a long time ago (ask anyone who's gone to baseball games with me between 2002 and now. I don't stop complaining about it.) I'm tired of having this "patriotism," bordering on, if not already jingoism, shoved down my throat. Since when did baseball games become a tool for fostering national pride? It's got nothing to do with my feelings towards US foreign policy or my support for the troops serving overseas. Singing the National Anthem before the beginning of the game is one thing. It's a tradition, which I frankly don't know the origins to, but I have no problem with it. But "God Bless America?" What happened to "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" as the traditional 7th inning stretch song? And what about the baseball team that still resides in Canada? Why do those players still have to stand and remove their caps to pay homage to a country they don't live in?
Carlos Delgado, the aformentioned slugger, decided he didn't want to stand for "God Bless America." While playing for the Toronto Blue Jays, he initiated his own quiet protest, calling the war in Iraq "the stupidest war ever" and also used the protest as a show of solidarity with the people of his homeland- the island of Vieques. He's been working hard to get the US government to pay for the absolute mess they left behind after using the island as a weapons training ground for 60 years. (What's left is 50% unemployment, abnormally high cancer rates, and deep poverty.) No one really noticed his protest until two years after the fact. And now that he was traded to the NY Mets, everyone wondered if he would continue to not stand outside the dugout during the singing of the song, and what the reactions of the fans would be.
Frankly, it doesn't bother me one bit that he has decided to not stand up. I hear people saying that he should keep his political views outside of the game and when he's wearing the jersey, he should do what's asked of him. But if he should keep his politics outside, shouldn't Major League Baseball and each team keep politics out as well? The singing of this song is clearly political. And isn't freedom of speech a protected right?
But, to the disappointment of many, Carlos decided to be a good soldier (excuse the pun), and toe the company line. Apparently the Mets have a "team" policy that requires every member of the team to stand (but no one can tell you who actually initiated the rule). Am I disappointed in my team? Yeah, a bit. But Delgado's approach is the right one- "I will not put myself in front of the team."
I've read a lot about this over the last week or so, and here's one piece I found to be the best.
Me, well, I don't remove my cap and sometimes I don't even stand. It's my own little protest. I'm a free thinker and don't need to be told that this is the way I must show my love of country. I'm at the ballpark to enjoy a game and watch the Mets win. So God bless the game and just play ball already!
posted by elanit | 3:26 PM
2 Comments:
Delgado's behavior is profound, and honorable.
He has chosen to sublimate his personal views, in light of the fact that he is part of a larger enterprise. The larger enterprise has taken a position with which he disagrees, and their policy is that their employees should not publicly dissent.
And he's following company policy.
This is a good thing. A right thing.
Several of the articles you referenced are people who need to get over themselves - O'Connor is the most egregious: this is absolutely, positively, NOT a Constitutional issue. The First Amendment has NO bearing on this discussion whatsoever.
Why not? Well, let's check the text, shall we?
Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
Now, where exactly in there is it forbidden for a private company to restrict the speech (or expression) of its employees while they are engaged in work? duhhh...
Arguing that this is a freedom of speech issue is asanine. I'm actually pleasantly surprised that Delgado is going against the stereotype of athletes as spoiled crybabies who have no sense of propriety: I think it's great that he has chosen to follow corporate policy, just like the rest of us.
Now, as for whether the corporate policy in question is good, now that's a matter of opinion, isn't it? Seems to me that the Yankees have decided one way, while most others have gone the other. If you don't like it, tell the Yankee's management. If enough people say that, they'll change.
sorry s/yankees/mets/g
Post a Comment
<< Home