My morning paper brings me another example of Republicans who don’t use words with meaning.
In a letter to the editor, John Swanhorst of Aberdeen says the NFL and Nike should be ashamed of themselves. Swanhorst’s letter fails to mention what exactly Nike has done to warrant shame (their shoes have always held up well for me, and I’m hard on shoes), but I’ll skip that writing critique to focus on this simple failure to make sense:
Now because the NFL has decided not to air it [the national anthem] we no more can show our support for our country [John Swanhorst, letter to the editor, Aberdeen American News, 2018.09.26, p. 6A].
Really?
- I used to watch NFL games. Even when I was little, I don’t recall seeing the national anthem broadcast on any of the regular season games. So “Now” appears not to apply here.
- The NFL doesn’t decide what goes on the airwaves. That’s the TV networks.
- I don’t watch NFL games now. Neither, on any given Sunday, do more than 200 million Americans (give or take: I welcome counter-stats). I am thus unclear on the causal effect (“because”) of an action on millions of people who do not witness the action.
- I’m able to show my support for my country. Look at my billboard:
Help me run to Victory in District 3 #sdleg https://t.co/WvzEbPbOq0 pic.twitter.com/Hi5cbtqoAM
— CAHeidelberger (@coralhei) September 25, 2018
Running for office, displaying a flag, engaging in public political discourse on a daily basis… I sure feel like I’m able to show support for my country.
Mr. Swanhorst, I understand your point: you’re mad that corporate media have chosen to avoid controversy and loss of advertising dollars by not broadcasting potential political speech during a political ceremony at the beginning of a professional (i.e., profit-driven) entertainment event instead taking your side on a politicized issue. You’re mad that a sports apparel corporation has hired a celebrity whom you don’t like to appear in its ads. You are certainly entitled to express your disgust at the sports-media-industrial complex (there’s plenty to be disgusted about).
But the way you word it, claiming that we can’t support our country because of broadcast decisions made by TV companies, is false. You disprove your own words by writing a letter to our newspaper expressing your support for our country.
You’ll express your grievances better—and maybe even persuade people that your grievances are just and actionable—if you choose words carefully and use words meaningfully.
My morning paper says Mr. Swanhorst’s opinion is in the minority.
NEW YORK » Nike caused an uproar this month with its ad featuring former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick that debuted just as the football season was about to begin. But the shoemaker’s stock is up, and sales have been steady.
The furor seems to have died down and the company reported an earnings beat on Tuesday.
For the quarter ended Aug. 31, Nike’s net income rose 15 percent to $1.09 billion, or 67 cents per share, from $950 million, or 57 cents per share in the prior-year quarter
I’m not a fan of football either, so very rarely watch. Only when I’m at my sister’s house, she’s a Broncos fan. I have an idea that the networks show commercials during the anthem, and every other chance they get. But the stars and stripes fly in front of my house, and I am a civil rights fan, and I understand that they are not protesting the flag or the troops or the anthem. They are protesting racial injustice, which is real. I’m not a runner or an athlete either. So I do have one pair of Nikes which I will wear more often. And maybe I’ll buy a sweatshirt. And good for Kapernick and good for Nike.
Nike’s networth rose 6 billion bucks since the Kippersnack deal. That is what ticks off stoopid wingnuts who never miss a chance to miss the target of what the protests were about in the beginning.
Wingnuts are the Wile E Coyotes of today’s real world.
https://www.vox.com/2018/9/24/17895704/nike-colin-kaepernick-boycott-6-billion
For pity’s sake did Novstrup have your bike kidnapped?
I miss the old days (i.e., 2016 candidate forum) when Al Novstrup told his people that suggesting that we should punish any business for its owners’ political views was the saddest thing he saw happen during his Legislative career. I wonder what he would think of his fellow Republican’s suggestion that Nike should suffer for its dealing with a person with whom Swanhorst has political disagreements. Heck, I wonder if Al and John think it sad that NFL teams have refused to do business with a talented athlete strictly because of his political views.
If I was Al, I would say you are missing the point of what is happening right now.
The business owners aren’t being punished for their views. The are being punished for attacking the Constitutional Rights of Americans by their business.
When Levi’s and Nike attacked the Second Amendment they didn’t do it a person but rather a Company. I could care less what the political view a business owner is, but if they use their business to attack my Rights, I have a major issue with that.
I am chalking Mr. Swanhorst’s poorly worded letter up to illiteracy.
I had been a Bears fan for 33 years, and then Jay Cutler came along and swindled the Bears out of $60 million dollars only to suck worse than anyone who ever took a snap. He was well recognized you have the worst attitude in the entire NFL.
Last year, Miami signed him for $10 million for 1 year. He played 4 games (like crap) and then he quit.
The fact that Jay Cutler had constant employment as a preferred 1st stringer while sucking for 10 full years and while Keapernick couldn’t even get a contract proves to me that the Chicago Bears ownership struggles with racism more than most
Now, so that I may still enjoy the game of American football, I am a happy Packer fan. Everyone I went to college with thinks it’s blasphemy, but I insist that they love their football team more than they love the game of football, and they need to double check their values.
Again, Jay Cutler’s career during the same time of Keapernick’s is 100% proof that racism is rampant in the NFL. There is no other way to take it.
Fair point?
It’s not like the city of Chicago wouldn’t embrace a non-white quarterback!
Adam,
Are you sure it’s racism or could it maybe be Chicago didn’t want some who supports cop killers?
I must have missed something in the news. How has Nike attacked anyone’s constitutional rights? My apologies for being out of the loop.
The Bears aren’t racist. They just gave Khalil Mack $161 million. Gayle Sayers and Walter Payton are Windy City heroes. If you can ball, you get the call. (Jay Cutler? He’s the most selfish QB in my lifetime. I’m diehard Broncos.)
Here is what I observed taking in various events that play national anthem
I have seen a cowboy get off his horse and kneel holding his hat with his head down in honor of a fellow rider. I have seen rodeo people stay on their horse so technically they aren’t standing.
I have seen people use the poortunity to go to the restroom before the big game starts (mostly white people)
I have seen little kids color while the parents stood, and they were certainly old enough to also stand.
And it goes on….Owens raises a black glove and oh my,,,
Lee greenwood does singing god bless America and the crowd goes wild………..
But a guy with a lot, I mean a lot of hair, kneels in honor of fallen people and the entire USA blows up. It come s down who society “allows” to kneel and who they don’t and diverse kneelers will not be tolerated.
Just something “not” shown on TV does not mean we cannot support our country. Tv doesn’t show how to use a bathroom and we all still manage and know how to do it. Same with supporting our country we will figure it out
T,
You stand at the bathrooms watching people go in during the anthem?
What does Kaepernick’s hair have to do with anything?
Did Kaepernick kneel to honor fallen people or to protest cops?
Jason has major issues with Cory if the sun comes up or not.
What was the kneeling all about, Troll? Educate us with your infinite wisdumb. You seem to think you know the minds of black athletes better than they do.
Oh Jason funny guy
Out here on the prairie you can see ,the consssion stand, toilets, school and Main Street all from the bleachers
It doesn’t matter why anyone kneels what matters, we are allowed to because of our are great country, shouldn’t matter if I’m a cowboy or nfl player
I agree T. The part you are missing is they are at work on the clock.
The why does matter to the customers.
If you own a business and you support cop killers, I will not be spending my money at your business.
The NFL screwed up when they didn’t let the Dallas Cowboys honor the Dallas cops that were killed.
So which is worse? Taking a knee during the anthem or trump getting on both knees begging for a
4 F draft status after 4 college draft deferments?
Jason, you’re inventing a quite convenient story to justify your hate for black people. Not buying it, though. You had other excuses to be a racist before the kneeling even started.
I would say taking a knee supporting cop killers.
Meanwhile, the laughing stock blowhard trump gets schooled by “his” general H.R. McMaster. “H.R. McMaster confirmed that Gary Cohn took documents off of President Donald Trump’s desk that would have pulled the US out of a major trade deal with South Korea.” trump is a hazard to America.
President Trump Is Literally the Laughingstock of the World
https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/trump-un-laughing-729039/
The UN stirred and then laughed at him. He saw it coming and stopped dead in his tracks.
Trump tweeted that the allegations from Christine Blasey Ford and Deborah Ramirez were “False Accusations the likes of which have never been seen before.”
Outside the UN Trump complained that the Fed’s actions are countering his efforts to boost the economy. “We’re doing great as a country. Unfortunately they just raised interest rates because we are doing so well. I’m not happy about that,” Trump told a press conference on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
“I’d rather pay down debt or do other things, create more jobs. So I’m worried about the fact that they seem to like raising interest rates.” https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-fed/fed-raises-u-s-interest-rates-sees-at-least-three-more-years-of-growth-idUSKCN1M60EE
Leslie,
Are you calling Haley a liar?
Laughter broke out at the U.N. General Assembly Tuesday while President Trump was beating the drum of America’s successes domestically and internationally under his administration during his opening remarks; Nikki Haley says that laughter was not mockery but respect for Trump’s bluntness.
Trump needled his predecessors in his speech, saying, “Today, I stand before the United Nations general assembly to share the extraordinary progress we’ve made. In less than two years, my administration has accomplished more than almost any administration in the history of our country, America — so true.” The room of diplomats and world leaders then broke into laughter.
“Didn’t expect that reaction, but that’s OK,” Trump said, smiling.
Many in media ran with the angle that the world leaders were laughing at Trump, but American Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley told Fox News that that angle was fake news.
“The media has got this so wrong. I deal with these leaders every single day,” Haley said. “I know exactly how they think. Do they love America? No. Do they respect America? Now they do.”
Haley said that the laughter was due to Trump’s non-diplomatic style: “When they said that they love how honest he is. And it’s not diplomatic. And they find it funny. I mean, when he goes, and he is very truthful, they kind of were taken back by it.”
Haley then told a very different story about how the “laughing” world leaders behaved toward Trump behind the cameras.
All day yesterday — they were falling over themselves to get a picture with him, to talk about how great his speech was. How strong it was. Whether he said good things about them or not, they love that he is honest with them. And they have never seen anything like it. So there is a respect there. I saw that the media was trying to make it something disrespectful. That’s not what it was. They love to be with him. That’s the only time you will see that entire chamber standing room only.”
https://cdn.dailycaller.com/2018/09/26/media-say-united-nations-were-laughing-at-trump-during-assembly-nikki-haley-calls-fake-news/
Do you not understand it costs the US taxpayers more money when interest rates are raised?
Do you have a high school diploma?
Yes. Yes, I am.
No one, who watches football, can deny my claim – that Jay Cutler being preferred in any legitimate way over Colin Kaepernick, for ten years, is proof of rampant racism within the NFL.
In fact, any/all failure to demonstrate agreement with my claim could only come from a non-football fan. Just because you love your team doesn’t mean you love the sport, Jason.
I did NOT mean to say that racism is a legitimate preference! Make no mistake, Jason.
I do watch football. Kaepernick had one or two good years. So did Cutler. They both sucked after that.
He’s a backup QB at best. No team is going to hire a backup QB that supports cop killers.
When the U.N. laughed at Trump, they were actually laughing at idiot Americans – who not only think, but proclaim while pounding their chest like monkeys, that they are the greatest – like Hulk Hogan and his 100s of thousands of Hulkamaniacs all over the world, or Jesse ‘The Body’ Ventura, and his… well… ‘awesome’ body.
George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, step back. We’ve now got the new greatest leader in the history of America – a guy who has achieved more in his first 2 years than all a y’all who came before him.
LOL – Trumptards are brain damaged.
Any one who believes the sh!t (that came out of Trump’s mouth yesterday in the U.N.): Brain Damaged
Adam,
Do you think that Trump is the first President to boast?
He may be the first President to accomplish more of what he campaigned on than any other President in his first two years.
Can you think of another who did more Adam in their first two years?
I don’t answer to you. I chime in when I like, and I have to do a small amount of work before bed so I am out, for now. Enjoy.
Adam,
Please specify what was said that was not true?
Adam is right about Cutler. Not only was he was mediocre football player, he was destructive of morale — such a whiner of trumpian levels. We’ll never know how great Kaepernick might have become because he was blacklisted by the racists in the NFL and those owners fearful of Pootie’s Puppet.
Haley came up with some extremely creative spin. She’s probably one of PP’s smarter minions, and totally off about the UN. News reports worldwide — French, German, English, Swedish — agree the world was laughing AT the lying dunce Pootie’s Puppet because he has the brain of an 8 yr old and the emotional maturity of a 5 yr old. On his best days. But he does has an extremely high level of cruelty. Every day.
He brings such shame on the USA.
Debbo, THANK YOU!
I feel like the Cutler/Keapernick racial connection goes far under-recognized and I just cant help it!
I also feel like, after my whole near 4 decades of life, that the whole world now knows for absolute certain that America has lost its way, is far more fascist than anyone thought. Now, it is for certain, after this last U.N. speech, that the United States should no longer be the pillar of strength in the world economy. The global community has to band together and find a way to lead the globe into the future, because the country who brought about this new technological age has truly peaked and is now in the steep decline.
It’s quite depressing.
Adam, first, you’re welcome.
Second, I thought the US decline was curtains, but then the Women stood up. I mean Really Stood Up. I don’t think the average American really comprehends the level of rage that has been bubbling below the surface for millennia. The Black people and other POC have stood up more than I’ve seen since the 1960s and they have plenty of well earned rage too. (I’m 65) In fact, maybe the Blacks preceded the Women.
What really put my optimism over the top was when the Students stood up following the Marjory Stoneman School terrorist attack. One should never underestimate the power of naive, determined, hearts-on-their-sleeves young people. That’s how we changed voting age to 18 and got out of Vietnam.
Adam, I really believe We Got This. I think Pootiepublicans have effectively destroyed their party for several decades like they did in the 1920s. Maybe they’ve even permanently destroyed themselves and a new, truly conservative party will rise. That would be a good thing for the USA.
I could go on, but I’m hopeful. I think there is cause to be.
Not to be bleak, but sometimes it seems like only those who are older than I can truly appreciate all that this country once was any more/better than I can. Jesus. Look what has become of America while brain damaged jack wagons have had such undue say.
A lot of time can be spent blaming Trumptards for Trump, but it’s important to also remember how they brought us 2 terms of unchecked W (when we destabilized the whole Middle East and made it so that Mercedes owners could purchase their 5th Mercedes).
You have to vote against these crazy people. It has to be done, or let you them peel apart the fabric of American society more and more, day by day… and look how far we have come in just a few decades – yet, ever so slowly.
And then watch Trump make ass of us all, actually get laughed at, by all of the world’s leaders.
Sheesh. We just ain’t what we used to be. What I would give to speak with my grandfather right now, about all this.
I will believe that Pooticans have been destroyed when I play in their ashes and no sooner than that very day. I do not trust anyone will do it for us; we are going to have to do for ourselves.
I do truly, also, believe We Have This!
Adam,
Do you deny that that you said South Dakotan’s had minimal intelligence and that Cory agreed with you?
WTF is wrong with you, Jason?
Nothing at all. You said it and Cory agreed with you.
Are you denying it or not?
If you want to share a link to the thing you think your referencing, go ahead. If you think it relates to my Colin Kaepernick / Jay Cutler rampant racism in the NFL claim then sure, go ahead. Prove your claim.
Heck, just do it for the heck of it.
Be careful. Some men grab women like you by the pussy and just start kissing them. They just cant help themselves. Look out for guys like Trump.
Don’t say no one ever warned ya!
Jason, you’re seeking specious word-game gotcha points, not real understanding of the critique at hand.
The letter at hand does not mention the Second Amendment or many of the other specific issues you introduce here in an effort, again, to turn the argument into something you wish had been said rather than the poorly worded things that were actually said by a Republican who can’t frame a coherent or even simply factual argument.
Nick, Francis, and T get the real issue: the letter doesn’t make sense and reflects an individual who is more concerned with ranting than expressing a clear, self-contained, persuasive argument.
Evangelicals have lost their memory on protests dealing with nationalism.
“In the 1950s, evangelicals defended the right of individuals to refuse to participate in an otherwise mandatory event on the grounds of their belief. They argued that such a right was understood by American citizens as protected by the right to freedom of conscience and freedom of worship under the First Amendment. And they made clear that they did not consider such actions to embody disrespect to others. As the protests continue this year, it’s an argument worth bearing in mind.”
This clearly then is not about anything other than blatant racism. Come on guys, you are better than this, aren’t you?
Cory,
I’m not sure I get it. Yet I do know and like John Swanhorst. I am not sure why we are disagreeable when we disagree. I don’t believe Mr. Kaepernick is supporting cop killers some much as protesting the deaths of young black men. Not sure though. I am also opposed to depriving people of justice based upon economic circumstances or social status.
The notion that Kaepernick might support ‘cop killers’ is the most intellectually dishonest, boldly insincere claim I might have ever heard.
However, that kind if garbage is really all that ever comes out of conserva-thinkers mouths anyways. So, why would anyone ever be surprised that they stoop so low? I’m not.
Panthers signed Eric Reid! Ms. Schaffer, he is the first Black player to kneel with Kaepernick and certainly not the last. Neither one of these fine gents support cop killers, what they do support is keeping cops from indiscriminately killing Black folks. There ya go, glad we cleared that up for ya. Oh, and turn off that Fox and do your own thinking.
Cory,
You asked a question regarding Al, and I answered it.
Adam,
You and Cory said South Dakotan’s were not intelligent, yet you don’t know how to use google?
Well, Francis, I don’t know John. I’m sure he can get along reasonably well with people when he’s not all wound up by the national corporate media. He just needs to pause and revise his writing.
I’m not going to sit here all night responding to Jason’s lies. Again, since I’m not saying things he can refute—Swanhorst’s letter really doesn’t make sense, and Jason can’t defend it—he’s making up things he wishes I’d said. Take that elsewhere, Jason.
What are my lies Cory?
Perfectly well put Jerry:
“Neither one of these fine gents support cop killers, what they do support is keeping cops from indiscriminately killing Black folks.”
Jerry,
It is Mr. Schaffer. Happy to clear that up for you.
Cory, I never read John’s letter so Maybe I shouldn’t have commented on this post. Sorry about that.
Jason, “If you own a business and you support cop killers, I will not be spending my money at your business.”
I am glad to hear the you will be supporting a boycott of gun manufacturers whose weapons are used to kill cops! Bravo! I am glad to hear that you will be supporting a boycott of banks who lend money to and invest profits for criminals who kill cops! Bravo! I am glad to hear you will be supporting a boycott of the drug manufacturers who perpetuated the drug epidemic – putting police in harms way! Bravo!
Francis, no problem. Your friendly testimony alongside my critique just goes to show that a guy can be a decent fellow and still write bad letters.
Cory: Jasons incoherency represents the logical fallacy of moving the goal posts….. He can’t come up with anything legitimate in response to the principle issue. He never has and never will. Why can’t we just ignore the dullard.
Jmw
He loves the abuse, let him stay
😄
I like Jason. He doesn’t let bullies bully him. We call those “men” in our world.
Nobody’s being bullied here, OS. You thus have no basis for your claim about Jason’s interaction with bullies.
All I’ve done in this post is point out the plain illogic of Mr. Swanhorst’s letter, something that doesn’t interest OS or Jason, since, as usual, they can’t refute the analysis and writing advice I offer.
The only reason Nike did what they did was money. They knew their demographic and made a business decision to pander and increase market share it has worked at least in the short term. Stock price up to new historical levels and sales up too.
Related to the more important aspect of free speech, anyone on the job can get fired for their actions. These sports teams are really no more than entertainment. It’s a business, and no different from what Nike decided to do the NFL and sports teams will make business decisions in their best interest.
Personally I will never buy another pair of Nikes from a thrift store again.
“Personally I will never buy another pair of Nikes from a thrift store again.”
You tell ’em hc! 😀😀😀
Brand somehow disappears at the thrift level. I’ll wear anything that fits and doesn’t have holes.
And my purchase of used Nikes won’t stop anyone from supporting her country.
Jason said “The business owners aren’t being punished for their views. The are being punished for attacking the Constitutional Rights of Americans by their business. When Levi’s and Nike attacked the Second Amendment they didn’t do it a person but rather a Company. I could care less what the political view a business owner is, but if they use their business to attack my Rights, I have a major issue with that.”
Frankly, I think it’s funny when you get these tightwads worked up, but you absolutely have no idea about the constitution or your rights under the constitution.
You have to understand, as the absolute bare minimum threshold for any conversation about your “rights,” that other people and businesses have those same rights, and they are allowed to disagree with you about pretty much anything they want. The constitution protects you from the government, it does not protect you from the company who made your sweet bedazzled jean jacket or your purdy dancin’ shoes.