BLOG — squawk ~ get the feed
Wednesday, April 02, 2008, 02:11PM
To Boo or not to Boo.
I'm a big sports fan. And right now, with March Madness down to it's Final Four (go Bruins!), NBA and NHL teams making their final playoff push, the NFL draft approaching, and Major League Baseball in it's opening week, it's a GREAT time to be a fan.
On Sunday night I sat down with my wife and my two-week old daughter to enjoy baseball's Opening Night... err... 2nd opening night. Wait, make that 3rd opening night. Right. So I sat down to watch the first regular season game of 2008 played on American soil, and it was a great game. It was the first game played at the National's new "Nationals Park," and it was won by the home team with two outs in the bottom of the 9th on a solo home run by 23 year old Ryan Zimmerman. If you're a fan of baseball (excluding, maybe, Braves fans), you probably couldn't have asked for a better (3rd) Opening Night.
And while the game in general left me feeling good, I still couldn't shake the awkward feeling of watching President Bush walk out on the field for the ceremonial first pitch to a greeting of equal parts cheers and boos. Not that I was expecting anything different, but it's weird to think about booing the President of the United States. I said earlier that I'm a big sports fan, but I'm a bigger fan of America, and that's where things get interesting:
Respect for our President vs. respect for our freedoms (in this case our freedom of speech that gives us the right to... let me think of a crazy example... boo our President).
I, for one, wouldn't do it... couldn't do it. Whether I liked the guy or didn't like him, whether I agreed with his decisions or didn't agree, I still don't think I'd be able to boo him. But what do you think? You're on your feet, along with 39,389 other fans on Opening Night. You've just sung The Star-Spangled Banner and out walks the President. And let's say, for the sake of the discussion, he's not the guy (or girl) you voted for. What would you do?
btw... For what it's worth, Bush's first pitch was a ball. It wasn't even close. So I booed him for that ;-) Did I mention I'm a big sports fan?
TALK — blah, blah
I don't care for him, but I respect the office too much to boo him. Just wouldn't do it. I would fight for the right of others to boo him - but absolutely no tomato throwing. I draw the line at that!
9 months ago
We are failing to teach our children respect for authority. Presidents, teachers, employers, police, parents. It is basic human decency. Do unto others as you would have them to do you.
by geb
9 months ago
DUDE - Dude - dude.... I felt sick when I saw this. No matter how you feel about a president, there is a respect that is deserved!!!
8 months ago
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