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| Self-explanatory |
But
there are some individuals whom I suspect come up with views to express just
for the purpose of – to put it bluntly – pissing people off! I can’t help but
think those people give a bad name to the concept of free speech – which the
rest of us are forced to defend no matter how trivial it becomes.
TAKE
THE INSTANCE of a lawsuit now pending in U.S. District Court by a Chicago Bears
season ticket holder. One of the perks for people who buy such a ticket plan is
they get to spend time on the playing field during pre-game warmups.
This
particular fan is upset because, as a Green Bay Packers fan, he wants to wear
his green-and-gold jersey, along with all sorts of other items in Packers’
colors. Basically, he wants to make the presence of the Bears’ arch-rivals seen
on the Bears’ own turf.
The
Bears have denied this season ticket holder the ability to do that, and that is
what has led to his legal action.
He
thinks it’s his inalienable right to piddle all over the Bears’ party with his
Packers’ jersey. He’s prepared to fight this out, and wants to make this an
issue of great societal significance – a cause.
PERSONALLY,
I THINK we ought to let the guy wear his replica jersey, and let him take all
the abuse that Bears’ personnel invariably will dish out. Because, after all,
free speech does not guarantee anyone the “last word” on an issue.
Either
that, or require the goof to enter the stadium by walking through the Soldier
Field parking lots while dressed in his Packers’ garb. Of course, he’d have to
venture through the throngs of Bears fans who make a point of tailgating
outside the stadium prior to the games.
It
would be like a gridiron gauntlet. He’d have to take so much abuse, and I don’t
doubt you’d probably get some drunken buffoon thinking he’s defending the honor
of the orange and blue who would wind up kicking the snot out of this Packers’
fan.
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| Not 1st time Satanic Temple has expressed itself |
Let’s
see how much he’d desire to wear his Packers’ jersey at Soldier Field again!
THIS,
OF COURSE, is far from the only incident of someone who feels compelled to
piddle all over someone else’s party out of some belief they’re scoring
ideological points for their “cause.”
Take
the Illinois Statehouse, where the Christmas holidays has turned into a mass of
public displays erected in the Capitol rotunda that were meant to pay tribute
to the holidays of various religious faiths that are being celebrated in coming
weeks (we’re currently in Day 4 of Hanukkah).
Now,
it has evolved into a production of who can come up with the most ridiculous
display. This year, it is one set up by the Satanic Temple chapter in Chicago,
although its display (a sculpture of a woman’s hand tempting us with an apple)
is far from the devil-worshipping images that I’m sure will come to minds of
many.
The
group says it is “a nontheistic organization that aims to encourage benevolence
and empathy amongst all people.” Although I suspect its inclusion in the
Capitol will peeve many more people than it will sway.
PERSONALLY,
I’D BE inclined for dumping any holiday displays, even an overly decorated
Christmas tree. The Capitol is supposed to be a place of business for our
government – and not so much one of holiday partying.
Although
the one that really manages to peeve my sensibilities is one that has been in
place since 2008 – the “Festivus” pole. As in motivated by that old “Seinfeld”
episode where we learn of the holiday celebrated by the Costanza family as an
alternative to Christmas commercialism.
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| One TV gag continues to live on long after "Seinfield" cancellation |
Maybe
the appropriate response to all of this is to use the Festivus pole to club
some sense into the heads of any of these people who think their actions are
anything more than imposing their crackpot ways upon the rest of us.
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