I write this as somebody who, when actively watching the NFL (I gave it up about five years ago but check in here and there on the playoffs), NEVER supported the 49ers - in yesterday's playoff game, Kyle Williams botched two attempted punt returns which directly lead to 10 points for New York and a 49er loss. Apparently Mr. Williams had returned but six punts previously in his NFL career and was the best available replacement for an injured player and, as I understand it, had thrown a pretty key block on an important score in last week's San Francisco playoff win. But, after the game, according to the San Francisco Chronicle, Mr. Williams, who is African-American, received death threats and racist comments on his Twitter account (perhaps an argument for NOT having a Twitter account but I digress).
I'm not going to sugarcoat it here, these were two bad plays, no doubt about it. But even setting aside the obvious, that this is a team game with some 30 to 40 men participating (and that, for example, QB Alex Smith went 12-26 with some horrible overthrows and underthrows), what the fuck? (And I may be dangerously close to violating my own Civility Clause here so I'll tread lightly.) It's not like we haven't seen this kind of thing happen here before, and it's not like it doesn't happen in other countries, with the very extreme example of soccer player Andres Escobar, a Colombian defender, who was murdered after making a crucial mistake against the United States in a World Cup match that Colombia lost (1994). It's just that I can't help but think this is America, and some of us have a very high opinion of ourselves and, on a regular basis, opine loudly that we are the greatest nation on the face of the earth, and this kind of racist, hateful and ignorant activity - whether directed at a ballplayer (remember, it's called a game), a Southern church and congregation, a homeless person, the President of the United States - might lead a cynical person to believe that, as a country, we're no better than anybody else, and that there is a lot of Goddamn work left to be done here.
Everybody in, nobody out.
IBL:mm
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Whether backing a team in a game or a nation on the world stage it's asking for trouble to promote the idea of exceptionalism. American exceptionalism excuses horrific acts of aggression and the imperialist agenda. The "Masters of the Universe" on Wall St. think they are exceptional and can essentially re-write the laws as they require. Where would a justice system be if it embraced exceptionalism? A little humility would do the country good. I'm very tired of the superiority complex and how it leads to disrespect for other nations' sovereignty. The more power one has, the more reserved should be it's use.
ReplyDeleteA little humility would do each and every one of us good, I reckon. Thanks for this, Mr. Prime...
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