A Dart Goes to: BUD SELIG. For thinking Canada is the 51st state, the commissioner of Major League Baseball ordered all teams, including the Toronto Blue Jays and Montreal Expos, to play God Bless America at home openers.
A Laurel Goes to: BLUE JAYS FANS. For clapping and cheering the American national anthem and God Bless America during Monday's home opener. It was a real class act.
Side Note: I don't know what went down in Montreal, but I bet that both got booed very heavily. After all, they booed the American National anthem during a Montreal Canadiens game.
On the next page, two letters to the editor, in response to this article.
Letter 1:
"I was gob-smacked though when during the seventh inning stretch Lincoln Alexander, the gentle giant of a man who, I think, personifies everything great about Canada, came out and gave a speech about saluting our brothers and sisters serving overseas. He then asked us to rise and sing along to "God Bless America."
What? I thought this was Canada. I realize that we are part of the American League, but please, can we refrain from importing their brand of blind, narcissistic nationalism?
I stood while the song was being played. I have many American friends and I respect them. "God Bless America," however, has become the battle cry for American warmongers and influence peddlers. Don't ask me to stand and salute them.
Why would I rise and support U.S. forces overseas? My government has already declined George Bush's invitation to go and fight (the wisest thing that our reigning party has done yet).
Sure I will salute our Canadian brothers and sisters overseas who are working as peacekeepers and providing war relief, but don't ask me, in my own country, to be a hypocrite and stand for 'God Bless America.'"
Letter 2:
"Paul Godfrey appears to be very pleased with himself that most fans in attendance at the Blue Jays' home opener did not jeer the playing of "God Bless America." He seems to read this as tacit approval of the song as a seventh inning ritual, if not the war itself. But before he gets too smug, he should understand that the only reason my family and I did not boo was not in approval of this blatant war propaganda, but rather out of a fear that our intentions would be misconstrued as "anti-Americanism." Major league baseball put us in an awkward position and we decided that manners trumped politics. But we do not go to baseball games to be made uncomfortable. And I do not appreciate having my good manners manipulated in the support of an immoral war. Until further notice, I'll just take the kids to a movie."
Comments?
Posted by Valles (Member # 925) on :
Yay Canada! At least -somebody- on this bloody continent has some sense.
Referring to the letter writers, of course. The war hawks can rot, and good riddance.
Blessed be. -n ( )
Posted by Ritten (Member # 417) on :
I think someone does need to explain to Bud what a border is, especially an international one.
Posted by Grokca (Member # 722) on :
They should have been jeering and booing the Jays, they played like a bunch of pussies.
And no, manners should not be manipulated like that, the league should have had respect for for the internationalism of the players and the teams. Nice to see jingoism is alive and well, how else can you convince people of something ,when you have no credible evidence.
Posted by MinutiaeMan (Member # 444) on :
Maybe I should move to Canada. I'm grateful that some people have good sense up there. And I think that that first letter sums up the situation perfectly.
Posted by Saltah'na (Member # 33) on :
quote:Originally posted by Grokca: They should have been jeering and booing the Jays, they played like a bunch of pussies.
GO LEAFS!!!!
Posted by Wraith (Member # 779) on :
1) GO CANADA!!!!!
2) What's baseball? Posted by First of Two (Member # 16) on :
Play a US song at a Canadian game, that IS stupid.
But don't do it because it's a stupid thing to do, not because of all the rest of that crap.
I never cared for baseball, anyway. Let it die.
Or better yet, let the Canadians form their own league. They could start spring training in, like, June.
Posted by Saltah'na (Member # 33) on :
American anthems have always been played in events where an American team is present. In Baseball, hockey, and Basketball. I'm a little confused, are you trying to say that it is inappropriate for an American anthem to be played at these events? Or are you just against Canadian objections over the song "God Bless America"?
Posted by First of Two (Member # 16) on :
quote:Originally posted by Saltah'na: American anthems have always been played in events where an American team is present. In Baseball, hockey, and Basketball. I'm a little confused, are you trying to say that it is inappropriate for an American anthem to be played at these events? Or are you just against Canadian objections over the song "God Bless America"?
1. "God Bless America" isn't the US National Anthem, and thusly has no place at either a US or Canadian game, really.
2. It's appropriate to play both teams' national anthems at any international game. But not extra songs.
3. The above two reasons are why Canadians should object to the playing of GBA. They are valid reasons. The other, "I don't like US foreign policy" reasons are not.
Posted by Sol System (Member # 30) on :
I don't have anything to say about the ostensible topic one way or the other, but this hardly sounds right: "1. 'God Bless America' isn't the US National Anthem, and thusly has no place at either a US or Canadian game, really." "Rock and Roll #2" isn't an anthem either.
Posted by First of Two (Member # 16) on :
Yes, but is anybody trying to MANDATE the playing of "Rock & Roll #2?"
Posted by Sol System (Member # 30) on :
That isn't what that specific sentence I pulled out says.
Posted by First of Two (Member # 16) on :
In that case: "God Bless America" is not the US National Anthem, and Selig has no business mandating that it be played at a Canadian game, or any other."
Like that better?
Posted by Sol System (Member # 30) on :
Uh, I didn't "not like" the first one. I am just funing, you know. I mean, baseball is near the rim of the Importance Galaxy.
Posted by Topher (Member # 71) on :
It should be noted that "God Bless America" applies to the USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Jamaica, etc... Posted by Saltah'na (Member # 33) on :
*crushes Topher's skull like a puny tin can*
Yeah, but who refers to Canadians, Mexicans, Panamanians, Brazilians, Chileans, Venezuelans as Americans anyways?
Posted by The_Tom (Member # 38) on :
Tim has been known to, but we've given him the tin can treatment each time.
Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :
See, that's slightly distressing, to be all prepared to say "I do", and then find someone's already spoken up for me. I really should do something unpredictable one of these days.
Posted by Vogon Poet (Member # 393) on :
quote:I mean, baseball is near the rim of the Importance Galaxy.
So when you go beyond the Rim, you're actually being sent down to the Minor Leagues? The horror!
(PS: *grin*)
Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :
quote:Originally posted by TSN: I really should do something unpredictable one of these days.
Fuck Rob right up the arse?
Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :
If you mean, w/ something not attached to my own body, and which can be operated from a distance w/o a direct line of sight (or any line of sight, really)... then yeah, maybe.
Posted by Ritten (Member # 417) on :
Stand Off Rob Fucking Munitions, the daddy of all bombs....
Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :
quote:Originally posted by TSN: If you mean, w/ something not attached to my own body, and which can be operated from a distance w/o a direct line of sight (or any line of sight, really)... then yeah, maybe.
I have decided that in TimTalk, "w/" actually means "I like to do it with dirty old ladies who have no teeth, with...". It's the only explanation.
Posted by Wraith (Member # 779) on :
Which means that, translated, his last post reads:
"If you mean, I like to do it with dirty old ladies who have no teeth, with something not attached to my own body, and which can be operated from a distance I like to do it with dirty old ladies who have no teeth, with out a direct line of sight (or any line of sight, really)... then yeah, maybe."
Hmmmm...... Posted by Vogon Poet (Member # 393) on :
It's like a microcosm of human life (you know, senility being like childhood) - Tim, the most prolific poster, talking like the newest of newbies. 8)
Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :
Yeah, but most of that was what Liam said, not me.
Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :
I'd like to see you prove it in court.
Posted by Vogon Poet (Member # 393) on :
A Klingon court? Because all those spectators chanting "Nix! Nix! Nix! Nix! Nix! Nix! Nix! Nix!" would be really cool. 8)
Posted by Wraith (Member # 779) on :
And, let's face it, coolness is all we look for in a legal system!!!
Posted by Ritten (Member # 417) on :
Well, yes, did you actually expect one to work properly, did you? You silly silly person....
![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
)
![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
![[Smile]](smile.gif)