There’s something about being involved with professional sports in the San Francisco Bay Area that demands one exhibit maximum sanctimonious self-righteousness at all possible opportunities. We saw this in addition to Colin Kaepernick as the patron saint for pseudo-self sacrifice. On May 24, Warriors coach Steve Kerr began a diatribe on Uvalde, instead of discussing the Golden State Warriors’ plans to sweep Dallas Mavericks. This was in order to win the NBA Western Conference title. Gabe Kapler from the San Francisco Giants is now talking about how he has developed an allergy to The Star-Spangled Banner as a result of Uvalde.
Trying to follow Kapler’s logic in this matter is quite headache-inducing, but we’ll give it a go.
We observed a moment in silence on the day that 19 children were killed and 2 teachers were injured at various sporting events across the country. Then we sang the national anthem and continued our lives.
Fans, players, staff, and employees stood silently for a moment to grieve the loss of life. Then, we, myself included, continued standing proudly declaring that this is the Land of the Free and Home of the Brave. We didn’t stop to reflect on whether we are actually free and brave after this horrific event, we just stood at attention.
It is difficult to understand the connection between an antisocial murderous psychopath, and America being the land of free people and home for the brave. By the way, Gabe, if you’re wondering about the brave part, might I introduce you to U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agent Jacob Albarado.
But we weren’t given bravery, and we aren’t free. As a mother begged the police to save her children, a woman was handcuffed by them. The police stopped parents who tried to arrange to rush in to arrest the gunman. One father learned that his daughter was killed while fighting with the officers.
He did get that part correct.
We aren’t free when politicians decide that the lobbyist and gun industries are more important than our children’s freedom to go to school without needing bulletproof backpacks and active shooter drills.
Nice hyperbole. This is a flat lie. Name one politician who values the NRA over children’s lives. One.
I’m often struck before our games by the lack of delivery of the promise of what our national anthem represents. We stand in honor of a country where we elect representatives to serve us, to thoughtfully consider and enact legislation that protects the interests of all the people in this country and to move this country forward towards the vision of the “shining city on the hill.” But instead, we thoughtlessly link our moment of silence and grief with the equally thoughtless display of celebration for a country that refuses to take up the concept of controlling the sale of weapons used nearly exclusively for the mass slaughter of human beings. Once we’ve had our chance, we go on. We don’t demand real change from those who are empowered to effect these changes. We rise, bow down, and those in power go on to recess, praising their patriotism everywhere they turn.
Thoughtless? Really, Gabe?
Already, there are a lot of laws that restrict gun sales. They don’t stop crime. As horrible as Uvalde may be, Chicago has seen 218 murders as of May 23, 2009. 218. All in one place. In a city where gun laws are extremely strict. And you’re losing it over one madman?
Every time I place my hand over my heart and remove my hat, I’m participating in a self congratulatory glorification of the ONLY country where these mass shootings take place.
Other than Norway in 2011, New Zealand in 2019, Australia in 1996, England in 2010 … shall I continue?
And now, Kapler’s capper.
When I got out of my car, Wednesday morning, as I was honoring the Uvalde victims, I listened carefully to the announcement. I bow my head. The national anthem was sung by me. Metallica performed on City Connect guitars.
My brain said drop to a knee; my body didn’t listen. Instead of walking back in, I stopped and froze. I felt like a coward. I didn’t want to call attention to myself. I didn’t want to take away from the victims or their families. It was the light show, the music, and the baseball game. This was how thousands were escaping the terrors of the real world. I knew that thousands more wouldn’t understand the gesture and would take it as an offense to the military, to veterans, to themselves.
It is not OK for me to be in this nation. I wish I hadn’t let my discomfort compromise my integrity. I wish that I could have demonstrated what I learned from my dad, that when you’re dissatisfied with your country, you let it be known through protest. This should be encouraged by the home of brave.
Gabe, are you cowardly for not making a meaningful gesture, which, yes, could have been against veterans and the military, particularly with Memorial Day quickly approaching? No. No.
No one — No. One. — is okay with what happened in Uvalde. Everybody wants to know the truth. It is difficult to understand how the madman was able to purchase his guns. Why didn’t the mandatory background check reveal how deeply disturbed he was? What made the police fail to act? All signs were ignored or missed. This is the question that needs to be answered.
It’s not unusual to show grandstanding in gun matters. Wasting our time by using your position as a high-profile sportsperson to ramble off the stock issue inane inanities over devastating tragedy isn’t new either. It is not a crime for a sporting figure to have an opinion. However, they don’t get a free pass either when they spout off stupid stuff.
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