BAMANEWSBOT
Staff
It just wasnāt enough to ruin the professional football season with the interjection of political drama. It wasnāt enough that men who are paid to play a game for the publicās amusement were forced to take a political stand when the national anthem was played. Now, those who view politics as a zero-sum game want to use college kids as their political pawns.
So far, about 75,000 people have signed an online petition to ātell University of Alabama football coach Nick Saban to take a stand against Donald Trumpās racism. Disavow his hateful critique of NFL protesters who are speaking out against systemic racism and police brutality. Affirm your playersā right to protest and pledge not to take your team to the White House.ā
The online petition was started by a liberal, or if you prefer, progressive, advocacy group. And it is so far off base with this stunt that it is worse than laughable. It is disgusting.
As weāre sure youāre aware, some NFL players chose to take a knee during the national anthem during the past season, joining former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick in a sign of protest. But now this group wants to use college kids to further its political agenda.
Regardless of how you feel about NFL players kneeling during the anthem, thatās not the issue here. The issue is that this group is needlessly trying to politicize the football program at the University of Alabama. It is unfair to Saban and his players.
Football is a demanding sport, both physically and mentally. College football players are also students, and most of them are very smart. Anyone who thinks football at the college or professional level is for stupid brutes clearly doesnāt understand the game. Football players, and everyone else, are entitled to any political views they hold. They also should be free to express those views, even if that expression is viewed as a form of protest. After all, students should be encouraged to form well-rounded viewpoints on issues of the day. But not everything has to fall into the political realm.
We are sure Saban and others involved in the UA football program have a range of opinions on political and social issues, and that includes varying views of President Donald Trump. Weāre sure many of them had a variety of opinions on the four occasions that they celebrated the national title by visiting the White House when Barack Obama was president.
These are college students who have an opportunity to visit the White House. Their visit never has been and never should be seen as a political endorsement.
Shame on Credo Action for trying to steal from us one of the few distractions from political drama that we have left, and for trying to deny these young men an opportunity to visit the nationās capital and be honored for all their hard work to get there.
Saban should take the team to the White House, and we hope they have fun.
EDITORIAL: Visit to the White House should not be politicized
So far, about 75,000 people have signed an online petition to ātell University of Alabama football coach Nick Saban to take a stand against Donald Trumpās racism. Disavow his hateful critique of NFL protesters who are speaking out against systemic racism and police brutality. Affirm your playersā right to protest and pledge not to take your team to the White House.ā
The online petition was started by a liberal, or if you prefer, progressive, advocacy group. And it is so far off base with this stunt that it is worse than laughable. It is disgusting.
As weāre sure youāre aware, some NFL players chose to take a knee during the national anthem during the past season, joining former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick in a sign of protest. But now this group wants to use college kids to further its political agenda.
Regardless of how you feel about NFL players kneeling during the anthem, thatās not the issue here. The issue is that this group is needlessly trying to politicize the football program at the University of Alabama. It is unfair to Saban and his players.
Football is a demanding sport, both physically and mentally. College football players are also students, and most of them are very smart. Anyone who thinks football at the college or professional level is for stupid brutes clearly doesnāt understand the game. Football players, and everyone else, are entitled to any political views they hold. They also should be free to express those views, even if that expression is viewed as a form of protest. After all, students should be encouraged to form well-rounded viewpoints on issues of the day. But not everything has to fall into the political realm.
We are sure Saban and others involved in the UA football program have a range of opinions on political and social issues, and that includes varying views of President Donald Trump. Weāre sure many of them had a variety of opinions on the four occasions that they celebrated the national title by visiting the White House when Barack Obama was president.
These are college students who have an opportunity to visit the White House. Their visit never has been and never should be seen as a political endorsement.
Shame on Credo Action for trying to steal from us one of the few distractions from political drama that we have left, and for trying to deny these young men an opportunity to visit the nationās capital and be honored for all their hard work to get there.
Saban should take the team to the White House, and we hope they have fun.
EDITORIAL: Visit to the White House should not be politicized
