Freethought & Rationalism Archive

edoggsmooth · 04-10-2003, 08:31 PM

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansas...ts/5605738.htm

Turns out that the Baseball Hall of Fame was going to have a 15th Anniversary celebration for the movie "Bull Durham." Instead, they have cancelled it citing that the movie's stars, Tim Robbins and Susan Surandon, have made comments about the war in iraq that "helps undermine the U.S. position, which ultimately could put our troops in even more danger."

Oh, I forgot to mention, the president of the Hall of Fame that made the decision, Dale Petroskey, is a former assistant press secretary in the Reagan administration.

If you like what they did, go visit the Hall of Fame.

If you don't, let them know: http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/co...email_info.htm

-ed

fatherphil · 04-10-2003, 09:46 PM

guess its not a good idea to antagonize one's patron.

Colander of Truth · 04-10-2003, 09:57 PM

I suppose if they were good republicans we could get to see them fuck on that table and be proud Americans ...

JohnR · 04-10-2003, 10:17 PM

Yet another reason why I think baseball sucks!

DonnieDarko · 04-10-2003, 10:36 PM

I heard about this and was pretty suprised. I happen to LOVE baseball. Its my favorite sport. But since this was just the Hall of Fame, I don't think it has anything to do with Major League Baseball. Of course they did have Dubya as an owner for awhile...

I liked Tim Robbins response. He had several good things to say.

SanDiegoAtheist · 04-10-2003, 11:00 PM

I love baseball as well - I grew up with it - my father was an NCAA athlete of the year as a pitcher for his college, and I have ate, slept, and breathed baseball during every season since I was old enough to go to my first game. Fortunately, MLB has already noted that the HOF is not a part of baseball - essentially distancing themselves from the conflict to stay neutral (while I'd like them to repudiate the HOF, at the very least they're staying neutral on the idea).

I just sent an email to the HOF, here's a copy of it:

Quote:

I'm writing to express my extreme disappointment in the Hall of Fame management for bowing to political pressures of the moment to cancel the 15th Aniversary celebration of the movie "Bull Durham" simply due to the political leanings of it's stars.

The right to free speech - which includes political dissent, and in fact, every court ruling ever made on the subject considers both political and religious speech to be the MOST protected forms of speech, is one of the paramount rights that our nation was founded on. The United States wouldn't exist without our forefathers dissenting against the current government at the time. They valued this right so highly that they enshrined the concept as the foremost of the Bill of Rights.

The fact that we are in a state of armed conflict with another nation in no way disallows this right - indeed, it is the DUTY of Americans who disagree with the conflict to speak out - whether or not the majority agrees with them. America thrives best when ALL opinions are allowed to be expressed in the public square, so that every American can weigh the arguments, rather than being exposed to only one point of view.

It's not their speaking out against the conflict that is un-American - it's the attempt to STIFLE their attempts to speak out that is un-American.

Shame on the HOF for going along with this travesty. Senator Joseph McCarthy would be truly proud of you.

Brian McNeill

Cheers,

The San Diego Atheist

AdamWho · 04-10-2003, 11:26 PM

Brian McNeill

I like your letter, you where very eloquent so I copied for later use.

Mr. Superbad · 04-10-2003, 11:35 PM

I'm getting tired of stupid uppity republicans and their politically correct hissy fits.

PopeInTheWoods · 04-11-2003, 12:15 AM

I've had a few tonight, so I laid it on thick:

Dale Petroskey's cowardly display of partisan bullying betrays the American principles that baseball supposedly embodies. While his Reaganite background, combined with our current president's status as a former MLB team owner, makes the decision to cancel the celebration of the 15th anniversary of "Bull Durham" less surprising, it in no way makes said decision less reprehensible. The political stance of anyone associated with this brilliant baseball movie is irrelevant. In fact, such dissention is inherently patriotic, while the persecution of legitimate differences of opinion borders on tyranny. While I personally disagree with Mr. Robbins and Ms. Sarandon, and support the military actions in Iraq, I must strongly defend their rights to espouse a contrary opinion.

Silent Acorns · 04-11-2003, 10:20 AM

Could someone straigten this up for me?

I saw on the news that at the Blue Jays' home opener "God Bless America" was sung during the 7th inning stretch. IIRC, it was said that this was mandated by MLB. Three questions:

- Is it true that MLB is doing this?
- Is it for the whole season, or just the home openers?
- WTF are they doing this in Canada too?

04-10-2003, 08:31 PM	#1
edoggsmooth Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Staten Island, NY Posts: 82	Baseball gets political http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansas...ts/5605738.htm Turns out that the Baseball Hall of Fame was going to have a 15th Anniversary celebration for the movie "Bull Durham." Instead, they have cancelled it citing that the movie's stars, Tim Robbins and Susan Surandon, have made comments about the war in iraq that "helps undermine the U.S. position, which ultimately could put our troops in even more danger." Oh, I forgot to mention, the president of the Hall of Fame that made the decision, Dale Petroskey, is a former assistant press secretary in the Reagan administration. If you like what they did, go visit the Hall of Fame. If you don't, let them know: http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/co...email_info.htm -ed

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04-10-2003, 09:46 PM	#2
fatherphil Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: burbank Posts: 758	guess its not a good idea to antagonize one's patron.

04-10-2003, 09:57 PM	#3
Colander of Truth Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Sri Dunka .... Donut: Cruller w/Jimmies Posts: 2,710	I suppose if they were good republicans we could get to see them fuck on that table and be proud Americans ...

04-10-2003, 10:17 PM	#4
JohnR Senior Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Eastern PNW Posts: 572	Yet another reason why I think baseball sucks!

04-10-2003, 10:36 PM	#5
DonnieDarko Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: The home of Bob Jones University Posts: 1,053	I heard about this and was pretty suprised. I happen to LOVE baseball. Its my favorite sport. But since this was just the Hall of Fame, I don't think it has anything to do with Major League Baseball. Of course they did have Dubya as an owner for awhile... I liked Tim Robbins response. He had several good things to say.

04-10-2003, 11:26 PM	#7
AdamWho Contributor Join Date: May 2001 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 13,389	Brian McNeill I like your letter, you where very eloquent so I copied for later use.

04-10-2003, 11:35 PM	#8
Mr. Superbad Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Well fortified mountain bunker Posts: 3,567	I'm getting tired of stupid uppity republicans and their politically correct hissy fits.

04-11-2003, 12:15 AM	#9
PopeInTheWoods Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Rochester NY USA Posts: 4,318	I've had a few tonight, so I laid it on thick: Dale Petroskey's cowardly display of partisan bullying betrays the American principles that baseball supposedly embodies. While his Reaganite background, combined with our current president's status as a former MLB team owner, makes the decision to cancel the celebration of the 15th anniversary of "Bull Durham" less surprising, it in no way makes said decision less reprehensible. The political stance of anyone associated with this brilliant baseball movie is irrelevant. In fact, such dissention is inherently patriotic, while the persecution of legitimate differences of opinion borders on tyranny. While I personally disagree with Mr. Robbins and Ms. Sarandon, and support the military actions in Iraq, I must strongly defend their rights to espouse a contrary opinion.

04-11-2003, 10:20 AM	#10
Silent Acorns Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: SW 31 52 24W4 Posts: 1,508	Could someone straigten this up for me? I saw on the news that at the Blue Jays' home opener "God Bless America" was sung during the 7th inning stretch. IIRC, it was said that this was mandated by MLB. Three questions: - Is it true that MLB is doing this? - Is it for the whole season, or just the home openers? - WTF are they doing this in Canada too?

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