fatherphil

perhaps, but they'd never get to present at the academy awards.

SanDiegoAtheist

Yes.

Quote:

- Is it for the whole season, or just the home openers?

The whole season, at least so far as I know - certainly it has replaced the national anthem in US cities.

Quote:

- WTF are they doing this in Canada too?

Because, just like the majority of the US, they are religious bigots, who just don't KNOW they are being religious bigots - because everyone around them seems to agree with them.

I haven't been to a MLB baseball game since 9/11. Anyone who knows me KNOWS this is a huge sacrifice on my part. Up until 9/11 I had attended at least 10 games a year to root for my team. I am a HUGE fan of baseball - I'm willing to discuss past, present, and future players at the drop of a hat. I'll talk baseball with anyone who will listen to me.

The god-bots have stolen my game from me



The San Diego Atheist

Ab_Normal

In my case, it was the god-bots and the security weenies. When they said that diaper bags weren't going to be allowed in the stadium for security reasons, I decided they didn't need my money any more.

"God Bless America" during the seventh-inning stretch? It is to puke.

lisarea

I am reminded of something that a very wise natural language generator once said:

"BASEBALL IS FOR PEOPLE WHO SHOULD
ALREADY BE FUCKING DEAD DEAD DEAD DEAD DEAD DEAD DEAD DEAD DEAD DEAD DEAD." -MegaHAL

As sports go, though, I like baseball myself. Or at least, I like the hot dogs and the beer and the stadium itself, with the game serving as a pleasant diversion. Lately, though, the sappy, teary-eyed nationalism that's always been a little too close for comfort has been stepped up to the extent that I can't fully enjoy even that.

THIS, though. This is ridiculous. I have half a mind to stage a disingenuous kind of boycott, where I pretend I was planning to go the Baseball Hall of Fame in the first place. What jerks.

DonnieDarko

I only saw one game last year, but since I don't live very close to a Major League city thats no big deal. I can still watch it on tv though, and follow stats online. That way I don't have to deal with any stupid god-bots.

pug846

A writer from espn.com wrote a really nice column on the whole incident-What a load of "Bull"- that is worth reading. I've always suspected that most of the espn.com baseball writers are liberals - I have a sneaking suspicion that Rob Neyer isn't religious.

Although I'm not certain, I'm pretty sure that all stadiums still play the national anthem during the 7th inning stretch right after God Bless America.

It's annoying I guess, but I don't really see it as the "God bots" stealing the game from anyone. I guess to each his own.

DonnieDarko

I always thought they played "Take me out to the ballgame" during the 7th inning stretch.

pug846

Yeah - sorry. I meant before the game starts. It's late...I can't think.

GaryP

From Tim Robbins' speech today;

I imagined leadership that would take this incredible energy, this generosity of spirit, and create a new unity in America born out of the chaos and tragedy of 9/11. A new unity that would send a message to terrorists everywhere: If you attack us we will become stronger, cleaner, better educated, more unified. You will strengthen our commitment to justice and democracy by your inhumane attacks on us. Like a phoenix, out of the fire we will be reborn.

And then came the speech. "You are either with us or against us." And the bombing began. And the old paradigm was restored as our leader encouraged us to show our patriotism by shopping and by volunteering to join groups that would turn in their neighbor for any suspicious behavior.


from ;

http://salon.com/opinion/feature/200...ins/index.html

(I think you have to click through some ads till you get there.)

fatherphil

i don't know, i thought the ass kicking we did in afghanistan and iraq were kind of a new paradigm.

i too was hoping for something new out of 9/11. i thought this was finally the arab nations' chance to come out boldly against the terrorists that seek shelter and support in their lands. i thought arafat could come out and seek help in controlling the destructive factions in his new country. but it was not meant to be and all went about their normal business without missing a beat. well except for the two aforementioned countries.