The Politicization of Everything -- Is Escapism Even Possible Any More?
Tired of politics? Want to escape for a while? Maybe talk sports, take in a movie, play a computer game, or go to a show. Well good luck.
Over the last year, I have turned off ESPN Radio, which I used to listen to all the time, because I got bored with all the discussion of politics and social justice. It wasn't even that I necessarily disagreed with the content, it is just that I was tuning in to listen to discussion about the merits of various NFL defenses and not some ex-jock's views on politics. If I want politics and social justice, I have other sources for those (I actually think there are some fascinating race and gender issues in sports, I just don't need to hear about them in every damn show). The same thing is happening in almost all entertainment fields. Over the last month at least a third of Engadget.com's blog posts have been purely about politics with no technology hook at all. If you go to a Broadway show, there is a chance you will get lectured on social justice by the actors. And God forbid one tunes into a music or movie awards show and expects to, naively, see non-political content about music and movies. You can't pay me enough to watch the Oscars any more.
I see, you're one of those tiresome libertarians.
The only reason they play it is because the fans want it. It isn't a political statement by any league. In fact I think the lefty loonies at the top of the leagues with they could stop playing it all together.
"Not really. Liberals and Conservatives love the anthem"
this does not sound like a valid argument about whether or no it is political. just because 2 major parties like something hardly demonstrates that it is not political.
both parties voted for the patriot act by a wide margin. that hardly means the patriot act is not political.
if the 2 parties both supported a voter law that made it harder for a third party to get elected that would be the very definition of political.
the standard you are using here does not seem to stand up to scrutiny.
third parties, other countries, and even a statement about the relationship of events (like a sports game) to amercia and standing with your hand over your heart are all political.
it seems like all this opposition to the idea is just using political statements to mask other politics. "The proper observance of rituals such as this this is the mark of an exemplary person." is an EXTREMELY political statement.
it is deeply nationalistic and conservative. it tells you how to order your life by respecting the state and tradition which, inherently, is the essence of politics.
i think mathew has the right of this. no one has yet offered an actual, substantive objection that is not either a bad standard or circular reasoning.
Up until recently, almost everyone stood for the anthem at a football game without any serious thought about the politics involved in doing so. To that end, it has changed, though only because the Left insists on making this an issue.
Just about the only time I hear the National Anthem, it is at a sporting event. Every country seems to have one.
There's an element of that. But it's mostly just a tradition.
Canada plays "Oh Canada", other countries play their anthem believing, I suppose, it is patriotic and a sign of national unity. I really don't consider those to be political.
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