So, let’s get this straight: The Yankees continue to play “God Bless America” during baseball games, a practice that began in 2001 after the 9/11 terror attacks. OK, fine. What’s odd, however, is that a fan says he was removed from the game because he attempted to go to the restroom during the musical interlude.
There is some discrepency over the policy at the stadium, The fan, Bradford Campeau-Laurion, told CBS TV that he was told that
theYankees had a rule restricting movement in the stands during the playing of God Bless America. The rule is enforced by ushers, stadium security and the NYPD.
The Yankees, however, say
there is no rule against moving or using a bathroom during a game but police say if a fan is disruptive to others they have the right to kick that fan out.
Police say the incident was alcohol related, but a witness has come forward to contradict the account.
To many, this might seem a silly tangent at a time when we are fighting two wars, the Russians have crossed into a neighbor’s territory, the economy is tanking and so on. But I would argue that these empty displays of patriotism set within these large eventws create a dangerous atmosphere that admittedly was much more stifling in the immediate aftermath of 9/11. But watching earlier coverage of this campaign, with its focus on flag pins and Michelle Obama’s remarks about pride in country, remembering as well the way the GOP turned war heroes like Sens. Max Clelland and John Kerry into caricatures, ,Dixie Chicks, Tim Robbins, Bill Maher, Linda Rondstadt — the list of public figures (and the anonymous horde) whose criticism of the war and the president resulted in ugly controversy and rebuke seems endless — it’s pretty clear that we still view dissent as dangerous. I’ve experienced this first hand, in letters and e-mails I’ve received when I’ve criticized the war, the president, John McCain, Fox News, conservatives, etc.
The dissent issue has faded, to some degree, but not completely — consider this story from The Progressive magazine:
Professor Robert Ovetz was driving through San Francisco on the morning of June 30 when he saw the lights of a police car behind him.
Ovetz pulled over.
“When the officer came up to my window, he asked the typical police requests: registration, drivers’ license, insurance card,” says Ovetz. “I asked him why he was pulling me over. And he said because of the bumper sticker on my back window.”
That sticker says, “No to Empire,” in large bold letters, and on the bottom in very small letters, “www.thenation.com,” Ovetz notes. It’s a bumper sticker from The Nation magazine.
Ovetz’s first reaction was to laugh, he says.
Then he recalls the following conversation:
“How could it be illegal for me to have a bumper sticker on my back windshield?”
“It’s obscuring your view.”
“You’re just trampling on my free speech rights.”
“No sir, I’m just doing my job.”
That’s the standard response in these situations. But it does appear to be a case of selective enforcement. And it is wholly consistent with the kind of infringements we have experienced since 9/11.
Hank Kalet 