There is ample justification for believing that giving jerks attention may be what they want and not what they need. I agree that this position holds water, but after over 12 years of blogging, I can say with confidence that the other side of that is often worth the “price.”
Especially when referring to privileged millionaire athletes (or celebrities, or ‘Journalists, or politicians) who invite it upon themselves.
The adage suggests that any attention is good attention, but there’s a growing list of #MeToo and other hashtag movement victims who’d disagree.
I bring it up because we encourage debate and disagreement. We’re not afraid to allow others a voice even when we may not entirely agree. Just look at Wes Champon’s last Op-Ed. I published it because it is a real sentiment that needs to be explored and vetted and vented and discussed even if I agree to disagree on some of the finer points as I did here.
This brings me back to Gwen Berry. She’s already a superstar in her chosen field and a millionaire. She can keep being that no matter what I or anyone writes about her. But her dissing the Flag and the anthem as a representative of the US is as offensive to me as Democrat hatred of the country and its flag.
It is fertile ground for another look at this corrosive culture and an opportunity to activate Americans who might still think this is some fad among the elite.
It is not a fad. It’s on their bucket list.
So there’s this:
As noted in my opening, there is a great argument for not “advertising” bad behavior. Mass shooters come to mind, but there are plenty of less criminal examples. This was not one of those (IMO), and as a result of all that “somebody” business, we learned something else. Gwen Berry isn’t just a whiny disgruntle elite. She’s a mean gurl and, by any left-wing measure, a bigot and a racist and has been for at least a decade.
I’m not the least bit offended by any of his or, likely, anything else this sudden attention unearths about the character of Gwen Berry. And if she’d just been an athlete and left the politics out, no one else would care either. She could be a racist incognito.
But that’s not the playfield we’ve been forced onto by progressive cancel-culture. Blacklisting people regardless of stature is a partisan political weapon in a world where the same people have made everything political across the scope of human history – even as they rewrite it.
Gwen Berry is an outstanding athlete. She earned her acclaim and her wealth. No one should spite her or deny her that. But she stood on the shoulders of the American Republic, embraced the idea that regardless of where you begin, hard work and determination can result in success. Your version of success could mean money, fame, or a simple, quiet life of adequate means.
She chose a hard path, made a commitment, and became a champion. She became somebody whether we knew her name or not.
Now she’s become somebody else, and more people than ever know her for that.
I have a hard time seeing how this benefits her, but I am happy to entertain those opposing thoughts, even Gwen Berry’s.
And I have no issue with her shunning or even burning the flag (I realize I’m not in great company there) but not when she’s on a podium as an athletic ambassador for our nation. That goes for the anthem as well.
I also have no issue with people giving her hell and a half for doing it.
That’s just how I roll.
