Free Speech Lesson Number One
Right there on the heels of my article last week, Harrison Butker of the Kansas City Chiefs experienced a masters course in what free speech really means. In all fairness, he was asked to speak at a Catholic university and he offered his opinions on women’s role in the home, their community, and the business world. So, it wasn’t unsolicited per se, but we can say that it was an unforced error.
You can feel free to watch the speech on its own. It is available on the YouTubes and is slightly over 20 minutes. I’ll pass. He did come out and clarify those remarks after the fact, but his clarified comments were probably worse than the original comments themselves.
Right on cue, those that defend Butker are forgetting my lesson from the last time we talked about free speech. Free speech means that the government cannot throw you in jail for your speech. Even then, there are some caveats there like hate speech, slander, and libel. Butker isn’t inciting a riot, so he should be fine.
Whether he will continue to be employed or not is a different question. Colin Kaepernick would have a lot to say about that. The NFL is an entertainment business. They have made a ton of progress in attracting female fans and they had a huge assist from Taylor Swift. Allowing this kicker to remain an issue might halt the progress they have made there.
Yet, a ton of the NFL fanbase is conservative. These are the same clowns that threatened to boycott the NFL over Kaepernick. They seemingly have no concept of hypocrisy as they stand up to defend Butker while they openly campaigned for Kaepernick to be blackballed. What it comes down to is that free speech only matters when it is something they agree with. Then it is free speech. When they disagree then it is offensive and needs to be suppressed. This is the party that says they are for freedom folks.
I have no problem with Butker saying or thinking what he thinks. I vehemently disagree with it, but he has every right to say it. He also has to put on his big boy panties and accept the blowback. He’s a kicker. There are probably 100 guys that could do what he does at a reasonable level. Would they hit every field goal he hits or be 100 percent on extra points? Probably not. Would they do what he does without all of the headaches? Absolutely.
For the NFL this is not a free speech issue. This is an economic issue. Do they make more money by standing behind someone that openly has these views because a majority of their male fans might have these views or do they make more money by jettisoning this guy and standing behind a growing number of female fans?
The NFL has already made statements saying they disagree with his comments. Hell, the nuns at the university in question made a similar statement. His words may have been inartfully uttered, but the clarifications were worse. As Twain also said, better to be thought an idiot than to open one’s mouth and remove all doubt. Butker has every right to be an idiot. We all also have the right to call him one. Free speech runs both ways and it also doesn’t prevent private businesses from making a business decision. Let’s not conflate the two.
Free Speech means you have the right to open mouth and see how far you can insert foot.
1NFL kickers spend a lot of time by themselves, left alone with their deep thoughts. They rarely practice with the team. They kick the ball repeatedly toward two sticks, from various distances and angles over and over again.
They know what is expected of them. They are safely protected from the other team by a line of guys from their team. They get up, do their job, go home.
Like the 1950’s.
2Laura Ingraham proved conservatives hypocrisy by hailing Butker after telling certain basketball players to “shut up and dribble”. Conservatives also tell non-conservative actual current celebrities to shut up as well while hailing washed-up former celebrities for their conservative views.
3In case anyone here is asked to give a graduation speech, there’s some simple rules.
Do the past, present, and future. Past is to point out the long road to get to graduation (tip: don’t point out that 12 years is longer than most serve in prison for a plain vanilla murder). That they’ve proven themselves capable of carrying out a long term project to successful completion. For the present, congratulate also their parents, SOs, and teachers for being there. For the future, let them know you’re aware it’s increasingly a more difficult and complex world. And that neither you nor their parents may be aware of how challenging their next steps will be. But that their new diploma is a good tool to start with.
Avoid politics and social hot issues. You aren’t there to convey your opinions, but to focus on the erstwhile students. Tell a couple of dad jokes, but nothing offensive to anyone. Finally, no one wants to hear a speaker drone on endlessly on a day celebrating their new freedom, so keep it short. Sounds like the place kicker got that last part right, but totally screwed up the rest of it.
Yes, I’ve had to do the duty a few times. And while some have thanked me for the thoughts, *everybody* appreciates the brevity. Especially myself.
4What bothers me about his speech is this.
His mother works at a University.
His sister is an Ob Gyn.
He essentially demeaned their choices.
5He obviously is not proud of the accomplished women in his life.
I feel sorry for the “little woman” living in his house.
I hope she does not regret her decision.
Best graduation speech ever – “This is Water” by David Foster Wallace to Kenyon College in 2005. There’s an animated YouTube version, too, but you can read it here:
https://jamesclear.com/great-speeches/this-is-water-by-david-foster-wallace
6Not to diminish his talent that got him to the NFL, but the women who play college football are….KICKERS!
7