Tolerance is the New Intolerance
Or something. Be careful what you wish for
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Uh-oh. It’s Stick to Sports time again.
HERE’S WHAT’S GONNA HAPPEN because those who preach tolerance can be so vigilantly intolerant:
We’re going to have a world in which nobody says anything of substance. A place where meaningful ideas and much-needed discussions vanish because, what’s the use?
One man’s free speech is another man’s cancellation.
ESPN.com:
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Anthony Bass said Thursday he doesn't believe an anti-LGBTQIA+ social media post he shared last month was hateful. The right-handed reliever also said he is "working hard" to educate himself, including meeting with the executive director of group Pride Toronto.
Bass apologized before a May 30 game against Milwaukee, one day after sharing a post on Instagram calling for anti-LGBTQIA+ boycotts of Target and Bud Light over support they showed for the LGBTQIA+ community.
However, Bass later said he didn't believe the post, which described the sale of LGBTQIA+ merchandise as "evil" and "demonic," should be considered hateful.
Well. My initial reax to this was to lie down in a cool place. The world works better when we’re not at each other’s throats. Be who you want to be. Live and let live. If you don’t like something or someone, walk away. We don’t have to “celebrate’’ our differences. Or set them on fire. We just have to roll with them.
Howevuh, not being one to ignore something that gripes me. . .
I don’t especially care for the term “educate himself.’’ It implies Bass’ opinion arises simply from ignorance. It suggests, plainly, “If you don’t agree with us, you’re stupid.’’ That sounds like sabermetrics savants a couple decades ago. If you don't agree with us, you don’t know baseball.
Second, Bass and those who posted on the subject might be dead wrong. I happen to believe they are. That is their right. Trying to improve the situations of minority groups by silencing their critics — ahem, “educating’’ them — is curing one wrong and creating another.
Bass shouldn’t be silenced for having an opinion. No matter how distasteful some might find it. Intolerance on the left is a reason folks on the right have such a problem with folks on the left. And I’m not exactly Mr. MAGA.
I understand the power of words. Words create perceptions. Perceptions become reality. But you’re not going to change hearts and minds by being as radical in your conduct as people like Anthony Bass are in theirs.
Naomi Osaka
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I’ll refer again to my cancellation two summers ago, by defenders of the pro tennis star Naomi Osaka. She was playing at the W&S Open. I asked her a question: How do you reconcile your need for privacy with your celebrity status?
You’d have thought I’d asked her if she were raised by wolves in the Yukon.
The world came after me. Literally. Thousands of hate e-mails, interview requests from New Zealand and the BBC. Please come on the Today Show. No, thanks, I don’t think I will.
I was, take your pick, a misogynist, a bully, a sexist and a misanthrope. I wanted to respond, I was advised not to. Just lay low a few days. They’ll move on to the next outrage soon enough. And so they did.
It’ll pass for Bass just as quickly. Maybe he will think twice about applauding an over-the-top tweet. That’s good. Maybe he’ll also leave to others the back-and-forth so vital to functioning democracies. That’s bad.
Tolerance., sadly, works best as a concept.
Now, then. . .
HAVE PASSPORT, WILL TRAVEL. . . From Enquirer soccer maven Pat Brennan:
FC Cincinnati is preparing to add a polished goal-scorer to its team, which is already leading Major League Soccer by a wide margin.
MLS sources confirmed Thursday to The Enquirer that Aaron Boupendza, 26, of Gabon and most recently of the Saudi Pro League, is finalizing a deal to join FC Cincinnati. The transfer fee paid by FCC is above $7 million.
I’ll never really understand how soccer works. The lads just sort of amble in and out. Here today, loaned tomorrow. Can’t play for a few weeks, coach. Gotta rep my country. From Gabon, with love.
As an outsider, I have questions:
Is it possible for a fan to have a favorite player, knowing the way players seem to tour the globe at will? Or is the devotion largely team-focused?
Does chemistry matter much in MLS?
Zac Taylor has built his rep — and a Super contender — partly on his skill at culture-building. That takes time, and guys who stick around. Soccer seems like a sport in which individuals benefit from solid team play. It’s valuable to know what the player next to you is doing. With players traveling light, is the familiarity there? Are teams with less turnover better for that, or does talent trump all?
The global nature of the sport makes free agency an all-day buffet, yeah? Have passport, will travel. Imagine if the Bengals could find a Pro Bowl-caliber tackle from Tasmania or an all-world pass-catching tight end from Mumbai.
AND NOW. . .
Imbiber Dave finds happiness (and no clean up) with good friends.
Sometimes the imbibing is laid out for you. We should celebrate these times, and the fine people that enjoy them with us. In this case, we celebrated a milestone birthday for our good friends. Now they were kind enough to plan a party that felt like it was for us.
The Post in Ft Thomas is a perfect place for such an occasion. We simply showed up for a party and they had already catered our own food. The Post had the drinks taken care of. An ideal place for the kids to play, yes arcade games was included. Now don’t ask me for my top 5 of these places because I don’t know many, but I’m glad that I live about five minutes from one in my hometown.
If you’ve ever been to Element Eatery, it is similar, sans the free arcade games. As gray becomes the primary color in my beard, I continue to enjoy a meet up in public over a hosted event more and more. Parties at home can be awesome, but for some reason the staff never shows up to put your kids to bed or clean up once things get into full swing.
I’m thankful for friends that allow us to maximize our imbibing experience, by allowing the professionals to pour us pints all night long.
Cheers!
cincybeerguydave@gmail.com
Hey Michelle!
Bold Moves ~ My favorite time at the ballet is the Bold Moves Festival..it’s more than ballet it’s the coolest most powerful performances directed by some of the most WORLD renowned choreographers. Anyone that loves dance this is for you! June 9th-18th
Art Works Art Amplified Party ~ Sunday come experience this over-the-top event, starting with ArtBrunch at Somerset, 10:30 with yoga, mimosas, art talks DJ and more. It’s $50. Then ArtParty 1:00 at Alice OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. Paint a mural, immersive dance party and more..
Opera in the Park ~ Sunday Washington Park 7:30 Free. Come early and enjoy a performance from the Cincinnati Symphony.
Concours d’ Elegance Car Show ~ Ault Park is hosting 45th year of a car enthusiasts dream! … ticket booth opens at 9:30 gates open at 10:00
Charm at the Farm ~ Hit Lebanon this weekend for some fun shopping, eating and fun! Friday - Sunday
Rookwood Pottery - Friday and Saturday hit the behind the scenes tour, 10:30 or 1:00 Next Friday and Saturday they are having a workshop. Perfect for father day gifts!
Aces Grand Opening ~ Saturday a full day of activities for the whole fam.. check out the new Aces Pickleball and Kitchen lessons, giveaways, music, drink specials and more. Also, checkout my giveaway on my posts
Family Festival Block Party~ Contemporary Art Center Saturday 11-2 Join in a free summer block party with tons of creative fun and hotdogs, hamburgers and snacks!
Second Sunday on Main ~ Noon -5 so many great performers of all kinds will be making you dance, smile and have a good time.
Movies/ OFF Market ~ Friday dusk is the showing of The Greatest Showman, then shop away Summit Park Saturday 10-4
Cincy Summer Beerfest ~ TQL Stadium sip on lots of suds Saturday 12:30 and 6pm ticketed
Hey Michelle,
Do you want to know where to eat, drink and have fun in Cincinnati? Follow me @HeyMichelle1 on IG
https://heymichelle-help.com
TUNE O’ THE DAY. This guy was a comet, wasn’t he? I really liked his first album, from which this tune originated. His second effort, not so much. I’m sure he recorded more, but I stopped listening.
If you want it, come and get it for cryin’ out loud.
Your paragraph about not being at each other's throats and live and let live made me think of one of my heroes, Kurt Vonnegut. Vonnegut is obviously a great writer with a long list of books to his credit, but it was what he said and wrote about the Sermon on the Mount and Jesus' teachings that have really shaped my worldview.
Vonnegut, who was described at a "Christ-loving atheist," essentially believed we should all be good to each other and Beatitudes and the Lord's Prayer specifically lay the foundation on how to do that. That's it. The words resonated with him, but he certainly wasn't advocating for organized religion or Christianity, which I feel probably (and unfortunately) needs to be said.
My opinion and $5 might get you a cheap coffee at Starbucks, but I feel like working off the baseline of just being good to people has wild residual effects. Tolerance, understanding and acceptance are all baked into the good equation...even if they are packaged in just letting people live their lives without planting a flag or beating your chest for or against fill-in-the-blank topic.
Ah, cognitive bias! The perfect subject for a contemplative TML. I have spent a fair amount of time trying to understand my own personal version, but I won’t bore you with the details. Nonetheless, it is on display whenever we throw opinions around here.
I believe most people overlook what makes them think the way they do. Your question to Osaka was so non-threatening there is no logical explanation for the over-the-top reaction. If that triggers an explosion of personal invective, darker forces must be at work. When it happened, my first thought was why even have press conferences if feelings are that raw? I am similarly perplexed when a sports star with unconfirmed qualifications like King James is asked a political question immediately after playing a difficult and taxing game. What makes that useful in the grand scheme of things?
As for the baseball player, revealing your inner self is certainly easier in the world of social media. Given that MLB set a standard for political correctness by moving the All-Star Game out of Atlanta because the state legislature failed the MLB litmus test, my thinking is Bass needs to put the phone down whenever the Instagram or Twitter itch takes over. It’s certainly his right, thank God for America, but the man with the checkbook is always the man with the checkbook.
Finally, I have to say your writing and pontificating has reached new heights, Doc! I always look forward to TML and will be suffering in your European absence. And today was even more special when I saw the saintly words “Live and let Live!” That will sustain me for weeks, perhaps months. Keep up the good work, sir!