Phyllis Schlafly returned to the headlines today endorsing Donald Trump for the Republican Presidential nomination. This Schlafly endorsement probably is intended to give the Manhattan Mogul some sway among social conservatives.
But a commentary that Schlafly published on the Eagle Forum may give conservatives consternation. Schlafly urged that the Major Leagues ban foreigners from playing in America's Pastime.
Ironically, Schlafly is making her pitch as the Major Leagues have been earnestly endeavoring to expand their influence worldwide. In 2014, the MLB season kicked off in Australia. There has been lots of talk (along with trepidation) about moving a franchise to Mexico. And currently, the Toronto Blue Jays aren't playing their home games on US soil (and it is dubious if Canada will withhold foreign players' visas).
While it is lamentable that there is not as much sandlot baseball that progresses player into the Major Leagues, reimposing bigotry barriers goes against the grain of the civil rights movement.
It is bizarre to believe that sports fans today worry about the ethnicity of an athlete as opposed to their athletic abilities. Anyone who suggests an "America First" on the fields of competition is out of this zeitgeist.
Granted, Phyllis Schlafly is 91 years old. Her notoriety skyrocked in the mid 1970s fighting against the willy nilly imposition of the Equal Rights Amendment. This was around the same time that then Senator Bob Dole (R-KS) was selected as President Ford's Vice Presidential running mate in 1976.
Perhaps it is time for Ms. Schlafly along with Senator Dole and President Jimmy Carter to gracefully surrender the public spotlight before they further embarrass themselves.
But a commentary that Schlafly published on the Eagle Forum may give conservatives consternation. Schlafly urged that the Major Leagues ban foreigners from playing in America's Pastime.
Ironically, Schlafly is making her pitch as the Major Leagues have been earnestly endeavoring to expand their influence worldwide. In 2014, the MLB season kicked off in Australia. There has been lots of talk (along with trepidation) about moving a franchise to Mexico. And currently, the Toronto Blue Jays aren't playing their home games on US soil (and it is dubious if Canada will withhold foreign players' visas).
While it is lamentable that there is not as much sandlot baseball that progresses player into the Major Leagues, reimposing bigotry barriers goes against the grain of the civil rights movement.
It is bizarre to believe that sports fans today worry about the ethnicity of an athlete as opposed to their athletic abilities. Anyone who suggests an "America First" on the fields of competition is out of this zeitgeist.
Granted, Phyllis Schlafly is 91 years old. Her notoriety skyrocked in the mid 1970s fighting against the willy nilly imposition of the Equal Rights Amendment. This was around the same time that then Senator Bob Dole (R-KS) was selected as President Ford's Vice Presidential running mate in 1976.
Perhaps it is time for Ms. Schlafly along with Senator Dole and President Jimmy Carter to gracefully surrender the public spotlight before they further embarrass themselves.
No comments:
Post a Comment