Notebook: The right to speak
EDITORIAL MUG: Larry Anderson
If you are a Kansas City Chiefs fan, you know of Harrison Butker, the team’s ace kicker. Even if you aren’t a Chiefs’ loyalist, you may have heard about the controversy that recently embraced Butker. No, he wasn’t busted for being under the influence, or for womanizing, or for driving too fast. Those can be excused. He’s in the doghouse for violating liberal sensibilities, thereby sparking faux outrage on the part of phonies everywhere
On May 11, Butker, an invited guest and speaker at Benedictine College in Atchison, KS, delivered a twenty-minute speech to graduates at the small conservative school that has been an anchor in the small conservative town since before the Civil War. It is a Catholic school that takes its mission seriously, as it should, and is conservative, which is necessary.
You see America needs conservative institutions and speakers who don’t hesitate to express their minds. Butker and Benedictine are those; hence the counter attacks by liberals who constantly preach tolerance and give breathless warnings about dangers to democracy but then contradict shamelessly.
I read Butker’s speech online, and you can read it all if so inclined. I found the talk to be intelligent and relevant, especially for those to whom it was primarily directed. There was a degree of politics in it, but it wasn’t heavily politicized deliberately. Nevertheless, I think Butker thumbed a political button by criticizing liberal beliefs and practices albeit briefly.
Here’s what Butker said early in the speech: “…you witnessed firsthand how bad leaders…can have a negative impact on society.”
Butker added: “…poor leadership have negatively impacted major life issues…like abortion, IVF, surrogacy, euthanasia, as well as growing support for degenerate cultural values in media, all stem from the pervasiveness of disorder.”
Of course liberals immediately got their knickers in a bunch because Butker had the audacity to criticize what the left holds dear, namely those things he mentioned within the context of moral judgment.
Butker overall was critical of liberal leadership, its handling of COVID, and of Biden. Liberals aren’t used to this. They demand complacency and conformity, but Butker understands the First Amendment guarantee applies to everyone. This troubles liberal superiority.
Butker said this of Biden: “Our own nation is led by a man who publicly proclaims his Catholic faith, but at the same time is delusional enough to make the Sign of the Cross during a pro-abortion rally.”
Butker had the audacity to point out the hypocrisy of this lackluster president. Sometimes even an obvious truth can hurt, especially if one’s audience is devout. Butker called it correctly; it was Biden’s doing after all, not Butker’s. Now better informed, people can decide meaning and impact
There’s no real problem here. Butker is an American exercising his right to speak openly. One may agree or disagree. That’s not the issue. The issue is nastiness directed at Butker for speaking his beliefs as requested.
Harrison added to his doghouse woes by these remarks to women grads: “Some of you may go on to lead successful careers in the world, but I would venture to guess the majority of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into the world.”
Well, you can see the problem for those who fancy themselves progressive. Butker’s remarks prioritize family, children, marriage and interrelationship success over other aspects of life such as career, marching about angrily, and political conformity. Liberals went into a tizzy. Joy Behar, that self-virtuous nightmare of liberalism, described Butker as having “mother issues,” which smugly calls into question a plethora of unsubstantiated matters. You understand gab should not take precedence over substantive opinion.
The heroic NFL denounced Butker’s remarks as antiquated and not reflective of their own enlightened views. Who cares? Harrison Butker remains the best player at his position and is in the prime of his production. He will endure as will conservatism and our collective right to protest when we see excess and wrong.
I applaud Butker’s courage in taking a stand, and I am certain he will continue to express his views before audiences willing to listen. I also applaud Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes, and others who supported Butker and reminded everyone having different opinions and being able to express them freely is what makes this country great. Those on the left who assign political purpose only elevate Harrison Butker and others willing to challenge liberal conformity with reminders of what is right and good.
Larry W. Anderson is a retired educator.
