Page 8 - October Newsletter

First Vice President’s Report
When it’s time to change the channel
I was sitting on my couch enjoying a rare afternoon off from union obligations, watching my favorite sport on television: golf. I was dreaming of driving the ball as far as these guys do and not have to three-putt every time I hit the green (if I ever hit the green). I reached over and grabbed my nine iron, which was sitting next to the couch, re- flexively practicing my grip as I slowly swung the club in front of me.
On the television was the President’s Cup golf tourna- ment.
In the President’s Cup, the team for each country chooses its own captain, not necessarily on their golf abilities, but on their leadership abilities. The captains for the American team were Phil Mickelson and Rickie
Fowler. Mickelson was shown on television taking selfies with past presidents from both political parties: Clinton, Obama and Bush Jr.
At one point, Fowler was interviewed. Fowler was very down-to-earth in his conversation. He put on no airs at all, even though he is one of the best golfers in the world. He said something I was totally unaware of. Fowler said his grandfather had been incarcerated in an internment camp during World War II because he was of Japanese descent. Fowler’s grandfather’s property had been tak- en from him. He lost his freedom. But Fowler was not ranting. He was just telling the story of his family in the course of the interview. In fact, Fowler said over and over how grateful and proud he was to be an American citi- zen.
“What a quality guy Fowler is,” I thought to myself.
Later that weekend, I saw footage of yet another col- lection of NFL players refusing to stand for the nation- al anthem, and others who stood still locking arms with one another. Now, I am a huge football fan. I even have season tickets to the Bears. There is nothing better than waking up on a Sunday, having the day off and getting ready to go to the game. I’ve had these season tickets for more than a decade. I’ve watched them in the warm Sep- tembers and the bitter cold Decembers. I’ve seen some great football players. But the recent actions of the NFL players have got me rethinking the investment and my commitment to the league. I’m sick of such images.
Where did this nonsense all begin? I’m not actually sure, but I recall that a grossly overpaid, oft-injured and ill-prepared quarterback near the end of his relentlessly mediocre career decided to start protesting the national anthem. The media, which is far too liberal in my mind, stoked the fires of this gesture by the quarterback and manufactured a controversy about which they could write even more stories.
I’m sick of it. I wonder what would happen if the police started kneeling? The city — the country — would collapse. I like living in a country where everyone stands tall. On my couch watching these NFL players, my anger began to get the best of me. I began stirring on my couch. But then I looked over at the remote, resting on the edge of my couch. I picked it up and clicked.
PAT MURRAY
8 CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ OCTOBER 2017
Sometimes, you’ve just got to turn the channel. d