OK, so I might say some things that some of you don’t like, but hey, that’s my right, isn’t it? I’d like to argue the other side of the Rashard thing for just a second, since it seems he’s getting no love anywhere in sports media, not that “love” is really what he deserves right now…
I hashed a little of this out with Todd, another writer here at NPC, on one of his posts, and I just read Craig’s recent post about Rashard resembling a “Shock Jock” and the whole thing has me boiling a little.
Rashard’s comments were not ridiculous. There, I said it. They were not outlandish, and they were not loony. He’s not saying something of “shock value.” He is talking about theories about what actually went down on 9/11 that have sound evidence to support their claims. It’s not the same as arguing that the moon is made of cheese. It just isn’t. Do any of us actually know what happened? I sure don’t. I watched it as it happened live on TV and I still don’t know what actually happened.
Isn’t finding the truth about what is really going on with the man behind the curtain actually the most Patriotic thing that we as American citizens can strive after? As Rashard said in his so-called apology: THINK! That’s his point. His point was not to insult those people who lost loved ones in 9/11, and his point was not to insult those men and women who bravely serve our country and lay their lives on the line every day. His point was to make sure that we are not blindly following what the government tells us is happening in the world.
There is a reason why 1984 is required reading in high school. Pick it up. Read it.
On my way down to Mexico last week (I’m still here touring and enjoying the sunshine), I read the children’s novel, The Giver at the recommendation of a friend. It was a beautiful book about finding the truth and not allowing ourselves to be sheltered and lied to. I strongly recommend reading it. It only took me about 4 hours to get through and I couldn’t put it down.
I am certainly not saying that the people calling for Rashard’s head are not well-read or well-versed people. I am merely suggesting some great books that have a surprising amount in common with what is happening in the world, from the death of an ugly man like OBL, to Rashard’s comments and how they fit in to our little NFL community, and how the government is using these actions for self-gain.
Todd said something I found to be very interesting in our conversations on his post. He told me that he always believes (though he admits it may be naive) that the simplest explanation is the most likely to be true. I must admit, it is sound logic, and he is most likely right. Did the buildings hit in 9/11 fall because planes hit them, or did they fall “demolition style” in a way that is not likely to have been caused by the planes? Most likely, it’s the former. But you know what, questioning whether that is the truth is not wrong. It is absolutely the most Patriotic thing that we can do as citizens.
We are a Nation that prides ourselves in freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of religion…freedom of all people. Yet we are outraged when someone exercises that right. I’m proud of Rashard for thinking against the grain and encouraging his “followers” to do the same. The fact is that he is an influential figure and he will influence the thought of others.
Where Rashard went totally wrong was the medium, and the timing.
If he had gone and spoke at a school about how he believes celebrating the murder of another is wrong, would we be reacting the same way? If he had requested an interview with the PG and said some of these things in a place where his words and sincerity could be realized more fully, would we be reacting this way? If he had waited a week, or a month before saying these things, would we reacting this way?
His real fault was in his timing, not in his content.
When I read Rashard’s comments, I was not surprised. I have family and friends that think right along the same lines as Rashard, and so I really didn’t think that much of it. And guess what? If this were mid-season, Rashard’s words would be news for at the most 24 hours, and then it would fade off in to oblivion once new photos of Farves penis surface or Ray Lewis kills another guy.
Seriously.
The thought of Steelers Nation being in an uproar over Rashard’s comments enough to want him out of a jersey, well I just find that to be a little bit ridiculous. People post their political views on facebook, all over the board, all the time and are not fired for their words. I just can’t get behind this idea that Rashard has done something inherently wrong. He’s one of those people, it seems, that feels uncomfortable celebrating the murder of another human being. I must admit, I feel the same.
On one level I am glad that OBL is gone, but on another, I am not naive enough to believe that his death will be the cause of any less killing in the world. He is a man who has been brought to justice, and if you want to pump your fist and celebrate the win for the families of 9/11 and all of the other thousands of people this guy killed, then that is your right. Even with all of that, it still feels inherently wrong to celebrate the murder of another, and frankly, it makes me wonder what we are capable of as a people if we are capable of such a cold response to such heavy action.
This is not a movie, this is not a video game.
So, before we go crucifying Rashard, let us heed his advice and think. Maybe after really thinking about this, you’ve come to the same conclusion: I’m glad OBL is dead, and I’m going to celebrate it. I am totally OK with that. I am OK with covert action, and appreciate of the troops who risked their lives to make it happen. The point is to think about what we believe before we sign our lives over to a certain belief.
There was a quote being passed around the other day, albeit miss-quoted, that I think fits nicely in to what I am trying to describe here. I have broken up the quote and accurately attributed the first half to Jessica Dovey (just some facebook user) and the second to Martin Luther King, Jr. Pair the two, and we are on to something.
"“I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy.” – Jessica Dovey“Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” – Martin Luther King, Jr."
I post this with the utmost respect to our readers and to my colleagues here at NPC. In no way am I inferring that you all “have it wrong” — I don’t know who has it right. I imagine I never will, but that doesn’t stop me from attempting to live an examined life, and trying to figure it all out, one Rashard blow up at a time.
When all is said and done, maybe the Rooney’s will get rid of Rashard and bring in Tiki or another FA. Maybe I am too idealistic and too young to realize the weight of Rashard’s words and how they have affected people who suffer every day because of lost loved ones. I have lost loved ones myself, and I imagine if it seemed someone were taking a shot at my loss, I would be reacting exactly the same way.
Through it all, my only advice for Rashard, and for you the people of Steeler Nation, is to think before we speak and consider the consequences of our words. It’s something Rashard probably should have done, and it’s something we should do before we cast out people who think differently than we do as loony or extreme. After some consideration, you will find that you learn more from people who think differently than you do, than you will from like-minded individuals. In the words of Mike Tomlin “Iron sharpens Iron.” It applies to the mind as well.
*I think Tomlin actually says “Steel sharpens Steel” but the idea remains the same.