Slim, my man, I think the butter just slipped off your biscuit. Suggesting that Dak Prescott and MSU football players refuse to play Alabama over a flag is outrageous (Slimantics: A tale of two teams, Nov. 13). At best you are suggesting that they break a contract.
They agreed to play football for MSU in return for a college scholarship and the possibility of playing at the next level. I doubt if that contract mentioned a flag.
At worst you are inciting a riot with possible harm to innocent people. Fortunately, I think Dak, Coach Mullen, and the team have too much class to take your bait.
But what’s your excuse Slim? We’re talking about a flag, a piece of fabric. At most it is a symbol, but it is not the fabric of our country. Lots of folks around here might be offended by the red, white and blue flag with the big “M” on it.
Farther to our north, citizens probably are repulsed by the MSU flag. Non-Christians probably don’t like any flag bearing a cross. So what? These are only symbols.
Your premise appears to justify disobedience if one disagrees with a superior, such as a college president. That way of thinking can quickly take us down a slippery slope.
If I’m a general or a soldier who finds the President’s war orders revolting, then I should be free to ignore them until he resigns. So what if I took an oath (contract) to serve and to defend my country. Such behavior was considered treason when I was growing up. I guess you agree with Edward Snowden and Bradley Manning.
Next I guess you will want to re-write history. How can we have George Washington as the father of our country when he owned slaves. Take his face off the dollar bill and remove all monuments dedicated to this man. His behavior 200-plus years ago is offensive now.
I believe in and support freedom of speech, even if I find it offensive. Someone will always take exception to the spoken word, sign, movie, etc. But we have laws and the majority still rules. If the voters or the legislators decide to change the state flag, so be it.
The suggestion or encouragement of disruptive behavior on the part of student athletes by the press is the betrayal of a trust. That’s the definition of treason. We don’t need a mini-Paris in our area.
Get your butter back on your biscuit, Slim.
Martin Pomphrey
Mayhew
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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