NFL and military jingoism

What a bunch of fucking whiners. Big deal. I can do without the abundance of the patriotic stuff, but I'm not the kind of asshole who bitches about it. Not hurting anyone. Not infringing on your right to change the fucking channel for a few minutes. What's the alternative? Fifteen more minutes of tired "analysis"? An extended interview with the president, or some random famous asshole who's at the game because he/she is a famous asshole? More pregame music? All of that sucks 10 times more than a little recognition — even it if is overdone — of the military or U.S. history.

 

Can never thank the military enough. Period.

 

Are they thanking the military, or are they trying to siphon off public support for the military for themselves?

 

To be clear, their issue with it had nothing to do with cutting into their viewing time. They thought it cheapened and trivialized war and turned military members into a prop. They felt it was desensitizing. Maybe not to everyone, but to a lot of people. And it is hard to argue with that. I told my wife during the broadcast that I am embarrassed with the cheerleading I engaged in during the first Gulf War, as a teen-ager.

 

In retrospect maybe Fox should have paid tribute to the Egyptian protesters.

 

IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT MOVE!!!!! [/jingoistic inbred hick response]

 

Probably a little of both.

 

Sunday's Super Bowl was a triumph of socialism:

http://www.bobcesca.com/blog-archives/2011/02/socialist_footb.html

 

Fox has a whole slate of prime-time show it could have been cross-promoting. Duh

 

Do some members of the military deserve more thanks than others? Not everyone is a hero, but there is at least one coward.

 

I learned something in all that flag-waving -- first I knew that the Medal of Honor had previously only been awarded to people who died in combat.

Also ...

TSP undersells it, but that is a very good commentary. Breaks down just how much taxpayers have spent to build up the coffers of NFL owners and players.

 

As an ex-military member who served in Vietnam--very briefly, only six months inshore--I appreciate any positive treatment of the military, because it's so different from what I came home to. My son, who served in Iraq, is much more skeptical, particularly of songs that celebrate the military; he feels it's more commercial than sincere.

I can't comment on the Super Bowl ceremony, because I didn't watch it. I had work to do; fortunately I saw the last twenty minutes of the game, which was quite satisfying.

And: I wondered about "military jingoism" when I read the title. Turns out DW was referring to NFL jingoism toward the military, not jingoism on the part of the military. So, OK.

About one national anthem out of ten at the baseball games I attend involve military bands or choruses. I stand up, put my hat over my heart and hope for a good performance. I never complain; in fact, I rather like it.