OPINION|
I must find a way to embrace Harrison Butker — the man suddenly famous for speaking on matters of faith and the role of women in America — so that I can reconcile that guy, commencement speaker, with Thunder Leg, the all-pro who kicks for the Chiefs.
I’ve read Butker’s May 11 speech and fully support his right to speak his mind. I had not realized that Butker is a conservative Catholic and he was speaking at Benedictine College, a Catholic college in Atchison, Kansas.
He spoke to his audience as a fellow Catholic.
For example, in his talk he encouraged the Benedictine graduates to land a job in an area where they could attend a traditional Latin Mass — one where the priest doesn’t necessarily face parishioners and speaks in a dead language no one can understand.
For those offended by the other things Butker said — which I’ll get to — you are free to disagree. But I find irony in calls for the NFL to ban him from the game or to boycott the purchase of his No. 7 jersey.
Get over it.
Isn’t free speech the same whether it’s Harrison Butker or Colin Kaepernick?
The irony here is that I suspect the same people who want to censure Butker are the same people who rallied behind a different No. 7, Colin Kaepernick, who basically was exiled from the NFL for taking a knee during the national anthem in 2016 while with the San Francisco 49ers.
Kaepernick was protesting systemic racism and police violence against Blacks.
And vice versa: The same people condemning Kaepernick for his actions and speech are the same people now lauding Butker for his speech.
I would be remiss if I didn’t state that the genesis of this column was a sermon preached by the Rev. Phil Snider on May 19 at Brentwood Christian Church.
What we have here are two sides clinging like 2-year-olds to their previously held views with no interest whatsoever in the consistency of those views.
But I will point out two things I think are important. It is far more provocative and courageous to make your point by kneeling during the national anthem during a televised football game than it is to make a commencement speech as a Catholic at a small Catholic college in Kansas.
Second, Kaepernick paid a price for his free speech and Butker has not and most likely will not pay a price for his.
To me, that simply shows Kaepernick challenged the power structure in this nation and Butker did not.
In my view — remember, I have free speech, too — Butker, under the pretense of somehow being under attack as a Catholic and Christian in America, actually is supporting the same-old notion of white man/top dawg.
Here’s my struggle in accepting both sides of Harrison Butker.
When Butker says this, as he did in his commencement speech … “The world around us says that we should keep our beliefs to ourselves whenever they go against the tyranny of diversity, equity and inclusion.”
As a Chiefs fan, I then try to remember … From 57 yards! Super Bowl record! Chiefs beat 49ers! Harrison Butker! Fight that tyranny you beautiful sack of testosterone and masculinity!
When he says this … “All of my success is made possible because a girl I met in band class back in middle school would convert to the faith, become my wife and embrace one of the most important titles of all: homemaker.”
I tell myself this … He’s made 38 of 42 field goals! God bless you, Mrs. Butker, for sacrificing your life so your man can kick a football for the team I support!
When he says this about Gay Pride … “Not the deadly sin sort of pride that has an entire month dedicated to it. But the true God-centered pride that is cooperating with the Holy Ghost to glorify Him.“
I tell myself this … Dear God, please let Harrison Butker make this 55-yarder in sudden-death overtime and keep his mind clear of any angry thoughts about gay people who might be having sex.
And when he says this … “Be unapologetic in your masculinity. Fight against the cultural emasculation of men.“
I turn my thoughts to this … Woe unto the Chargers, Raiders and Broncos. Let the mighty foot of Harrison Butker batter their loins into emasculation.
Go Chiefs! Go free speech!
This is Pokin Around column No. 183.
