What has happened to the NFL? In the latest controversy, the football league has rejected a full page ad for the printed program that requested respect for our nation’s flag. A veterans’ organization, AMVETS, tried to purchase an ad expressing respect for the flag and for those who have defended it. The ad carried the tagline #PleaseStand.
#PleaseStand
In any other time and place, the ad would be unremarkable. A military honor guard carries a flag, the #PleaseStand text is prominently displayed, and there is a simple fundraising appeal. The appeal asks readers to “Make a $20 tax-deductible donation and help us help veterans by texting VETERANS to 444999.”
“It’s a simple, polite request that represents the sentiment of our membership, particularly those whose missing or paralyzed limbs preclude standing.”
AMVETS (American Veterans) describes itself as a “Congressionally-chartered veterans’ service organization, representing the interests of 20 million veterans. AMVETS is open to and fighting for all who honorably served in the United States military, including the Reserve and Guard. With more than 250,000 members nationwide, we are veterans serving veterans.”
The NFL chose to interpret the meaning of the ad defensively. They seem to have considered the message a repudiation of the NFL players who take a knee during the national anthem, rather than an appeal to support veterans. But AMVETS had a different take.
“The protests are very much out of our purview,” AMVETS Executive Director Joseph Chennelly said. “We were not looking to comment on those. This is part of our Americanism program.” AMVETS teaches schools and service organizations how to properly display, care for, and show respect for the American flag.
NFL Wants to Keep Politics Out?
According to USA Today, NFL Spokesman Brian McCarthy wrote in an email, “The Super Bowl game program is designed for fans to commemorate and celebrate the game, players, teams and the Super Bowl. It’s never been a place for advertising that could be considered by some as a political statement. The NFL has long supported the military and veterans and will again salute our service members in the Super Bowl with memorable on-field moments that will be televised as part of the game.”
AMVETS called the decision “corporate censorship.” The group issued a press release noting that the same ad “was accepted by the NHL and the NBA, and was slated to run in the programs for each organization’s all-star games.” Marion Polk, National Commander of AMVETS, was more explicit in a letter he sent to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.
“While we are well aware of the controversy surrounding players kneeling during the National Anthem and the public relations problems this has caused the NFL, our ad is neither a demand nor a judgment upon [them.]… It’s a simple, polite request that represents the sentiment of our membership, particularly those whose missing or paralyzed limbs preclude standing. We sought to give a new context to the discussion from the perspective of veterans who had been largely disregarded.”
Self-Inflicted Wound
What is particularly perplexing about this new NFL controversy is that it is an entirely self-inflicted wound. Polk said that his group placed the ad in response to a solicitation from the NFL. He noted it in his letter to Goodell. “Your staff’s decision to reject the ad, after asking AMVETS to purchase the ad space, serves to make the disregard even more stark and unfortunate.”
“The NFL’s intention to avoid controversy in this instance by suppressing our voice will have the opposite effect.”
Polk’s letter continues. “Mr. Goodell, veterans are good for more than just military aircraft flyovers, photo opportunities during halftime, or props to sell camouflage-style NFL apparel….”
“In closing, freedom of speech works both ways. We respect the rights of those who choose to protest, as these rights are precisely what our members have fought – and in many cases died – for. But imposing corporate censorship to deny that same right to those veterans who have secured it for us all is reprehensible and totally beyond the pale. “
“The NFL’s intention to avoid controversy in this instance by suppressing our voice will have the opposite effect. It will not be taken lightly by the hundreds of thousands of voices that AMVETS represents.”
Polk is probably correct in that assertion. This issue will cast another cloud over the NFL just as the Super Bowl approaches. The NFL spokesman, Brian McCarthy, did not return calls or emails requesting comment on the matter.
