I am writing in response to ESPN’s pulling Hank Williams, Jr.’s opening performance from Monday Night Football for commenting that a golf outing with Barak Obama and John Boehner is like Hitler golfing with Netanyahu. This is a good illustration of how hypersensitive the public has generally become of the mere mention of a potentially offensive topic and how institutions are willing to fire the speaker regardless of whether or not what was said was actually derogatory toward anyone. The joke would have been perfectly acceptable if he had said that an Obama/Boehner golf outing would be like Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker golfing together. While people are rightfully angered by Hitler’s persecution of the Jews, Mr. Williams’ comment can in no way be rationally interpreted as him showing support for Hitler or him comparing Obama to Hitler as some suggested. He was simply trying to provide and extreme example to illustrate how far apart Obama and Boehner are politically by suggesting that their relationship compares to that of well known arch enemies. Unfortunately, I think it is now safe to say that the H word is a forbidden term for people in the public light unless you are explaining how horrible his crimes were. I would like to think that ESPN would have the spine to say that while they wish Mr. Williams would have used Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker instead of Hitler and Netanyahu, Mr. Williams didn’t actually make any derogatory or offensive comments toward anyone or any group and were therefore standing by him. As unfortunate as it is, it appears as if cries of being offended, regardless of whether or not they are rational, still prevail over what is right and fair. Many people including me will miss Hank’s introduction to Monday Night Football and especially so knowing that he was fired for no good reason.
I agree. I can't believe ESPN was surprised that he said something like this. When I heard they fired him, I thought: "Have you not met Hank Williams, Jr.?"
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