“We did not vote for Bush”
One woman writes a note on the back of a menu and holds it up while her team is receiving a world championship award. The tin gods of American bridge go bat-shit!
In the genteel world of bridge, disputes are usually handled quietly and rarely involve issues of national policy. But in a fight reminiscent of the brouhaha over an anti-Bush statement by Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks in 2003, a team of women who represented the United States at the world bridge championships in Shanghai last month is facing sanctions, including a yearlong ban from competition, for a spur-of-the-moment protest.
At issue is a crudely lettered sign, scribbled on the back of a menu, that was held up at an awards dinner and read, “We did not vote for Bush.”
The United States Bridge Federation calls for a one-year suspension from federation events, including the World Bridge Olympiad next year in Beijing; a one-year probation after that suspension; 200 hours of community service “that furthers the interests of organized bridge”; and an apology drafted by the federation’s lawyer.
It would also require them to write a statement telling “who broached the idea of displaying the sign, when the idea was adopted, etc.”
Alan Falk, a lawyer for the federation, adds: “I am instructed to press for greater sanction against anyone who rejects this compromise offer.”
Here is an email link to the Board of Directors of the USBF. Praise them if you’re some kind of patent-leather patriot. Condemn their 19th Century crappola if you care about Americans retaining something more than imitation freedoms.
Bullshit. Something like a bridge tournament is a private event. The organization sanctioning and running it has every right to keep politics out of it and ban players for any other reason they feel like as well.
This is not the same thing as standing on a public street corner with a sign.
Warms the cockles of my heart to see one of our perpetual reactionaries support explicit discrimination. Now, will we see, say, MLB ban players who won’t sign loyalty oaths, boxing circles ban fighters who refuse to fight in foreign wars, people fired from their jobs for espousing political ideology counter to government fiat?
Because – of course – thats all happened in our proud democratic past. From the days of McCarthyism to the VietNam War resistance, the thugs who rely on citizens to “toe the line” have tried to squash dissent.
Keeping your mouth shut is only patriotic if you’re an obedient drone in a nation of cowards.
Sure, they can do whatever they want, but community service? I think someone is taking themselves way too seriously. I would tell them to go to hell.
The United States Bridge Federation? Do they have troops in Iraq? If not maybe they should go and at least teach those heathens how to build bridge(s).
…or perhaps its as simple as punishing this group to deter future opinion signage or comments at their events. Not all messages on inappropriate signage need to be controversial to be frowned upon.
#2 – You think MLB wouldn’t have had a problem if some Red Sox players held up signs during the trophy presentation ceremony?
#3 – 200 hours of community service “that furthers the interests of organized bridge” In other words, if you want back in you can help repair the damage to our organizations reputation you caused.
The issue here is, when standing on that podium, those women are representing the USBF, not simply themselves. Of course they can still tell the USBF to go to hell and go play bridge somewhere else.
#1, iHotAir(YOP)
Right, it is bullshit. It is also very wrong to discriminate against those with contrary political views. Since these women are professional players, this could amount to a “firing”. As a governing body, the United States Bridge Federation must apply any and all by-laws equally and fairly. That would include notice that political speech of ANY kind is banned and that policy is enforced against everyone, even Bush supporters. Making up the rules and punishing people without a hearing is a sure way to lose most wrongful dismissal suits of this sort.
What might be of even more concern is the World Bridge federation sanctioning the USBF for sanctioning players for activities at one of their events. Wouldn’t that be great if these women were certified by the World body to be the official representatives of the United States?
#7 – I didn’t see anything suggesting they were making it as they went along, however from the end of the article: David Anderson, a bridge player who supports the team, said it was common to see players at international tournaments sporting buttons bearing the date “1-20-09,” when Bush will hand off to a new president, as well as buttons reading “Support Our Troops.”
“They don’t go after those people,” Anderson said.
We still don’t know exactly what is in their bylaws, but to some degree at least, they do appear to be enforcing unevenly – probably because it didn’t even occur to them until the high visibility sign incident. So on that point I would have to agree with you.
However, going forward, I would fully support the USBF writing a more explicit code of conduct (if it’s not already there) and enforcing it across the board.
Yet more proof that Democrats are worse than your wife in terms of just letting a topic die…
What happened to manners and proper social discourse. 10 years ago with all the republicans hating President Clinton you never saw a republican holding up signs like that or making speeches in Europe like the Dixie Chicks did, those actions are rude and should still be socially unacceptable(you can dislike the man but respect the office and your country )
I wonder if the sign had read “America, love it or leave it” or “Better dead than red” there would have been the same reaction.
No, Moss. It’s not about “discrimination”. It’s about an idiotic bunch of cry-babies who feel the need to politicize absolutely everything.
A bridge club is NOT a political organization, and its members should respect its right to remain such, or else they should start a new club that is more to their liking.
In a similar vein, some people can’t even have a discussion of spelling without turning it into a political rant.
The word should be kerfuffle, not kafuffle.
the comparison to dixie chicks doesn’t hold — people paid to see and to hear them, and the dixie chicks were expected to speak their minds.
this isn’t even like the entertainment award shows where half-wit celebs are almost expected to make stupid quasi-political drug-addled remarks
no, this is a regulated apolitical club and their actions were completely inappropriate, and the organization was right to kick them out — imagine an olympic athlete bad-mouthing the government from their podium, it simply is not the appropriate forum, and it cheapens and debases the event.
i’m a liberal, and i approve this message!
I agree with the The United States Bridge Federation, after all; the only thing women should do is spit babies through their c*nts and raise children.
These women who dared defy the base of the institution should have their fingers broken as punishment and then forced to weave a perfect all american quilt depicting the role women should have according to Jebus.
This was being played in China.
As a Canadian, I can tell you that most foreigners love the American people, and the ideals America (used to ) stand for, but feel that the current American government sometimes acts like the totalitarian bullies they once fought against.
I suspect these ladies were feeling a little of the heat over there, and wanted people to know that not everyone toes the Bush government’s line.
But I guess the US Bridge Federation has shown that one better toe the line or else.
No, Moss. It’s not about “discrimination”. It’s about an idiotic bunch of cry-babies who feel the need to politicize absolutely everything.
Would that be the people that made the sign or the people that made a big deal about the sign?
#12, Frank,
No, Moss. It’s not about “discrimination”. It’s about an idiotic bunch of cry-babies who feel the need to politicize absolutely everything.
OK, so what did they politicize?
What political issue did they rail against?
What political party did they declare their love for?
What political candidate did they ally with?
Take your time. I know you will need to research and analyze the sign. You might even need to find some out of work Hollywood writer to help you (you know, the standard Right Wing nut “make it up and pretend it happened crap”).
I wish they’d said we voted for Kerry. This was in China and sending a message that they got to vote would have been nice. Instead, they are in the same league as the Chinese who didn’t vote for their leaders either.
Then again, I do despise people going out and trying to curry favor with other countries by saying things like this.
Mr. Effusion –
You’re suprisingly dense today. So what exactly is the purpose of the statement, “We Did Not Vote For Bush”, made in a public forum in another country, where millions could see it, if it is somehow “not political”?
#22, Frank,
So what exactly is the purpose of the statement, “We Did Not Vote For Bush”, … if it is somehow “not political”?
To demonstrate that not only can these women play a great game of Bridge, but they ain’t stupid.
So are you evading the questions of what they politicized?
It seems that your definition of “politicize” is different than that used by every other English speaker, Mr. Effusion.
Perhaps you could state your definition?
#24, Frank,
po·lit·i·cize
v. po·lit·i·cized, po·lit·i·ciz·ing, po·lit·i·ciz·es
v.intr.
To engage in or discuss politics.
v.tr.
To make political: “The mayor was given authority to appoint police commissioners and by virtue of that power was able to politicize the department” Connie Paige.
[The Free Dictionary]
They made a statement of fact. They didn’t discuss it or even explain what the sign meant. The sign does not rise to the definition of politicize.
You still haven’t answered your claim of these cry babies politicizing everything. What did they politicize?
Effen Right Wing nuts make a claim and don’t back them up. Typical Republican procedure.
perhaps the biggest lesson here is this:
Many posters to this blog don’t value free speech.
Mr. Effusion –
Are you saying that the statement above was not a “discussion”, and Bush is not a “politician”?
Yeah, sure, that “statement of fact” has no underlying motivation, just like stating that the temperature in Beijing is 49F at noon.
Ah… a single statement is not a “political discussion”, and it has no obvious meaning. Yeah… right. Don’t you get tired of your silly word games, Mr. Effusion?
Hey Frank… Really… Why do you (or anyone) care?
Some bridge players at a freaking dinner wrote a message on a menu. I guess rednecks across America can boycott bridge now.
Maybe we should tell the to Shut Up and Deal?
I am an US citizen who lose his country, plays bridge in the ACBL, manages and directs a bridge club, and am deeply embarrassed by the war in Iraq.
I’m not ready to make nice.
Bush and Cheney deserve prison for what they have done to our country and the world.
Jim Wise