Just a quick post for this Monday. We often hear actors or musicians speak out politically, and the backlash is almost always immediate from whatever side of the aisle they are not supporting. Athletes, however, are often more quiet than their celebrity peers. Not so for Dexter Fowler, recently of the World Series Champion Chicago Cubs (and now, sadly, playing for the St. Louis Cardinals). Fowler was asked about the impact of the Trump Administration's travel ban on his family. He is married to an Iranian woman, so it was a logical question.
It seemed like a fair, reasonable question. He responded, and in doing so seemed to incite a good portion of his new fan base, which tends to trend pretty conservative. Now, of course we know that the people most likely to comment like that are not representative of all people in a particular demographic. We also know how easy it is to act big and tough behind your keyboard. Trying to be yourself lends itself to being the worst of yourself when nobody can "catch" you. But there is no doubt in my mind that the question was fair, Fowler's response appropriate, and the overarching reaction was not as much fair or appropriate. Simply put, just because someone is an athlete, or a musician, or an actor, doesn't mean that they lose their right to their first amendment privileges. Just because Fowler will be heard in a much broader way than I am doesn't mean that he shouldn't say anything. Freedom of speech is something we all have, regardless of our chosen professions.
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