Belichick declines Presidential Medal of Freedom from Trump
Patriots coach Bill Belichick said Monday he will not be accepting the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Donald Trump, issuing a statement in which he referenced the mob attack on the US Capitol on Wednesday.
"The decision has been made not to move forward with the award," he said. "Above all, I am an American citizen with great reverence for our nation’s values, freedom and democracy."
This is probably the first time Ive had a positive feeling about BB.
I read a column this morning that said something to the same effect. He's respected him but this is the first time he's felt something warmer about BB. It's suggestive about his reputation that rejecting a medal from an insane fascist merits some kind of salute to his character.
It feels important that BB declined the award. Someone needed to do it and maybe it inspires others to do the same. People listen when it's someone like Belichick. If Gary "Yay for Apartheid" Player had turned it down last week I don't think it would have made nearly as big of a splash.
Belichick declines Presidential Medal of Freedom from Trump
Patriots coach Bill Belichick said Monday he will not be accepting the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Donald Trump, issuing a statement in which he referenced the mob attack on the US Capitol on Wednesday.
"The decision has been made not to move forward with the award," he said. "Above all, I am an American citizen with great reverence for our nation’s values, freedom and democracy."
This is probably the first time Ive had a positive feeling about BB.
I read a column this morning that said something to the same effect. He's respected him but this is the first time he's felt something warmer about BB. It's suggestive about his reputation that rejecting a medal from an insane fascist merits some kind of salute to his character.
It feels important that BB declined the award. Someone needed to do it and maybe it inspires others to do the same. People listen when it's someone like Belichick. If Gary "Yay for Apartheid" Player had turned it down last week I don't think it would have made nearly as big of a splash.
This is true. I said to my sister and nephew yesterday that conservatives of all stripes are in a position similar to liberals and socialists in the late 40s and 1950s, or Muslims in the 00s—the onus is on them to prove that they aren't with the assholes. There may be principled reasons to oppose what the tech companies are doing or other reasons to support tolerance or leniency, but they have to consider whether it's a fight worth having because in the court of public opinion, they'll be siding with the fascists. I'm not saying that this is correct or just—plenty of people had their lives ruined via guilt by association in the 50s or 00s—but that's how communities react to these kinds of threats. So conservatives need to demonstrate that they have more in common with liberals than with other groups who also oppose liberals. Maybe BB is sincere in this, maybe he's protecting his butt/job, but it's the kind of thing conservatives all over are going to be forced to do—make a public assertion of what side they're on, because the assumption of innocence isn't going to be there.
This is probably the first time Ive had a positive feeling about BB.
I read a column this morning that said something to the same effect. He's respected him but this is the first time he's felt something warmer about BB. It's suggestive about his reputation that rejecting a medal from an insane fascist merits some kind of salute to his character.
It feels important that BB declined the award. Someone needed to do it and maybe it inspires others to do the same. People listen when it's someone like Belichick. If Gary "Yay for Apartheid" Player had turned it down last week I don't think it would have made nearly as big of a splash.
This is true. I said to my sister and nephew yesterday that conservatives of all stripes are in a position similar to liberals and socialists in the late 40s and 1950s, or Muslims in the 00s—the onus is on them to prove that they aren't with the assholes. There may be principled reasons to oppose what the tech companies are doing or other reasons to support tolerance or leniency, but they have to consider whether it's a fight worth having because in the court of public opinion, they'll be siding with the fascists. I'm not saying that this is correct or just—plenty of people had their lives ruined via guilt by association in the 50s or 00s—but that's how communities react to these kinds of threats. So conservatives need to demonstrate that they have more in common with liberals than with other groups who also oppose liberals. Maybe BB is sincere in this, maybe he's protecting his butt/job, but it's the kind of thing conservatives all over are going to be forced to do—make a public assertion of what side they're on, because the assumption of innocence isn't going to be there.
Yeah you have to wonder how many people of his "stature" would line up for such a dubious honor, even now. I think plenty would.
Yeah you have to wonder how many people of his "stature" would line up for such a dubious honor, even now. I think plenty would.
And they're fools if they don't realize that most will regard them with suspicion for doing so, that it's not about their ego but approval of all that Trump represents.
Safest prediction imaginable: If Trump faces any kind court case—criminal or civil—regarding the putsch, he will betray those people with such speed and force, and they will be seriously embittered at being misled.
