DONNIE JOHNSTON: Bad Bunny
"But that’s who we have become, a nation that hates foreigners and each other."
By Donnie Johnston
COLUMNIST
We have come to the point where politics—and hate—are controlling almost every aspect of our daily lives.
The rift between Republicans and Democrats grows larger every day and is causing business, religious and yes, even personal relationships to fracture.
Not even during the turbulent 1960s, at the height of the Vietnam War, was the rift so evident and so wide, and I suspect we must go all the way back to the beginning of the Civil War to find America in such turmoil.
The effects of our political divide and hate for anyone who is not “us” has even entered the sports arena, as evidenced recently by the shameful display of sportsmanship at the Ryder Cup golf matches in New York.
Golf has always been a gentleman’s sport, and a certain decorum was expected of both players and fans. But at the Ryder Cup, which features matches between the top golfers of the United States and those of Europe, hospitality for the visiting players turned to hate and almost became a riot.
Fans called the European players names and even threw beer at the wife of one of Europe’s top players, Rory McElroy, who came down on the American fans with scathing—and well-deserved—criticism afterwards.
The situation was already tense when President Donald Trump arrived, but then it spiraled almost out of control. Perhaps some of the animosity was sparked by those who do not care for the president, while others who share his political beliefs wanted to show Trump that could be just as mean to foreigners, and he could.
Now there are calls from European players never to hold the Ryder Cup on American soil again. And given the potential danger that existed during that tournament, the event probably won’t be back again for decades.
America First is fast becoming America alone, even in sports. No one wants anything to do with our arrogance.
But the recent political turmoil in sports didn’t end there. Fast forward to the National Football League which announced last week that Puerto Rican entertainer Bad Bunny would headline the Super Bowl halftime show on February 8.
This news was not welcomed with great applause by all football fans, many of whom are big-bellied old men who have a hard time getting out of their Barcalounger to get a beer during commercials.
Not that these fans would prefer to see Lawrence Welk up there on that temporary stage, but something a little less raucous would better help them digest their pizza.
But the NFL seems to get more and more radical every year when it comes to halftime entertainment at America’s biggest sports event and, no matter whether these old geezers like it or not, Bad Bunny seems here to stay.
That decision played right into the hands of the Trump Administration’s crackdown on illegal immigrants, and it was announced that ICE agents would likely be in the Super Bowl crowd looking for Hispanics who are not properly documented.
Some even referred to Bad Bunny as a foreigner, apparently not understanding that Puerto Rico is an American territory and its inhabitants are citizens of this country.
So now we are faced with the prospect that violence—from within—may erupt at the Super Bowl. We have long worried that some foreign terrorist might disrupt this event, but now the possibility looms that our own government might create an incident.
What do we do? Does Trump send the military into the parking lots, the stands, and onto the field during the Super Bowl? Will the military be called out to preserve order at future golf tournaments that feature foreign players?
Rory McIlroy is Irish. Ireland is our friend. Why would we hate a citizen of one of our closest allies? The same goes for the other European players. All hailed from strong U.S. allies.
Whether or not you can stand his music, Bad Bunny is a U.S. citizen and yes, he has a Hispanic following. And yes, he has criticized some of Trump’s policies. But as an American citizen, that is his right. To brand him a thug and create a scene at his halftime show is not the American way.
But that’s who we have become, a nation that hates foreigners and each other.
An isolationist nation cannot last in today’s world and, as Abraham Lincoln stated, a nation divided against itself cannot stand.
To the rest of the world, we have become a symbol of hate, much as Germany was viewed in the late 1930s.
And it only took us nine months to achieve that dishonor.
Local Obituaries
To view local obituaries or to send a note to family and loved ones, please visit the link that follows.
Support Award-winning, Locally Focused Journalism
The FXBG Advance cuts through the talking points to deliver both incisive and informative news about the issues, people, and organizations that daily affect your life. And we do it in a multi-partisan format that has no equal in this region. Over the past year, our reporting was:
First to break the story of Stafford Board of Supervisors dismissing a citizen library board member for “misconduct,” without informing the citizen or explaining what the person allegedly did wrong.
First to explain falling water levels in the Rappahannock Canal.
First to detail controversial traffic numbers submitted by Stafford staff on the Buc-ee’s project
Our media group also offers the most-extensive election coverage in the region and regular columnists like:
And our newsroom is led by the most-experienced and most-awarded journalists in the region — Adele Uphaus (Managing Editor and multiple VPA award-winner) and Martin Davis (Editor-in-Chief, 2022 Opinion Writer of the Year in Virginia and more than 25 years reporting from around the country and the world).
For just $8 a month, you can help support top-flight journalism that puts people over policies.
Your contributions 100% support our journalists.
Help us as we continue to grow!
This article is published under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND. It can be distributed for noncommercial purposes and must include the following: “Published with permission by FXBG Advance.”
Awww now, Donnie, it's taken a lot longer than 9 months.
This is merely the end game. At least of the current iteration.
Not sure what we'll look like or be like when it's over, but the most humbling yet edifying lesson I've learned from all of this is that the hate, fear, and ignorance from which this springs will never be defeated.
It's not a disease, like smallpox, where there's a possibility of it being eradicated, but rather a part of the human condition.
There was a time in my life, I'd say from the mid-70's thru the mid-00's, where I did believe we were better.
Though, I've now learned - I was wrong. There will always be those willing to put aside decency, kindness, law, or principle in the name of self interest. They may hide in the corners like cockroaches during times when that view is not popular, but they ain't going away.
You can read through out history, including the history of our country - where the haves used this fear and ignorance to divide and confuse everyone else. Mostly for their own benefit.
Admittedly, they've gotten better at it. To the point where they may very well destroy this country. Or at least make it something we no longer recognize.
How far it goes, God only knows, because I don't.
Just about every check that we've put in place has been destroyed or frozen due to the fears of Republicans or their self interest, either ideological or financial.
Republicans in Congress are bending the knee and giving carte blanche. Republican Governors are sending troops to invade other states at Stephen Miller and the Heritage Foundations call.
Republicans on the Alito court (let's not pretend that Roberts is running things) issue shadow rulings with no rhyme nor reason, to the point where appellate judges complain that not even they know what the law is. With the only consistent point being that it empowers Republican agendas.
It's illegal for private entities to use race and ethnicity in an effort to mitigate the damages done when race and ethnicity were used by the government to weaken or impede otherwise fully entitled Americans. But it's perfectly fine for the government to use it when deciding to physically detain, search, and arrest Americans. Similar irrationalities abound regarding birth control, healthcare, religion, etc.
Anyone seeking to protest, seek redress, etc. - as is their legal right - risks arrest, detention, doxxing, firing, reverse SLAP suits, etc.
And everyday Republicans, at every level are either gladly cheering them on, or at minimum, quietly going along with the herd while pretending they're not or it doesn't have anything to do with them.
Am I saying that Democrats aren't capable of the same things? Certainly not. One can look back at the career of Huey Long, or more recently - the arrogance of a MacAuliffe or Levar Stoney, or currently - the recently come to light outrageous views of Jay Jones to see any are capable.
But at this minute, it is the Republican party which is acting upon their dreams with no respect of anything except the power they crave. Whether it be throwing beer cans in New York, arresting civil servants without cause in Virginia, or invading Chicago.
Oh, lest we forget, all while giving taxpayer funded buyouts to the Treasury Secretary and other farmers to reward the base, $400 of rainy day funds to Virginia voters with the Governor's name on it right before an election even though it looks like it's getting ready to pour, pardoning Ghislaine Maxwell, or selling our national security in return for some bitcoin graft.
Regarding the klan's "outrage" regarding Bad Bunny? Couple of things. Klan's always got to be outraged about something. If there is nothing, they'll create it. Guaranteed.
And don't worry if his music isn't your thing. It isn't mine either.
Like Charlie Kirk, it's one of those things which has passed me by. I might check it out to see what all the fuss is about. I've come across some good artists in the last couple of decades in such a manner.
Quaker City Nighthawks, Drive-by Truckers, Michael Franti. And many more.
Still, I suspect the last thing the NFL cares about is politics, other than how they can monetize it.
Hence their hyper nationalism and "patriotism". If it weren't profitable, you wouldn't see it.
I suspect their embrace of this artist has more to do with that. Fact is, us folks at the tail end of the boomer bell curve are a dying breed. Literally and demographically.
We had less than 2.0 kids, which means if the market for the NFL grows, it will be thru immigrants and international appeal. Thus the games in London, Mexico City, etc. Else in 50 years, it will be a quaint American curiosity in a soccer loving world.
But the most humorous thing I see in this much ado about nothing, is the idea that illegal immigrants will be swarming the game.
Now these are folks that chance cartels, horrendous work conditions, predatory coyotes, and whose biggest concern is either surviving or sending remittances back to their family. Who, because of their lack of status operate in the shadows on cut wages. And they'll be hanging out at a game with $1000+ tickets when they can watch it on TV?!?
Yeah right. Sounds more like some ICE guys are scamming to get into the game for free......