The announcement that Trump will be in attendance at this Sunday’s Super Bowl was followed by the NFL’s announcement that it will remove the stenciled words “END RACISM” from the end zones of Caesar’s Superdome, where the game will be played. In doing this, the NFL joins the long list of organizations and individuals who have acted with what has become known as anticipatory obedience. Of course, the NFL will say that they have chosen to replace the “End Racism” stencil with one that says “Choose Love” because that is a more positive message. However, it seems to be more than coincidental that Sunday’s game will be the first Super Bowl since February 2021 at which “End Racism” will not be in an end zone stencil.
Once again, the question begs to be answered: why do so many powerful people continue to behave in such an obsequious manner towards Trump and his minions? What do they think will happen to them if they stand their ground and act in a principled and respectable way? Don’t they understand that they are abdicating both their power and self-respect when they obey, even before being asked? Don’t they understand that their actions make them collaborators in this new “regime”? Or even worse, do they actually agree with Trump’s overtly racist, self-serving, callous, and illegal actions?
These collaborators and their organizations will be remembered for what they did and did not do when the times called upon them to use their positions of power to stand up for what is right. And how many of us will ignore the NFL’s action and let this slide because it will get in the way of our national love of football, sports betting, and Super Bowl parties, if we become upset?
As for the idea of choosing one’s battles, there is a Native American story that involves an elder explaining to his grandson that there are two wolves that live inside each of us and these wolves constantly battle with each other. One is pure goodness and the other is evil. When the grandson asks which one wins, the elder replies, “the one you feed.”
Perhaps this is a good time to ask ourselves, as Americans, which one are we feeding?
Margot Weiss McClellan
Easton
Art Cecil says
The truth is that the NFL’s “END RACISM” message in the end zone is a worthy societal goal but unlikely to have much life-changing effect on any one individual. It would be more useful to have the NFL support “CHOOSE EDUCATION” and/or “EAT HEALTHY” as end zone monikers.
Wilson Dean says
The NFL has read the political tea leaves correctly. Of course Trump would be offended by an“End Racism” slogan. The Trump agenda is full of racist policies drawn up by racist politicos and supported by a large number of racist voters. Perhaps the NFL should post “Make America White Again” in the end zone to appease the Grand Wizard Donald.
Francine DeSanctis says
Thank you for writing that concise and frightening letter.
It begs the question that you posed, namely “What are these blind followers afraid of? Imprisonment for violating the First Amendment? Do Trump followers even know what the Constitution is, let alone any Amendments? And your final point about letting liberties “slide” so as to not anger sports fans and to appease one spectator, is something worth being outraged about. I’m sure this action will cause a reaction to be blamed on DEI.
Ellen Sheridan Walsh says
Great letter. I agree totally; thank you for writing this piece.
Brian Wroten says
The mask is fully off for Republicans. At least they don’t have to pretend to be just against affirmative action and “DEI” policies anymore.
Lucy Miziolek says
Well said Margot. I love the Native American story, it is so simply correct.
darrell parsons says
Thank you for speaking up about this.
Chip Heartfield says
Hi Ms. McClellan, I gather your source did not provide the full context for why the NFL is using “Choose Love” this year (and it is only in one end zone, the other will display “It Takes All of Us” as it has since the stencils were first added in 2020). Teams have been able to choose from among several slogans over the previous five seasons but “Choose Love” is a new one inspired by the story of a gravely-injured Buffalo player; it is a collaboration between the NFL and Los Angeles artist Ruben Rojas that dates back to the beginning of this season. They both feed the right wolf but given other recent tragedies – maybe especially the one in LA, where the artist is from – “Choose Love” seems like a wonderful theme and can be seen as more broadly also including a call to end the hate of racism. Here is a fuller description of how this works: https://www.startribune.com/nfl-is-stenciling-choose-love-in-an-end-zone-for-the-super-bowl-to-uplift-country-after-tragedies/601216790
Michael Pullen says
Thank you for speaking truth to power. Every generation has its challenges, we are facing ours this moment.
What will you choose? Each one of us bears responsibility to answer this question.
Michael Davis says
Excellent essay. With Trump we are facing a crisis in democracy and also morality.
Dan Watson says
On the mark. Thanks.
DW
Patricia Bradley says
A wonderfully well written letter that I hope many people will read. Ms. McClellan is no doubt right that many football fans will not notice or care that the End Racism message will be missing. That is why the Talbot Spy is such a valuable asset to the community, giving thoughtful, concerned citizens another point of view.
Deirdre LaMotte says
Very well said Margot, we are now living in a post democracy.
That is why the NFL capitulated.
That is why billionaires were seated in front of cabinet members during the inauguration. This is why the NYTIMES
and WAPO have capitulated.
This is happening now. I know it sounds conspiratorial, I so wish it was, but the line by-line of Project 2025 is in effect. Read it online and you can see what is coming.
Make sure to grab a stiff drink first.
Smart people are livid and stuff will happen.
Jeanne Everngam says
WHY is there Anything in the endzone other than the teams playing? WHY does Anyone feel this is an opportunity for sending a message and using the opportunity to express their Hate and disrespect for OUR president who over-whelming won the election? We Conservatives were constantly reprimanded for not respecting “President Biden”…..But it is Fine to disrespect Donald Trump! The Double Standard continues! Just WHO doesn’t understand OUR Constitution? And WHY is there a Black National Anthem? Aren’t we ALL AMERICANS??
Deirdre LaMotte says
Because Donald Trump is wanna be dictator not a President. He has put this nation in a Constitutional crisis that may not survive if not for court rulings. We will see, correct?
Meanwhile a Ketamine addicted Nazi from South Africa and his post-pubescent goons walk into your house, steal all your private data, and walk out, and NOBODY stops them.
This is a freaking emergency for ALL Americans.
Jeanne Everngam says
What needs to be modified?