Harbaugh & American Sniper
There is some controversy on campus about the University showing American Sniper. It was cancelled after some protest, but it has since been rescheduled. I know that politics aren't supposed to be talked about on the board, but it involves our beloved coach.
Harbaugh weighed in on the matter via twitter:
"Michigan Football will watch "American Sniper"! Proud of Chris Kyle & Proud to be an American & if that offends anybody then so be it!"
Apologies for not being sure how to embed twitter posts.
http://www.si.com/college-football/2015/04/08/michigan-football-jim-harbaugh-american-sniper-screening
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2015/04/08/after-university-canceled-american-sniper-showing-football-coach-harbaugh-made-this-announcement/
Harbaugh has stirred a bit of controversy on campus with this tweet- a minority of students have complained about this.
My personal opinion on this is that I like Harbaugh more because of it. He is not afraid to step on people's toes, and voice his opinion. He is unapologetic. That's exactly how a coach should be.
As far as the film goes, I would prefer the University show it. Although I am not a big fan of Chris Kyle, I can understand why people would be. There are a lot of inspirational things about him, but also some negatives. I think the film addresses the negatives of war adequately, and makes a nuanced argument- Kyle is a controversial figure.
[ED-Seth: Aaaaand we're locked. Handed out one ban. Leaving because it's news that Harbaugh waded into it. This is why we don't talk about politics. But see Comment 14 for a good example of why I wish we could sometimes.]
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
UMix didn't have to pick American Sniper in the first place, and, probably, in the future they'll stick to choices perceived to be non-controversial. That said, removing it was bound to create the exact reaction that we've seen given the perception that Universities are not as open as they used to be to controversial opinions. Since they've now reversed the decision and are showing the film I have to imagine that they were surprised by the uproar, which to me just shows a lack of awareness since these controversies always get lots of attention.
Instead, if they had given the opponents of American Sniper a table at the entrance to the venue where they could pass out literature explaining their critique, and/or had a panel discussion afterwards (which may still happen) I think that this would not have been a story. What they did instead created a predictable firestorm, made the University look bad and could have easily been avoided.
Harbaugh's tweet makes me think of Bo who would speak his mind as a coach much freely than Moeller, Carr, RichRod or Hoke.
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
You haven't noticed his retweeting the Pope?
Surely that will alienate some for religious reasons.
How is this risky, anyway?
and values. He evidentlly, as I would, gladly pass on a kid who opted not to attend UofM due to the coach expressing his patriotism as he sees fit. Such a limp, wet rag.
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
he's a bears fan
Constantly in your rain boots, rain hat and rain coat shows you are tough and ready for anything!!
The only thing worse than this stupid controversy is the "outrage" that it's caused. It's a damn movie that got pulled from a weekend recreational program (UMix) that 0.1% of the student population attends. This made the homepage of the NY tabloids yesterday. Are you kidding?
This "shame on you" culture is a joke. Who cares?
I don't know anything about topic, and I'm excited to see the movie because I'm an adult and I can separate reality from a movie (just like Selma)...but I didn't understand what all the outrage was about.
At first I thought it was just about some anti-war students protesting, now I guess it's because he lied? Whatever, I'm too ignorant on the topic to have an opinion today.
HOWEVER, what I didn't understand is why this is such a big deal to begin with? No one was forcing students to watch the movie, right? Like it wasn't mandatory?
And who goes to the student theater anyway? On ANY campus? Not enough compared to the entire student body...so why is there such a big deal about no one really does anyway?
If no one is claiming this as fact or making it mandatory, what is really the big deal? Again, I'm ignorant to the whole story, but I do believe that it should be articulated in a manner that doesn't come across as a bunch of college kids with nothing to "riot/be passionate" about in this era trying to find something. My first thought was, did the pull Sound of Music, too?
Ingorious Bastards or Fury...do those get pulled? Remember The Titans isn't true, and truth is, Coach Boone was a DICK. Know that for a fact. Coach Yost was the coach every guy (black or white) loved on that team.
It's one thing to have an opinion on something and stand up for what you believe it...I'm ALL for that. If you don't like the movie or don't like the story. That is certainly on you. But if this isn't forced on anyone, I don't see any difference between it and all of the other movies I mentioned in this post. NONE of them were 100% accurate. Not one. Blockbuster movies are not meant to be 100% biographical, they're for entertainment.
So after this semi-sarcastic rant...what am I missing? If you're telling me people are being forced to watch this and take it as fact. Then I see the issue. Otherwise, it's entertainment for the sake of entertainment. At a school like Michigan you're going to learn about heroric and honorable people of our past and you're going to be exposed to certain folks in history that you will hate - how is this different?
But in the end, I don't know anything about this topic and I should've shut up. I'm sorry.
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
I agree. The social justice movement is a complete and total joke. "Leave your comment! Blog and repost to show your outrage---you're really showing them!" mindset has caused more stupidity and hate than the original issue you were suppose to be "outraged" about to begin with.
How is using social media to express yourself any less respectable than radio/tv? You have a potential audience and a platform. Awareness is awareness, no matter where it originated. No need to pretend it doesn't have merit because they put it online. Most people solely get their news from online these days anyway so it's as good a place to share your concern as any, if we're being honest.
You can use the internet for almost anything (buy/sell, market, trade, research damn near whatever you want, hell you can even verbally ATTACK RECRUITS & other strangers for fun, etc...) but tweeting about something that's important to you and possibly your children is using the internet wrong? Try again.
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
for thier college education and funding vandalous ski trips...Maybe, they technically signed up so they could get a college education or a skill set.
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
OR...don't see the movie. Don't particpate in the discussion. Life is simple, sometimes.
This is a political issue. Philosophical if you want to be really generous. Just because the coach weighed in doesn't make it not political.
I prefer my Michigan sports blog without bad political analysis, soapboxing, and America dick-wagging.
(This coming from a guy who lives, works, and breathes politics as my full time job and passion)
Didn't Hoke bring in some military types to do some kind of leadership or inspirational speech?
Also a million flyovers at the football games, nobody says a word. Coach mentions a movie and people lose it. Whatever, haters, don't like the movie? don't see it. Who are they do determine what others can see and can't see?
Was this not the most perfect Coaching hire? Love IT. I hope he wins and stays forever.
Football should be politics-free. As the face of Michigan Football, Jim probably has to sacrifice his personal expression. He makes it even worse with a weird opinion, conflating patriotism with loving American Sniper or its protagonist.
As for the OP, I wondered where (s)he found out that a minority of students were for or against the film's showing.
My problem with his tweet is that he conflated patriotism with liking the movie and its protagonist.
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
But generally, that's solid advice.
"Jim probably has to sacrifice his personal expression."
He sometimes posts religious things too, should he stop that?
"I wondered where (s)he found out that a minority of students were for or against the film's showing. "
How does that matter?
1. Yes, probably.
2. Just wondering.