Except for the Olympics and similar spectacles where athletes represent nations, there is no reason to play our national anthem before professional sporting events. The anthem is inappropriate at these events, which are commercial enterprises intended to entertain the public and make money for the teams’ shareholders.
These events have no more relationship to patriotism or our national interest than do the arts, music and theater where the national anthem is not played nor missed.
Given the current controversy over the meaning of the anthem in relation to protest and patriotism, I suggest it’s time to eliminate the national anthem from these sporting events. Patriotism and protest would best be expressed by greater, more enlightened participation in the political process both locally and nationally.
If singing before a game enhances the entertainment experience, a better choice of song would be Take Me Out to the Ball Game.
Bernie Benn
Thetford
Thank you, Mike Pence, for your stance last Sunday at the NFL football game in Indianapolis. Nothing can be more disheartening to a veteran than to witness a fellow American discrediting our American flag and our national anthem.
Patt Taylor
Quechee
A tax cut for the wealthy and for corporations is not tax reform. Tax reform would be if we reduced the number of tax deductions and onerous paperwork, and/or put a ceiling on tax deductions, so rich people couldn’t get away with paying less taxes than the middle class.
Penny Korburger
Enfield
Secret Agent Trump?
“Ruptured Alliances Threaten GOP: Frustrated Trump Targets Republicans,” or so says the Valley News (Oct. 10).
Maybe that is what he is supposed to do? Of all the wild political assertions being hurled around now, I heard speculation at dinner recently that, while not to be hastily believed, would explain a few things. It is that Donald Trump is a Russian, deep-cover, KGB agent, one of the best, dispatched with the assignment to slip into the American political structure and cause as much chaos as possible — really mess things up. Could it be done better?
David Montgomery
Hanover
This, the poignant comedy playing at the Shaker Bridge Theater through Oct. 22, is worth seeing twice. My sisters and I saw the play opening night last week. We laughed out loud and then found ourselves teary-eyed.
We are still talking about it. Our discussions have ranged from death, race, LGBT issues, marriage, parenting and friendship. This is the best play I have seen in a long time. No surprise that I’ll be seeing it again this weekend with husband and friends.
Marcia Herrin
Enfield Center