Falsehoods

I read today the our embarrassment of a president denied the existence of a source cited by the New York Times in an article. Unsurprisingly, there were dozens of witnesses present at the time the source said what the times attributed to him. The Times did not name the source because accepted practice, which may be a formal policy, dictates that media not name a source for information given "on background". A journalist who wasn't present learned the name of the official, and revealed it. The president has yet to acknowledge his deliberate lie.

I think journalists try, but it is hard to pin down a liar like him.

I read part of an opinion piece by Ross Douthat about the limitations of free speech in solving America's political divide. I suggest he start by refraining from basing his arguments on logical fallacies. He equates liberals shouting down nonsense from provocateurs and demanding the firing of someone who writes sexist bullshit with defending black athletes who protest forced expression. No one forces the conservatives on college campuses or others to write their sexist or racist diatribe. Responding to it can be done in many ways, but calling it unhelpful doesn't seem strong enough.

Black athletes, however, are forced into expression when made to be present for the playing of the national anthem. They must either participate in the expression of a patriotism they don't share, or decline to do so, but in both cases, their actions are public. Americans of principle should address the issue of forced expression if they really believe in freedom of expression. Making athletes either stand or not stand for the national anthem is a clear violation of the principles of freedom of speech. Coerced expression should be limited to acts of official justice.

The NFL's new policy, fining athletes who refuse to stand but allowing them to remain in the locker room rather than stand publicly, does not address the issue of forcing the athletes to take a public stand one way or the other. It seems like a policy to appease our immoral president and the rabid but uninformed public, and not a principled solution to the problem they created when they started requiring players to be present on the field during the anthem.

I have lost a great deal of respect for my country and my government over the last few years. I don't know whether I care enough to refuse to stand for the anthem, but I am very unlikely ever to be in a position where anyone would notice. I could, if I chose, keep my feelings of disillusionment with my government private. I believe all Americans should be afforded the same rights.