Extra police and security…roaming the stadium and parking lot.
Their presence was noticeable. Earlier that week the kids had had an active shooter drill. 30 seconds to decide. Run off campus or get into a classroom. Doors would be shut, locked and barricaded within 30 seconds of the warning.
…a scary thought for parents and kids.
So why am I bringing this up?
The prior week’s football game was cancelled. School shooting threat came in and the other team just didn’t want to travel an hour or more to get to a game with potential risk to their players, families and fans. It just wasn’t worth it.
Earlier that week at my son’s school there had been an incident.
A boy had worn a Trump, “Make America Great Again” hat to school. A girl had knocked it off. He put it back on. She knocked it off again. The teacher intervened. She slapped the teacher.
Not a great thing. And if it had ended there with the girl being punished with a suspension or something. All would have been fine, people would have learned some good life lessons. And everyone would have moved on.
Just another day in high school.
But it didn’t end there.
The father of the girl and the girl got on TV and made a political response.
And that is what brings me to where we are today.
Nike, Trump, Facebook, Football.
Football
When you think of football you think of a great American tradition. It brings teams together in a battle. There’s cheers and frustrations. Food and family. Patriotism and Hometown pride.
It’s an event that brings towns across America together on Friday nights. It is cheap, fun family entertainment.
And lately, especially pro football, it has become increasingly political.
Facebook
So much a part of our lives. You probably check Facebook for hours. Standing in line. Waiting for dinner. Before bed.
It has become our source of news these days as much as TV and Talk radio.
Trump
Just saying the name brings up visceral reactions no matter your political persuasion.
Nike
Just the latest in a long line of companies using the news and a polarizing figure (in this case Colin Kaepernick) to stir up controversy.
As P. T. Barnum said, “There is no such thing as bad publicity.”
What does it all mean?
To some extent there is no meaning. They are all independent elements that we all struggle to make sense of.
But there’s the dirty little secret.
News sells.
And bad news (and bad press, and polarizing statements) engage more.
And it agitates.
And if you get too much of it, it can cause you anxiety and stress in your daily life.
As one of the parents I was talking to in between the JV and Varsity football games commented,
People just want to provide for their families and go about their lives.
That is why I stopped watching TV news, or listening to daily talk radio, and cutting back on Facebook.
It is just overwhelmingly sucky.
And I find I’m calmer and happier as a result. And more focused on the things that matter to me. Not being derailed by someone else’s agenda.
Yes, the news does sometimes spill out. We’re too connected to keep it totally contained.
So what about you?
What do you choose to listen to? How do you choose to live your life? How does it work for you?
