It's a primitive social event that can really bring our primal instincts to the forefront.
And that's where it can be a problem.
At the beginning of the month, I was invited to watch a Chicago Cubs game at Wrigley Field in which they squared off against the Houston Astros. I've been a huge supporter of the Cubs for a long time, and we were in the midst of another losing season. Naturally, I had a humorously cynical attitude towards my beloved home team, but I still was interested in soaking up the culture and atmosphere of the ballpark with my friends and fans alike.
What I saw as I waltzed onto Addison St from the Red Line stop completely dumbfounded me (look at the photos of the green and blue shirts below, the red shirt I found browsing the net). I was literally at a loss for words. Is this actually allowed? Since when is it okay at any point in time to don such an atrocious fashion statement?
You may feel that I am over-reacting to something that was meant as a "good nature ribbing", but when the need to take it to the next level below and use the degradation of an ethnicity or gender group in a light to fuel a point is destitute and utterly futile. What point is being made wearing these shirts at the ballpark; a place in which families and friends commune to have fun, watch a game, and eat ice cream and hot dogs?
Imagine wearing one of these shirts and sitting next to a family of heritage who works hard to make a living doing jobs that you feel you are too good for and telling them to "relax, it means nothing."
But then I realize this is perfectly legal (unfortunately.) Banning such merchandise would be violating the vendor's and person's freedom of speech. But this still doesn't justify any means of making it right, though "right" is subjective. What this shows is that we are long ways from being decent human beings. It's 2010, but there is still subliminal bigotry looming behind the commercial scenes of American Culture.
What we are planting and harvesting from this is more hate. The little kid you are sitting across from who eyes that shirt could one day grow to be on the news for a hate crime because he or she felt it was okay to belittle someone due to their orientation or race.
For the reckless adult, it only adds wood to the fire. They are primitive by nature, and tend to always gravitate towards the negative pole.
As a sports fan, it saddens and embarrasses me to see such things around, people doing bad things to each other not just physical and verbal, but visually as well. It dehumanizes us as a whole and we digress as a superior species in the animal chain.
Sadly, it's not a linear by a cyclical process that has no end.
But it is possible to change and enlighten minds.
