Kenner's Mayor Injects Politics Into A Non Political Issue

Mayor Ben Zahn banned the purchase of Nike equipment used in Kenner's recreation programs, caught a lot of push back from a number of sources, including some Saint players and then cancelled the order.  The ban was in response to Nike's advertising campaign that included Colin Kaepernick who was the subject of President Trump's rage because he took a knee last year during the playing of the national anthem.

Zahn's action was a political ditto head mirror image of Trump's attempt to politicize a non political issue to appeal to their base.  Both tried hard to act patriotic and put themselves on a pedestal but have a false understanding of patriotism.  There are 1760 NFL players on 32 teams and approximately 80,000 people in each stadium on game day and the great majority pay respect when the anthem is played.  A very small minority take a knee in protest.

Protests is legal in America, thank the good Lord and thanks to our constitution.  Yet there are those elected officials who would rather grand stand and divide us politically when politics should not be involved.  Trump injected politics into the business of the NFL and the owners when he said Kaepernick should have been fired, called him a SOB and said the NFL should change its policy.  Zahn injected politics in a business decision made by Nike.

The extreme political culture we see since the Newt Gingrich era has become worse, more divisive and more unAmerican.  Trump's assault on America's institutions, the constitution and his lack of respect for everyone and all things is unprecedented in American politics and especially for the occupant of the White House.  It has become trickle down extremeness infecting governors and mayors.  And politics becomes more extreme when religious beliefs are allowed to be used to discriminate against other people.

America is still "America the Beautiful" despite a small minority who choose a way of protesting that the great majority of Americans would not choose.  Our founding fathers had the wisdom to understand what patriotism was really all about.  A great American statesmen, Elmer Davis put it best when he said, THIS NATION WILL REMAIN THE LAND OF THE FREE ONLY SO LONG AS IT IS THE HOME OF THE BRAVE.   Too bad we have far to many elected officials who are lacking.




This commentary written by Joe Lorio