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Sunday, October 09, 2016

The NFL is cracking down on simulated bow-and-arrow violence. It’s about time.

A specter is haunting professional football. The specter of simulated violence.

For too long, we’ve sat idly by while giant, hulking men simulated potentially violent acts during stoppages in play. That’s not funny, and it’s not right. No one goes to a sporting event to see violence — simulated or otherwise.

I’m writing this now, of course, because Redskins cornerback Josh Norman was penalized last week for simulating bow-and-arrow violence, and some barbaric enthusiasts and/or archery cultists disagreed with that call. They are under the mistaken impression that violence is okay. It is not.

Look, I’ve seen my 9-year-old daughter and her fourth-grade friends play with bow and arrows. They even teach archery in her D.C. elementary school, blinded to the real-world possibilities of these devil tools. Merchants, if you can believe this, sell bow-and-arrow sets in toy stores — and right in the very front, too. Kids read popular young adult novels that feature bows and arrows. So you don’t need to tell me how much violence is implied by a bow-and-arrow motion. You know how much happier I would be if my kid would stop with the bow-and-arrow business and instead go out and play some sports, maybe take a few head shots from someone running at full speed? A lot happier, that’s how much.

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20 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh, please. Before you know it, smiling after a touchdown will be an offense.

Anonymous said...

Laughing out loud! Brilliantly fun writing interspersed with those pics. Left out that mimicked bow and arrow MUST be offensive to Native Americans.

Anonymous said...

Oh my gosh, really?
is this satire?

Anonymous said...

Satire, right?

Anonymous said...

But it is okay to kneel during the National Anthem? Remember when everyone was giving Tim Tebow crap because he would 'Tebow' - saying a prayer? This whole frickin' planet is going to hell quicker then a ILLary coughing spell. WTF?

Anonymous said...

should have taken a knee! LOL

Anonymous said...

give me a break. and if we only see it if the Redskins score a touchdown, we're not going to be subjected to that very often.

Anonymous said...

THIS stuff is getting out of control y cant these thugs play ball instead of show boating.

Anonymous said...

Screw the NFL. (National Fools league)

Anonymous said...

Funny in the 50's and 60's children played cowboys and indians and cops and robbers, watched violent cartoons and westerns on tv and there wasn't the violence that there is today. I even bet that if you were able to go back and interview the protesters of the vietnam war that you would find that they didn't do any of the above activities but instead were protected and coddled by their parents.

Anonymous said...

This would be good IF IT WAS ALL THIS COUNTRY HAD TO BE CONCERNED WITH....It's a game, grown men are paid millions of dollars to play....fix that, not some silly celebration. Much ado about nothing!

Anonymous said...

Screw the NFL. (National Fools league)

Anonymous said...

what about the tomahawk arm swing by fans of the braves and college football teams?

Anonymous said...

Bust there kneecaps.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous Anonymous said...
Screw the NFL. (National Fools league)

October 6, 2016 at 4:08 PM

Dang it, you beat me to it.

Anonymous said...

Who cares? It's an idiot "sport" followed by idiot fans.

Steve said...

1:49, yes! That taught us all right from wrong. Sky King, the Lone Ranger, and all their cohorts taught America a valuable lesson in self protection and what's right and wrong.

Now, all we have is well, soft acceptance of idiocy?

Anonymous said...

Anonymous Anonymous said...
Who cares? It's an idiot "sport" followed by idiot fans.

October 6, 2016 at 7:18 PM

I thought that was NASCAR

Anonymous said...

I needs my safe space...

Anonymous said...

When I grew up I had a cap gun and you could buy rolls of caps anywhere.