((ed. note- This is a response to the current discussion over SB1070- the "immigration bill" signed in the state of Arizona- as distributed by the Arizona Diamondbacks themselves. The HQ figures we'd post this in the nature of equal time.))
Imprudent Boycotts Aim to Hurt Arizonans
By Greg Salvatore
The D-backs finished an 11-game road trip last night, with a series win in Houston, polishing off the longest road trip the team will take this season.
Along the way -- in Denver, Chicago and Houston -- the organization encountered one thing in common, small groups of protesters outside the stadiums. In Denver, it was a handful of people, in Chicago it was 40 or so, then a couple dozen in Houston. In each instance, protesters were voicing opposition to Senate Bill 1070, the law recently passed by the Arizona State Legislature pertaining to illegal immigration and the enforcement of immigration laws.
In Houston, a second pro-1070 protest took place across the street from the anti-1070 group. Squarely in the middle of those two protests, and squarely in the crosshairs of all of them, were the Arizona Diamondbacks, despite the fact that the team never took any formal or informal stance one way or another in regard to SB 1070. It has been the policy of the D-backs' leadership team to avoid political stances, because the players and employees of the D-backs have their own individual beliefs, and shouldn't ever feel coerced into voting a certain way.
The protesters, as passionate as they were in their stance, were unfortunately erroneous in the belief that the D-backs played a role in the passing of SB 1070.
Managing General Partner Ken Kendrick has been a subject of some protests because of political donations he has made. However, while Kendrick has supported specific candidates in races for political office in the past, he has not contributed financial donations to any state legislator, or anyone directly involved with the passing of SB 1070.
Furthermore, Kendrick issued a statement to make it clear that it is his personal belief that while illegal immigration and its enforcement is an important issue in society today, it is the role of the federal government to handle such matters.
This was Kendrick's official statement on the matter:
"We acknowledge the statement from Major League Baseball Players Association Executive Director Michael Weiner and share the same concerns of the impact Arizona's immigration law will have on Major League players. However, we believe the federal government should act swiftly to address the immigration issue once and for all. We certainly are well aware of the struggles our state has due to federal inaction on illegal immigration. The fallout of recent state legislation has a direct impact on many of our players, employees and fans in Arizona, not to mention our local businesses, many of which are corporate partners of ours. Unfortunately, this whole situation is sad and disappointing for all of us who are associated with the Arizona Diamondbacks. We remain hopeful that this situation can be resolved in a manner that does not cause harm to our great state."
The D-backs will be the host of the Major League Baseball All-Star Game in 2011, a weeklong series of events that will drive millions of dollars to local businesses, significantly stimulating a state economy that has suffered recently. The estimated statewide economic impact of hosting an All-Star Game is $150-200 million.
In addition to the potentially enormous economic impact of hosting an All-Star Game, the event also gives the D-backs a larger platform to help out the local foundations and charities that benefit so greatly from the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation, including many Hispanic-based causes.
Since the Foundation's inception, the D-backs have contributed more than $1 million to Hispanic community programs and youth baseball fields. Kendrick personally contributed $100,000 to the Futbolito Bimbo Soccer League and Tuzos Soccer Club to underwrite the league's expenses with registration, field-use fees, uniforms and equipment. The club allows players from low-income families the opportunity to play in high-level tournaments, where players can be seen by college soccer coaches and have the opportunity to receive scholarships. Kendrick also endowed $2 million to Project Excellence, a program that allows Hispanic children excelling in school an opportunity to further their education in a summer program at Phoenix Country Day School. Kendrick is also the owner of Bumble Bee Ranch in Black Canyon City, about 40 miles north of Phoenix. The ranch has more than 74,000 acres for horseback riding, cattle driving and wilderness tours, and Kendrick has invited and hosted numerous charities supporting children throughout Arizona, with many of those charities benefitting Hispanic children.
The All-Star Week is something that D-backs season-ticket holders and baseball fans of all ages will have an opportunity to enjoy, from the game itself to the Home Run Derby, Futures Game and All-Star Fan Fest. Those events give people the chance, at pricing structures that accommodate any baseball fan, to watch the greatest players perform on the most magnificent stage.
An economic boycott doesn't make sense because it threatens to hurt those local business leaders and Arizona citizens who are not in any way affiliated with the passing of the particular law or its consequences. Many of the people involved in the protests of the D-backs, those who fervently wish to boycott Arizona and remove the 2011 All-Star Game, are from out of state. The main boycott group is comprised of people who are not closely affected in their respective states by the same issues as Arizona, and would go unaffected by a boycott that would be very hurtful to people of all backgrounds in Arizona.
Regardless of what someone thinks of the bill, whether they support it or denounce it, to protest the D-backs organization or the holding of the All-Star Game in Phoenix on the basis of that law is simply misguided.
1 comment:
I hope that every American, regardless of where he lives, will stop and examine his conscience about this and other related incidents. This Nation was founded by men of many nations and backgrounds. It was founded on the principle that all men are created equal, and that the rights of every man are diminished when the rights of one man are threatened. All of us ought to have the right to be treated as he would wish to be treated, as one would wish his children to be treated, but this is not the case.
I know the proponents of this law say that the majority approves of this law, but the majority is not always right. Would women or non-whites have the vote if we listen to the majority of the day, would the non-whites have equal rights (and equal access to churches, restaurants, hotels, retail stores, schools, colleges and yes water fountains) if we listen to the majority of the day? We all know the answer, a resounding, NO!
Today we are committed to a worldwide struggle to promote and protect the rights of all who wish to be free. In a time of domestic crisis men of good will and generosity should be able to unite regardless of party or politics and do what is right, not what is just popular with the majority. Some men comprehend discrimination by never have experiencing it in their lives, but the majority will only understand after it happens to them.
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