Civility + Democracy
Football is Democracy’s Schoolhouse
By Fred Ryan
By James Washington
The ripple effects of the brawl that broke out between Ohio State and Michigan football players in late November are still spreading. A massive scrum ensued when celebrating Michigan players tried to plant a team flag on Ohio State’s field.
Are the fines levied on each team — $100,000 — too low for high-stakes college football? Was the police response appropriate? Should flag-planting be outlawed?
Sadly, the shoves and punches on the football field reflect a broader trend surging across America: a CEO was gunned down in the street, reporters and media personalities face increasing threats, a presidential candidate was nearly assassinated. And a staggering 23% of Americans now believe that we “may have to resort to violence in order to save our country.”