Inclusivity and the NHL: We Have a Problem

[Engine09]

Gotta love it when people like James Reimer out themselves as being unintelligent imbeciles. The level of a mind that thinks this is an acceptable way to think, completely bereft of any logic, so irrational.

To make that statement with such conviction, as if he's making a stand, it's disgusting.

Take your magical thinking and shove it up your ass. This guy sucks.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by bluejays

While I don't share the same view as Reimer, frankly he's not being rude about it, so I don't really care. I really just wish politics and anthems and whatnot were kept out of sports. The whole thing brings about controversy. Even as a minority myself if someone had a "minority night" and a player chose not to participate, citing whatever, I wouldn't care. We're giving them the option, certainly people can have opinions. Talk about it but some of the vitriol thrown at Reimer, generally seen as a nicer person in the game, is ridiculous.

I don't really see this as a political matter, though. It's specifically tied to hockey and the NHL, and the message is that it's a game for everybody. This, to me, is different than things like taking a knee etc., where there's very clearly a bigger picture than just hockey.

and as for his opinion? He can have his opinion, but then people can also have the opinion that his opinion sucks. And to me, it does - including his explanation. The bible also states you can't work on the Sabbath, yet James Reimer has had no problems taking the ice on Sundays during his career.

[sketchyt]

There’s no better hate than Christian love.

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by devo22

I don't really see this as a political matter, though. It's specifically tied to hockey and the NHL, and the message is that it's a game for everybody. This, to me, is different than things like taking a knee etc., where there's very clearly a bigger picture than just hockey.

and as for his opinion? He can have his opinion, but then people can also have the opinion that his opinion sucks. And to me, it does - including his explanation. The bible also states you can't work on the Sabbath, yet James Reimer has had no problems taking the ice on Sundays during his career.

I'm not saying he can't be critiqued, but that much vitriol for a well respected guy in something the league didn't mandate and left optional? I dunno man, I frankly don't care. He's not spewing hate.

[Jiri Hrdina]

He's spewing intolerance.
Doesn't matter if he "seems like a nice person". Being nice is not what this is about.

[Jetfire]

In the bigger picture beyond this situation, that's why a guy like Brian Burke is such an important figure in the game. Cranky and rugged "truculence" Brian Burke, yet he's got one of the most genuinely loving and accepting hearts in the sport and is a wonderful ally for driving forward inclusiveness in hockey. Just to have one of the tough old hockey execs (and a widely respected one at that) be such a staunch supporter of equality is super important and I'm glad we had him around here for several years.

[Patek23]

Originally Posted by カナダ人です

Still think the worse is John Tortorella saying he would sit/punish any player who sat during the anthem.

Like, that was a peaceful protest against violence against Black people, police brutality, and prejudice.

But no, Torts ain't havin' it. Gotta show unwavering patriotism and "respect" for the anthem and flag.

#### that. It should be about making our world a better place - for everyone. Not turning your brain off in blind "national pride"

To be fair to Torts he later recanted that position.

[midniteowl]

How can a person be intolerance considered nice?

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by bluejays

I'm not saying he can't be critiqued, but that much vitriol for a well respected guy in something the league didn't mandate and left optional? I dunno man, I frankly don't care. He's not spewing hate.

Sure he's not outright spewing hate, but being publicly intolerant then hiding behind faith as an excuse isn't much better in my opinion

[Flame On]

I always find it highly intriguing that (largely) the side that is so predominantly less inclined to trust, like, believe in government, also is completely wrapped up in what some stone-age wizard in the sky tells them to do. (Which he ain't even)

[Yamer]

Originally Posted by dustygoon

I can't put myself in his shoes. I can only try. But honestly.....i would bet Luke isn't surprised nor hurt more than usual by Reimer's dumb comment. He probably expects there are some relics of the past that think like this. But they are dwindling.

In fact, i'm betting Luke and other members feel a little bit better and better as time passes, as he knows that there is a VAST majority of folks that grows in size all the time who support him including Christians like myself. I think we are in a better place now than we were 10 years ago. And in another 10 years we are going to be even better.

You're probably right about Prokop. He's already shown a lot of strength and perseverance and it's likely this is something he's dealt with before.

I wish I had your optimism about the future, but the last few years have undermined my confidence. I'm not going to act the alarmist, but far-right social ideals have crept back in and taken hold in a way I hadn't expected.

If society can take away bodily autonomy from women, I'm loathe to think how they'll continue to oppress groups they don't even view as people.

Originally Posted by Jason14h

A few players refusing to wear a pride jersey does not mean the NHL has a problem with intolerance. At most it means those few individuals are intolerant.

...

I think the fact so few players opted out of wearing it when they clearly can shows just how tolerant the NHL has become

1% of the league refusing to wear a pride jersey doesn’t make the NHL intolerant.

Since Provorov refused to wear the jersey we have had an entire organization scrap their plans for a Pride jersey night and another player join them with some utterly backwards thinking to justify it. These veins of intolerance are running underneath the NHL and are just starting to rear their head.

Your product undermining league initiatives doesn't automatically make the NHL intolerant, but it is a noticeable trend more players/organizations are becoming comfortable with and that is a problem the NHL would be smart to address.

Originally Posted by bluejays

While I don't share the same view as Reimer, frankly he's not being rude about it, so I don't really care. I really just wish politics and anthems and whatnot were kept out of sports. The whole thing brings about controversy. Even as a minority myself if someone had a "minority night" and a player chose not to participate, citing whatever, I wouldn't care. We're giving them the option, certainly people can have opinions. Talk about it but some of the vitriol thrown at Reimer, generally seen as a nicer person in the game, is ridiculous.

"For me, to some extent, that's what you want to do is you want to love them, but where I keep reiterating what I'm saying is where it intersects for a Christian and the way I personally and the people close to me in my life interpret the Bible is you love them, but you can't support the activity or lifestyle."

Apart from being quite the word salad strife with contradictions, it's also quite disrespectful. Sexuality and self-identity isn't an "activity", a "lifestyle", or "politics". This is just an attempt to make hate and intolerance palatable through disproven tropes while using the Bible as a prop.

I have little problem with people calling Reimer out on his nonsense.

[FlamesAddiction]

Reimer is just using religion as an excuse to be an intolerant a-hole. There are a lot of Christians who don't take the stance he has.

[Goriders]

Still a free country. They can do what they want. As far as I know anyway.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

I’d love to see a player come out and refuse to participate in military appreciation night because of the atrocities committed by the US in Iraq or Afghanistan. Or say they are against promoting the armed forces due to their religious beliefs.

Then we’ll see how much the league wants to support freedom of expression when a sponsor who paid to have their own special jersey gets upset.

Having a bunch of homophobe players hasn’t cost the league any money yet, so they don’t give a #### about these pride events.

[Phaneuf_Phan]

Originally Posted by Goriders

Still a free country. They can do what they want. As far as I know anyway.

Enjoy it while it lasts.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by Goriders

Still a free country. They can do what they want. As far as I know anyway.

The nhl isn’t a country. So no, they can’t.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by Phaneuf_Phan

Enjoy it while it lasts.

Please do go on.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by Phaneuf_Phan

Enjoy it while it lasts.

Looks like we might have one here

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by bluejays

While I don't share the same view as Reimer, frankly he's not being rude about it, so I don't really care. I really just wish politics and anthems and whatnot were kept out of sports. The whole thing brings about controversy. Even as a minority myself if someone had a "minority night" and a player chose not to participate, citing whatever, I wouldn't care. We're giving them the option, certainly people can have opinions. Talk about it but some of the vitriol thrown at Reimer, generally seen as a nicer person in the game, is ridiculous.

Ok, let's use your analogy then:


"I certainly believe in the value of everyone, but I cannot endorse being Japanese because it's counter to my personal convictions which are based on the Bible"

And really, it's actually an event supporting inclusion for LGBTQ+ because they are under particular discrimination right now, so a more close analogy would be:

"I believe everyone has value, but being Black isn't something I can support"

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by devo22

I don't really see this as a political matter, though. It's specifically tied to hockey and the NHL, and the message is that it's a game for everybody. This, to me, is different than things like taking a knee etc., where there's very clearly a bigger picture than just hockey.

and as for his opinion? He can have his opinion, but then people can also have the opinion that his opinion sucks. And to me, it does - including his explanation. The bible also states you can't work on the Sabbath, yet James Reimer has had no problems taking the ice on Sundays during his career.

This is what drives me nuts!

"It's a free country! He can choose what he likes and say what he likes!"

Yes! And so can we! Criticism is also free speech!!!!!!!!!


Like, when someone says something controversial, we're not saying he should be arrested. We're saying it's hypocritical, silly, outdated, stupid, etc. We're also just sharing our own free speech