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Is it okay for professional athletes to use their platform (NBA, NFL, MLB, etc.) to voice their political opinions?
Should someone have any specific qualifications to talk politics?
Do you think Lebron responded the right way?
Does a player like Lebron James or Kevin Durant have more or less political power than the fox reporter?
1. I believe it is more than okay for professional athletes to use their platform to voice their political opinions. Just like any other citizen in the United States, these athletes possess the freedom of speech and have the right to exercise it. If they think they are more inclined to do so because of their platform, then they by all means should voice their opinions, as whether people agree with them or not, it will certainly again attention.
ReplyDelete2. I do not think anyone needs specific qualifications to talk politics, as everyone has a right to their own opinion and the right to express it. However, some people, again depending on your views, are more credible than others and worth listening to. But there is no question that anyone can speak their mind in regards to politics with no need for specific qualifications as stated in the 1st Amendment.
3. I do think Lebron responded the right way. Any and everyone has the right to speak their mind and express their political beliefs. Whether you believe in what they are saying or not, you cannot stop or criticize them from exercising what is guaranteed to them via the 1st Amendment. Lebron, knowing that whatever he says will be heard, has the obvious right to express his opinions via his platform. So for that reporter to tell him to "shut up" was evidently immature and ignorant.
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ReplyDeleteI think that athletes should be allowed to use their platform to voice their political opinions. Every citizen in the United States is allowed to have their own political views; even if they are not fully educated, their political views are still their political views and they are allowed to voice them. Just because someone isn't fully qualified to make a political decision doesn't mean that they don't have the right to talk about politics. I acrtally think LeBron did respond in the right way. Despite him getting beaten up by the press, he actually did achieve his goal, which was to "help me [LeBron] create more awareness." The interesting debate here is power. The Fox News reporter doesn't have more "power," per se, but she does (I believe) have more political knowledge on how the insides of the government works. This is what causes the dilemma. LeBron and Kevin Durant have just as much voice as the Fox reporter, however they do not have the pure governmental knowledge that political reporters have. This makes it harder for people to support them.
ReplyDelete1. I definitely think it is okay for professional athletes to use their platform to voice their political opinions. These players are just like any other people, who have the right to voice their opinion.
ReplyDelete2. I do not think that someone should have any specific qualification to talk politics. All citizens should be able to voice their opinion, no matter what position title you hold.
3. I do think that Lebron responded the right way as he says, "The best thing she did was help me create more awareness" which is definitely true. If the reporter disliked Lebron’s comment so much, she should have ignored this comment, and not have drawn more attention to it.
4. I think that Lebron James and Kevin Durant have the same political power as the Fox News reporter, but the reporter may have more political knowledge. This is why the players are getting so much backlash, but I think that they completely have a right to voice their opinion on this subject.
I believe that it's okay for athletes to be able to use their platform to voice their own political opinions. In America everyone is allowed to have freedom of speech and expression so it would be unfair for athletes to not be able to use a platform that is available to them to express those opinions. Even if some athletes are not fully educated they still have opinions and should have a right to express them. I think that LeBron did respond in the right way he was trying to spread more awareness and he should not be criticized by the press for his own personal opinions. Although I think that both James and Kevin Durant have the same political power as the Fox News reporter they are more criticized because of their lack of political knowledge. Making it easier for people to agree with the Fox reporter since they have more knowledge in politics.
ReplyDelete1. I think that any athlete, regardless of the league their affiliated with, should be able to use their platform to voice their own political opinions. The same way we can voice our own political opinions, they should be able too as well. They're still people just like us despite being praised heavily upon by the public. Using their platform to do so is actually a rather intelligent move because it allows them to start a discussion on things that are wrong with the way our nation is run. Without them doing so, sometimes these discussions are hard to get going.
ReplyDelete3. I feel as though Lebron definitely responded in the right way. To be honest, I thought Lebron would've came back harder given what Laura Ingraham said. However, what he did instead was make sure people realized her comments were wrong and that they were exactly what they needed to spread more awareness. As he said, "The best thing she did was help me create more awareness". Also, like I mentioned before, by using his platform, he was able to start the #wewillnotshutupanddribble player movement and spread awareness on this NBA issue.
ReplyDeleteI believe that every individual has the right to voice their political opinions on whatever platform they have access to. A player like Lebron James is one of the most influential people in our society and has the capability to reach a huge audience. It is an injustice to everything these athletes have done to call them strictly athletes thus baring them from the ability to speak in the public spotlight.
If the 2016 election has showed anything it's that there are zero qualifications necessary to talk politics (or serve as president). Lebron James and Kevin Durant are both intelligent members of our country and are far more informed than a lot of people. The First Amendment guarantees freedom of speech for all people in the United States. There should be no exemption to this freedom when it comes to the topic of politics.
1) I think it is great that athletes use their large influence and platform to voice their political opinions. They can be very influential with so many people looking up to them. Also it is a constitutional right to be able to express yourself. If they weren’t allowed, it would not be constitutionally just.
ReplyDelete2) I do not think that someone should have any qualifications to talk about politics. Politics is important and we as the people of the united states have the right to voice our own opinion about any topic we choose.
3) I think lebron did in fact respond the right way. Lebron just like everyone else in the country have the right of speech and expression. I think it was disrespectful that the reporter told Lebron to ‘shut up’. Lebron then saw that the reporter had no influence over him and used his rights of expression and with his millions of followers and knows he will be heard throughout the world.
4) I truly believe that Lebron and Durant have the same political power or even more compared to the Fox news reporter. I think that the reporter has more knowledge which is causing these issues, but the players have a huge following and are entitled to their own opinion and I believe that people will listen to them both.
1. I 100% think it's okay for professional athletes to use their platforms to voice their political opinions. America is founded upon our freedoms including the freedoms to speech and press. Furthermore, I simply think that everyone is entitled to voice their political opinion by whatever means they have to do so.
ReplyDelete2. I don't think that anyone needs to be qualified to talk about politics because everyone is entitled to their own opinions and to voice those opinions.
3. I think Lebron responded in the right way because he used the "shut up and dribble" diss to further his platform on spreading awareness about social injustice. He took a negative and made it beneficial for himself.
4. I think that based on who the audience is, Lebron or Durant could have more political power than a reporter. In this case, I believe Lebron had more power over the reporter because the remarks she made came across as racist to many people and therefore made the reporter's view seem invalid.
1. Of course it's okay for athletes to voice their political opinions. The first amendment of the U.S. Constitution protects the right to freedom of speech for all Americans. Any argument that they shouldn't would be unconstitutional.
ReplyDelete2. No, you don't have to have certain qualifications to talk politics. All Americans and their political opinions are protected by the first amendment.
3. I would say that LeBron responded the right way. In the interview he basically said that the Fox News reporter has the right to her opinions. There was a big difference in tone from Laura Ingraham who seemed angry that athletes have the right to voice their opinions.
4. LeBron James and Kevin Durant pretty much have the same political power as Fox News Reporter Laura Ingraham. This is because while it is Ingraham's job to voice her political views on her show, more people care about what LeBron and KD have to say.
1) While I believe that the athletes have the right to use their platform to freely speak their mind I think that more athletes need to be conscious about their audience. Many viewers are tuning in to learn more about sports and possibly get away from the crazy battle of todays politics.
ReplyDelete2) There should be no requirements to talk politics as the constitution grants your god given right to speak freely. I will say however that in todays society we see a large number of people use their platform to speak about politics and they present wrong information to the public which only hurts the country as a whole.
3) I think that lebron did a good job standing his ground however I am still unsure about how he hopes to better the problem. I believe that the Fox reporter choose her words poorly.
4) It is clear that the fox has more political power than any sports athlete. Everyday people are tuning into her show in order to learn more about politics and often times influence their opinion. It would not make sense to say that the fox reporter has the same amount of sports influence as Lebron does. At the end of it, this story reminds me how great it is that we have the freedom of speech which is a god granted right that many other countries such as Canada does not have. Both Lebron and the Fox reporter used their right.
1.) I think it Is okay for professional athletes to use their platform (NBA, NFL, MLB, etc.) to voice their political opinions because it is a right as a human being in the United States to speak freely as they wish and why not take advantage of such a high influence on fans for what they believe is for the better.
ReplyDelete2.) No someone should not require any specific qualifications to talk politics because again it is a right in the U.S. under freedom of speech. Just because someone isn’t educated fully on a topic doesn’t mean they shouldn’t have an opinion or thought process on it and if they want to voice that opinion then they have every right to. They just may face hate from others who disagree or know more.
3.)I do believe Lebron responded the right way, for himself, because he was only trying to voice his opinion about what he believes. I also believe that this added more awareness to the topic and invited more people to educate themselves on it because fans wanted to back up or at least understand what Lebron was talking about.
4.)Honestly I think that Lebron James and Kevin Durant have more political power than the fox reporter because famous athletes have power over the majority of their loyal fans and they have many fans. Famous althetes reach out to a huge population mainly being teenagers and young adults who are our next generation as well as people who most likely don’t watch the news as much as an older generation.
ReplyDeleteProfessional players should use their platform to talk about political opinions. They are humans and wildly talented humans too. They can talk as much about politics as someone who sits in a chair all day. Since when are there qualifications for talking politics in America? This is a freedom as far as I’m concerned. We should be able to say what we please about the government and to freely share our views where and when we want within reason. But if athletes want to talk about whatever after a game, then they can do so. They are not paid to be quiet. I think they are role models so I’d like to see them not do drugs or hit people, but role models should definitely be able to talk politics.
I think that anyone should have the right to say anything they want. It is a free country, and people have the freedom of expressing themselves. If you don’t like someone else’s ideas, it’s as simple as ignoring them and not letting them affect your thoughts; but nobody needs any specific qualifications to express their opinions on politics. I am entirely unsure of that lady on Fox’s qualifications for talking politics. People can ignore him and people can ignore her.
I think that the players have more political power than the fox reporter. Many many many more people have watched both of them play numerous times, and are long standing fans of them. When they say something political, not necessary everyone will listen. Yet when the reporter responds to Lebron’s comments, and tries to talk politics, who says she has any more power than the guy she is essentially making fun of? Many people may view her mockery of Lebron as a mockery of herself, while she thinks that she is the one with more power and followers.
I think that everyone, including professional athletes and celebrities, should be able to freely and respectfully voice their political opinion. Americans have the right to free speech, which applies to everyone; qualifications are not necessary. A political opinion isn't formed by one thing in particular, so what even could make one 'qualified' to discuss politics? Sharing knowledge and thoughts to a wide spread fanbase could spark interesting and informational conversation and even knew ideas.
ReplyDeleteI think Lebron handled the situation properly, he had a right and an opportunity to share his opinion. Being famous helps when sharing and spreading ideas, so his response raised awareness and drew more attention to the topic.
The players definitely have more power than a fox reporter, both have many fans and followers that would support them- many more than the reporter. I believe that the reporter has more power than the players during interviews, because she leads the conversation and can ask any question- whereas the players are unprepared. But at the end of the day the players have more power and supporters.
It is absolutely okay for a professional athlete to voice his or her own opinion. This person is speaking about what is going on and what the person is thinking, in his or her head. You can't criticize someone for using ungrammatical language in an interview no matter who you are. It just isn't right and it's non respectful to that person to be called out for. One or more mistakes in grammar when talking to someone isn't the end of the world for that person. Everybody speaks without thinking. It's natural.
ReplyDeleteNo one should be accused of talking politics. It is talked about and mentioned everyday on televisions and in newspapers. No matter how much money you make, politics is always okay to talk about. Nobody should be stared down upon for bringing the subject up.
It depends on how you view and take into consideration what he said.
Just because your talk show host, that doesn't give you the right to laugh at or judge the way people say stuff. It's their voice. It's their own personal opinions. It's their view of the world. At the end of the day, her making fun of and criticizing star players Kevin Durant and Lebron James won't change the way people view them. So no, the talk show host and the athletes don't have more power over one another.
I definitely think that professional athletes should be able to voice their opinions and use their platforms to do so. Athletes are regular people as well, and just because they are famous or they get paid a lot of money doesn’t mean that they can’t voice their opinions. Everyone has a right to their own opinions and their abilities to voice them. The interesting part to me is the response from Laura Ingraham. I think her criticism actually gave Lebron more of a voice. James said "We will definitely not shut up and dribble. ... I mean too much to society, too much to the youth, too much to so many kids who feel like they don't have a way out." Her criticism gave Lebron even more of a voice than before, especially because some people thought Laura Ingraham’s comment was racist, and that was what he was previously speaking out about. Another interesting comparison for me is his education in politics vs hers. I think she could have used her political experience to “outspeak” him, but instead she said a kind of snarky comment and allowed Lebron to have a larger audience.
ReplyDeleteI think that it is completely fine for athletes to use their platform as professional players to voice political opinions. Many of these players want to make change and the easiest way to do that is to get the message out to their already established fan base. I don't think that people need specific qualifications to talk politics because not only do we all talk politics but so do our parents and grandparents and what do they know? Really they are just as naïve as us, except they have been around longer. The way Lebron responded in my opinion is part of the problem. Today is one of the most hostile and divisive political environments in the countries history and people just make it worse by just yelling at each other with personal attacks and no political fact. People spout out their opinion as fact sometimes just to start arguments. Players have more political effect of the future generations with the kids that look up to the players but a tv show host has more effect on the present because their audience is mostly adults.
ReplyDeleteI think that athletes should not be told to “shut up and dribble” but rather be encouraged to use their platforms to talk about issues that have affected them, or that they have noticed. As a high school athlete, I find it discomforting that someone would use the fact that someone is an athlete to discredit their level of intelligence. I think that Laura Ingraham suggesting that athletes cannot have an opinion on politics is really counter-intuitive to the political conversation we are trying to include everyone in right now. For Ingrahm to say that athletes should “stick to sports” is saying that political issues can only be discussed by those who are ‘qualified’ to talk about it. However, if an issue directly or has directly impacted someone, they should feel comfortable speaking out about it, whatever their level of education is. I think Ingraham's comment if anything, made athletes want to speak out more against injustices that they have noticed in the country, because they realize that they have a large platform, and can help many people with their voices.
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