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On Religion Cultural Conflicts, Playing Out on the Football Field By [|SAMUEL G. FREEDMAN] Published: January 27, 2012


 * Summary: ** America uses football to express large social conflicts. The most recent of which is Tim Tebow’s signature gesture, his head bowed in prayer. However, this is not the only occurrence we have seen in football. Team prayers have become an issue in the past, Reggie White was outspoken against homosexuality, and Michael Irvin spoke in favor of same-sex marriage. Tim Tebow has in a sense become an icon for Christianity due to his fame and strong beliefs. We as Americans see football as more than just a sport because it has a larger-than-life and heroic quality. We place athletes on such a high pedestal and there’s a longing in our culture for something more than just the individual, so that’s why athletes are able to get out a message like sharing God’s word. Evangelical groups often targeted football players, because stereotypically they’re a team man and a leader. At times football can become very emotional in intense situations, so it can really relate to religion. While there are some who do not agree with Tebow’s actions, no one can deny that he is making an impact on the country.
 * Relevance: ** An athlete impacting the country with their personal views isn’t something new. In the past we have seen other athletes use their fame to help promote their side of an issue. Muhammad Ali was a professional boxer and was and still is considered an icon in our country. Ali was outspoken on his views on the Vietnam War and segregation. Ali felt that war went against the teachings of Islam and he refused enlistment in the draft (Muhammad Ali). In consequence Ali was arrested, stripped of his title, and had his fighting license suspended, however the Supreme Court overruled the conviction a few years later. This became the most famous moment of an athlete making a political statement (10 Athletes). He also disagreed with the treatment of blacks in America at the time and discrimination in general. “Hating people because of their color is wrong. And it doesn't matter which color does the hating. It's just plain wrong” (Muhammad Ali Quotes). Another example closer to today’s times would be from baseball player Carlos Delgado. In 2004 Delgado made the decision to refuse to stand for “God Bless America”, which is played during the seventh inning stretch. While it may seem highly disrespectful, his reasoning was that he felt the song represented a war that he didn’t believe in. After being traded he began to stand again, but his courage to stick to what he believed in impacted many others (10 Athletes).
 * Evaluation: ** America is essentially a “melting pot”; a mix of many other countries and cultures. That being said, it is difficult to define what exactly is American. “The United States of America is exceptional among the nations of the world. Unlike most other countries, there is no overarching ethnic or religious affiliation that identifies one as ‘American’” (The Importance of Sports). So how does an American identify themselves? Many people would agree that sports play a major role in defining America. Over the years sports have become very important to Americans, and that being said, athletes are just as important. Americans look up to these star athletes not just at their athletic abilities but also their lifestyle. Athletes are able to use their fame to promote whatever it is they feel strongly about, and people listen. America is always facing many huge political and social issues, and athletes, just like everyone else, have their opinions on how they should be dealt with. While sports do not completely define Americans, they definitely play a big role in explaining American character.

Questions:
 * 1) Will promoting religious beliefs become more popular in football now that Tebow has done it?
 * 2) Will the government decide that mixing sports and religion is inappropriate?
 * 3) For the most part does America agree with Tebow’s actions or disagree?
 * 4) Will it ever come to the point that religion is allowed to be taught in public schools? Or will regulations become even tighter?
 * 5) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">What other social conflicts will be brought about in the form of athlete promotion?
 * 6) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">How will sports continue to progress in the future and will it become even more important to our society?
 * 7) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Since athletes have been known to make public political statements, will they ever begin to run for a political position?

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">"10 Athletes Who Made Bold Political and Social Statements | Bleacher Report." //Bleacher Report | Entertaining Sports News, Photos and Slideshows//. Web. 02 Feb. 2012. <http://bleacherreport.com/articles/446420-ten-athletes-who-made-major-political-and-social-statements>. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Freedman, Samuel G. "Cultural Conflicts, Playing Out on the Football Field." //The New York Times//. The New York Times Company, 27 Jan. 2012. Web. 29 Jan. 2012. <http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/28/us/cultural-conflicts-playing-out-on-the-football-field.html?_r=2&ref=us>. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">"The Importance of Sports in America." //Bleacher Report//. Web. 31 Jan. 2012. <http://bleacherreport.com/articles/211946-the-importance-of-sports-in-america>. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">"Muhammad Ali." //Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia//. Web. 02 Feb. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_Ali>. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">"Muhammad Ali Quotes - BrainyQuote." //Famous Quotes at BrainyQuote//. Web. 02 Feb. 2012. <http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/muhammad_ali.html>.