«
»

Is This Really Why He was Elected?

Tuesday, May 31st, 2005

State Assemblyman Craig Stanley is tackling the big issues in New Jersey:

State Assemblyman Craig Stanley is taking issue with a satanic symbol representing the state’s National Hockey League team, which has won three Stanley Cup championships.
“This is an age where symbolism is very important,” said Stanley, a Baptist deacon whose resolution to rename the team is to be introduced in the Assembly next month. A new name would be chosen in a statewide competition.

Of all the issues that face the people of New Jersey, is this really the issue that merits this guy’s attention? Have they solved all of their school funding issues? Their crime issues? Their political corruption issues? Do the members of the State Assembly really have the time to be fooling with something as insipid as this?

First off, the New Jersey Devils are a privately-owned franchise. There really isn’t anything the State Assembly can do about the team’s name. The owners can pretty much name the team whatever they want, regardless of what the public (or the State Assembly) says. Second, the team is named after the legend of the Jersey Devil, not the biblical devil. So, what is this guy’s problem?

“I’ve always cringed when people say they’re going to see the Devils,” said Stanley. “The merchandise, the paraphernalia is based on the actual demonic devil. Personally, it causes a little bit of an issue with me.”
The team’s mascot is red, cartoonish figure with horns and a goatee.

So, he has an issue with the team mascot. There is no public outcry, no massive movement to change the team’s name. The only reason that this bill is going to waste the time of the State Assembly is because this one guy has an issue with the team’s name. Someone needs to remind this guy that in a Democracy, the minority voice is protected so that it can be heard, not so the majority has to bow to it.

Hat Tip: Sploid – not a permalink.

 Print This Post

This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 31st, 2005 at 9:00 am by Nick, and is filed under Political Correctness. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

One Response to “Is This Really Why He was Elected?”

  1.   BobG Says:
    June 2nd, 2005 at 11:35 am

    Oh well, one cartoon figure complaining about another.