Kicker, Catholic, and future Trump Vice Presidential candidate Harrison Butker’s commencement speech somehow continues to ripple throughout the still waters of liberal lakes across the nation. Conservatives however, seem absolutely fine with this athlete speaking about his beliefs. You won’t find Fox “News” entertainment hosts screaming, “shut up and kick the ball!” They love this guy and are ready for Trump Butker 2024.
With one speech, Butker managed to raise the ire of women across a variety of social and economic backgrounds, gay people, anyone who has sought IVF, those who value science, Taylor Swift fans, and even nuns. He went from a guy the nation largely didn’t know to a guy who annoyed a large part of the nation.
For many folks, it appeared that Butker’s speech was removed from reality and reason, as his words of religious belief were aimed at dehumanizing gay people and mansplaining to women about our role in the world. People thought Butker was being a dick when actually, he was being a Benedictine – the difference between the two can be difficult to differentiate like Rubin’s Vase, an optical illusion…some see faces, some see vases.
Religious beliefs are just that – beliefs rooted in faith not fact. And that’s fine, Butker was extolling his beliefs in a religious setting surrounded by people who share his beliefs, he did receive a standing ovation – no endless boos, no walk outs in protest as he spoke. Donald likes that.
There’s zero wrong with being a stay at home mom or homemaker or Household CEO…whatever title is preferred. It’s that Butker talked at women – telling women to lean into being a homemaker, as if that is all women are capable of doing.
Well, as I lean into my vocation of being a mom, I must say that there are many ways to be a mom. All moms work, so the “working mom” label is redundant to me. I’ve been a stay at home mom and felt an awkward need to explain why I chose to stay home with my son. And when I decided to return to the “work world” it was exasperating trying to explain the gaps on my resume – second guessing my worth because somehow being a mom could be considered less than. Applying for jobs I was over qualified for hoping to get in the door, because when you leave most career tracks it’s tough to merge back in. I’ve also worked while my son was in school and understand the stress of managing child care, school projects, doctor’s appointments, work, after school activities, bills, family, homework, relationships…all the things.
Black women don’t require Butker or Benedictine to whitesplain what it is to be a woman in America. Men and white women have had agency over Black women for a minute. Black women are just now coming into our own and just when we are making our way to get there…a grifter with a gang of grievance driven guys and gals cock blocks by taking away a constitutional right while they bitch and brag. Please allow me to take a moment to state how grateful I am to have had the opportunity to work, how grateful I am for everything – I concede that sentence may read with a sarcastic tilt, however it is sincere and necessary, not only to have gratitude…but to state it continually, primarily for the progress police, who need to hear it perpetually.
And speaking of people who need to be perpetually pleased, I think Donald may have another contender to wear a red tie at the court house where he awaits the verdict for paying off women he had sex with to impact a presidential election in his favor. The new contender is Butker, an all American football player that MAGA world loves, he speaks straight from Heritage Foundation cue cards, and he is besties with Jesus. He is MAGA masculinity packaged with prayer and the right amount of piety and hair product. And bonus, if Donald gets pissed at him for whatever constitutional crime Butker refuses to commit, being athletic with the ability to kick, will come in handy. Butker beware: Donald’s followers are feral fanatics, they’ve violently attacked FBI offices, brought a guillotine to hang the last Vice President, they threaten judges, and anyone who dares to disagree with Donald much less hold him to account when he breaks the law.
According to Butker’s teammates, he’s a good guy and that’s great. Really, it is. Let’s keep speeches about religious beliefs at commencement ceremonies, church, and Chick-fil-a. Butker’s beliefs are his beliefs – he was at a Catholic school, not the nation’s Capitol.
Contrary to Republican belief, religion is not a branch of government, although the judicial branch has transitioned from identifying as magistrate to MAGA. It’s not about Butker or his beliefs, it’s about religion running rough shot over peoples lives through legislation. The separation of church and state is eroding faster than the polar ice caps, becoming yet another man made threat to civilization.