Thought Crimes vs. Violent Crimes: There's More Outrage Over Harrison Butker Than NFL's Violent Criminals
There's far more outrage over Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker's commencement address at Benedictine College last Saturday than there is over other NFL players committing violent crimes.
For a recap, Butker encouraged women at a Catholic college to embrace being a mother during his speech. He credited his wife for staying home while he earned for the family.
"I’m beyond blessed with the many talents God has given me, but it cannot be overstated that all of my success is made possible because a girl I met in band class back in middle school would convert to the faith, become my wife and embrace one of the most important titles of all: homemaker."
Butker, a devout Catholic, shared a Catholic worldview that the most important role a woman can assume is birthing a child.
Detractors of Butler's speech have depicted his comments as a means to shame women who prioritize their careers over motherhood. The spin is predictable and dishonest.
That said, Butker's perspective on marriage is rooted in his Catholic faith. Religious messaging is inherently polarizing and makes those who do not practice the same religion uncomfortable.
It's reasonable for respondents to disagree with Butker, even after consuming the full context of his commencement address.
What's telling, however, is the level of outrage over Butker's address compared to, say, his teammate Rashee Rice.
Rice was recently arrested on eight felony charges concerning a hit-and-run accident while drag-racing his Lamborghini at 119 mph on a Dallas highway.
Rice is fortunate. One of the vehicles he crashed into included a mother and her young child. He could have killed or injured them both, and himself. He also fled the scene before checking if his victims