Newstoon, 05.06.10

Posted by hpayne on May 6, 2010

Last Saturday, a self-proclaimed “unifier” – Barack Obama – came to Michigan. On Wednesday, a real unifier – Ernie Harwell – passed away.

Obama was, briefly, a uniter. He embodied our dream of a colorblind society after his election. His subsequent greed for power has made him the most divisive president of modern times. But in truth, no pol can be a uniter for long.

Sports is a different matter as Harwell proves. As the Tigers prove. Walk up to a stranger on a street corner the last 24 hours and they know Harwell. The thousands of people circling Comerica Park to catch a last glimpse of Ernie Thursday came from all walks of life, all classes, all races. They all had Ernie and baseball in common.

Baseball unites us. It is without party. Without denomination.

So fight for what you believe in.

Then go to a sports bar after work for unity.

Cartoon follows. (which also appears here in the Editorials section)

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