James Harrison, a football player for the Super Bowl winning Pittsburgh Steelers announced yesterday that he would not be making the congratulatory trip to the White House this year, to him, it's just not a big deal, not going to do it. This is nothing new for him. He did not accept the invitation to the White House when Bush was President.
Why are people not upset about this? Quite frankly, I wouldn't care who was President, if I got a Presidential invitation to the White House, I would be there with bells on!
I do not understand Americans who "cannot be bothered". It is an honor being bestowed upon you by your country, how dare you say it's not a big deal, it is a big deal.
I would tend to believe that there are millions of Americans who would be more than willing to fill the vacancy left by James Harrison.
Tradition, I do not think he understands tradition. When a professional team wins the whole enchilada, one of the niftiest perks that can happen is to be invited to the White House, the people's house. It's been happening for years. And this year, in the midst of turmoil, job loss, recession, it certainly helps to see a not so somber event taking place at the White House. Members of the winning teams obviiously cannot drop in on every American to accept their congratulations, so symbolically, by going to the White House, the people's house, they are accepting a nation's praise for a job well done.
As professional atheletes perhaps it is easy to become jaded as they have become accustomed to all kinds of perks that the average, hard working American can only dream about. However, being invited to visit the White House by the President of the United States is a very big deal, and to refuse the invitation, to me, well that is just Un-American.
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