Define "better". Is it someone tall and blonde with blue eyes?
- Levit8

I think it's pretty obvious by better they mean someone who didn't willing sing disparaging songs about minorities but sure let's ramp this all up to Nazis.

You guys are nuts. Absolutely nuts. It's a statue and a dumb recording that serves no purpose. We're not re-writing history here.

I thought the Kate Smith duet ran its course years ago and got annoyed every time the Flyers pulled it out of its dusty box. It is for that reason I think it should have been discontinued long ago.

The problem I have is that the Yankees, Flyers, the media, and more than a few posters in here used it to paint a woman as a racist. She had no way to defend herself, and to see her tarnished like that was in my opinion underhanded and cowardly. The way they covered that statue with a black sheet was shameful virtue signaling. I'm amazed they didn't use a white sheet.

I'm glad you brought up Paul Robeson. Because context was needed here, and those who jumped on the "She's a racist" bandwagon might actually give some thought to their opinions before they jump on the accusation train.

Context is so easy to manipulate these days, and more and more people allow themselves to be manipulated instead of getting the whole story.

I saw terms thrown around in here like whitesplaining the past few days. As if a persons skin color precludes them from having a valid opinion on something. Is that racism? Some would say it is. I say it's just lazy.
- MBFlyerfan

Well said!
I have more fondness for the song and Kate’s place in the Flyers history than you, but that’s ok, and a healthy difference of opinion. My issue is with the systemic re-interpretation of someones’ beliefs based on PC culture run amok, and the narrow minded positions of those hell bent on revionist history or erasing its significance.

Bill, I would like to suggest that you submit this wonderfully written post to the Inquirer and the NYTimes.
- mollen

I’ll second this!

Thank you for a very well researched and reasoned post. I have worked in the nonprofit world my entire adult life. I think the rush to trash historical monuments is going to have much broader implications. People desire to be remembered for the good things they have done and not the bad things. A person who accumulates a vast amount of wealth often wants to give back to charity later on in life. Hospitals, universities and many other institutions have been the beneficiary of that generosity. The charity often responds and sometimes as a condition of the gift names a building or program for the donor. Many of these naming situations have been rescinded or overturned in the last few years because people want to focus on the worst aspects of the donor rather than what they did well. Some of the outrage is justified but much of it is just self righteous political posturing.

How many of these wealthy donors are going to be willing to donate if they know that posthumously their name is going to be drug through the mud because shortsighted individuals want to make an object lesson of the worst aspects of their life. It is easier to pass it to your heirs than deal with the public scrutiny. All of us have some sort of baggage in our life and it is not the way we want to be remembered.

I, for one, still have fond memories of Kate Smith singing "God Bless America" during the mid-seventies cup runs and choose to remember her for the inspiration she provided rather than digging back into the 1930's for less than proud moments. Yes, I am an old fart and will probably be trashed by some self-righteous millennial but I have been around long enough to see that many situations have unintended consequences.

I think it's pretty obvious by better they mean someone who didn't willing sing disparaging songs about minorities but sure let's ramp this all up to Nazis.

You guys are nuts. Absolutely nuts. It's a statue and a dumb recording that serves no purpose. We're not re-writing history here.
- hereticpride

According to the team’s official press release on the matter, if they could erase Smith’s renditions of GBA from team history with a time machine they would, without taking into account the context Bill presented...that is nuts.

they're not attacking kate smith they're just removing a statue
- 2Real

You will never understand the microcosm this decision portrays, and the uneasy, slippery slope this country finds itself in.

I thought the Kate Smith duet ran its course years ago and got annoyed every time the Flyers pulled it out of its dusty box. It is for that reason I think it should have been discontinued long ago.

The problem I have is that the Yankees, Flyers, the media, and more than a few posters in here used it to paint a woman as a racist. She had no way to defend herself, and to see her tarnished like that was in my opinion underhanded and cowardly. The way they covered that statue with a black sheet was shameful virtue signaling. I'm amazed they didn't use a white sheet.

I'm glad you brought up Paul Robeson. Because context was needed here, and those who jumped on the "She's a racist" bandwagon might actually give some thought to their opinions before they jump on the accusation train.

Context is so easy to manipulate these days, and more and more people allow themselves to be manipulated instead of getting the whole story.

I saw terms thrown around in here like whitesplaining the past few days. As if a persons skin color precludes them from having a valid opinion on something. Is that racism? Some would say it is. I say it's just lazy.
- MBFlyerfan

I actually agree with this part. The vast majority of players and fans at this point have no connection to the Kate Smith. I personally thought to continue to pull out GBA as a good luck charm was silly anymore.

So many posters have said it was inevitable after what the Yankees did. Since when does a Yankees decision dictate what the Flyers do? Grow a damn spine and step up to plate. Take a stand for what you believe, instead of follow, like cattle led to the slaughterhouse. I’m about ready to sever my relationship with the Flyers over this. Season ticket holder for more than 25 years, and rabid fan, it’s hard to support an organization without a spine, and rudder headed in the direction of PC culture. I’ll watch once in a while,and wish them well, but I’m no longer giving any of my money for this organization, or the initiatives they support. I know of 7 other friends, who like me, are fed up. I guess when it hits them in the wallet, they’ll wake up, or try getting money from the PC club.

If the Flyers or their owner, Comcast are now going to play morality police then why do they allow certain "acts" to play in their arena?

100% of the acts that play in that building have no racial overtones?

R Kelly's tape of him molesting an underage girl has been out for many many years. Long before he was on stage in Phila in. Lady Gaga and Jay Z also collaborated with R Kelly. Why are they not guilty by association. Why are they allowed to play Wells Fargo.

Previous drug dealer, Meek Mill has racist lyrics and he sings about raping women. Why did the Sixers owner plead for his release, fly him to a Sixers game that night and then have a Meek Mill night. Why is that ok?

Why do they display Wells Fargo on their building considering Wells was fined in the hundreds of millions of dollars because of their minority loan practices? Why does NBC owned by Comcast sell advertising to Wells Fargo?

Someone, somewhere answer the above before we even begin to discuss a Kate Smith song from 80 years ago.
- Joe Nardone

My sentiments exactly, Comcast can not pick and choose who to hurt in this issue, either you hit everyone or no one. Ok, if you want to be 'morally responsible' why not start with present day issues and correct them, isn't this the same network that employs an actor made famous for a song about killing cops? Why is he still being paid ( don't get me wrong, I really like Ice on SVU but fair is fair). I forgive him for, I don't like it, but I forgive him, he has proven since his actions then were not as it seemed, let's give Kate the same. Nothing I have read or seen has proven in anyway she was a racist. Not to mention this seemed like a very knee jerk( no publicity is bad publicity) feel to it, guilty until proven innocent. What have you done to Mr. Snider's organization!

So many posters have said it was inevitable after what the Yankees did. Since when does a Yankees decision dictate what the Flyers do? Grow a damn spine and step up to plate. Take a stand for what you believe, instead of follow, like cattle led to the slaughterhouse. I’m about ready to sever my relationship with the Flyers over this. Season ticket holder for more than 25 years, and rabid fan, it’s hard to support an organization without a spine, and rudder headed in the direction of PC culture. I’ll watch once in a while,and wish them well, but I’m no longer giving any of my money for this organization, or the initiatives they support. I know of 7 other friends, who like me, are fed up. I guess when it hits them in the wallet, they’ll wake up, or try getting money from the PC club.
- Hokeeguy9

The Yankees are holier than thou. Players aren't allowed to have beards, but they have a POS in their bullpen with domestic violence on his record.

I actually agree with this part. The vast majority of players and fans at this point have no connection to the Kate Smith. I personally thought to continue to pull out GBA as a good luck charm was silly anymore.
- nastyflyergirl

Yes, it was part of the past and should have been remembered as such. I intend to remember it that way.

Great job, Bill. Thank you.

I knew how this would have to be handled, but I wish the controversy never happened.

As far as the “agenda”....that’s my biggest disappointment. When there are current issues and people and kids living today with big needs or facing inequality, shouldn’t the “agenda” focus on helping the living?

Where did the all of a sudden concern for the Kate Smith removal come from. Please tell me not the Yankees twitter feeds.

The Yankees are holier than thou. Players aren't allowed to have beards, but they have a POS in their bullpen with domestic violence on his record.
- PLindbergh31

How long until the yankees back away from Babe Ruth?

"However, the legend was truly a product of his time, using racial and ethnic slurs like “wops” to refer to Italian-Americans and “micks” to refer to Irish-Americans. He also used the n-word on occasion"

So many posters have said it was inevitable after what the Yankees did. Since when does a Yankees decision dictate what the Flyers do? Grow a damn spine and step up to plate. Take a stand for what you believe, instead of follow, like cattle led to the slaughterhouse. I’m about ready to sever my relationship with the Flyers over this. Season ticket holder for more than 25 years, and rabid fan, it’s hard to support an organization without a spine, and rudder headed in the direction of PC culture. I’ll watch once in a while,and wish them well, but I’m no longer giving any of my money for this organization, or the initiatives they support. I know of 7 other friends, who like me, are fed up. I guess when it hits them in the wallet, they’ll wake up, or try getting money from the PC club.
- Hokeeguy9

lol

So many posters have said it was inevitable after what the Yankees did. Since when does a Yankees decision dictate what the Flyers do? Grow a damn spine and step up to plate. Take a stand for what you believe, instead of follow, like cattle led to the slaughterhouse. I’m about ready to sever my relationship with the Flyers over this. Season ticket holder for more than 25 years, and rabid fan, it’s hard to support an organization without a spine, and rudder headed in the direction of PC culture. I’ll watch once in a while,and wish them well, but I’m no longer giving any of my money for this organization, or the initiatives they support. I know of 7 other friends, who like me, are fed up. I guess when it hits them in the wallet, they’ll wake up, or try getting money from the PC club.
- Hokeeguy9

The PC club will be the downfall of America, all they do is complain online and bring nothing to society. Stephen A Smith mentioned the Flyers for maybe the first time in his life and it was for this garbage. I would have enjoyed his fake analysis if we had won the cup.

You will never understand the microcosm this decision portrays, and the uneasy, slippery slope this country finds itself in.
- Hokeeguy9

"we can't have gays getting married then people might try to marry animals" - somebody somewhere

So many posters have said it was inevitable after what the Yankees did. Since when does a Yankees decision dictate what the Flyers do? Grow a damn spine and step up to plate. Take a stand for what you believe, instead of follow, like cattle led to the slaughterhouse. I’m about ready to sever my relationship with the Flyers over this. Season ticket holder for more than 25 years, and rabid fan, it’s hard to support an organization without a spine, and rudder headed in the direction of PC culture. I’ll watch once in a while,and wish them well, but I’m no longer giving any of my money for this organization, or the initiatives they support. I know of 7 other friends, who like me, are fed up. I guess when it hits them in the wallet, they’ll wake up, or try getting money from the PC club.
- Hokeeguy9

bye! i'm pretty sure the flyers don't want money from casual racists!

Hatred is learned behavior. I'm sure as times changed, so would she.

"we can't have gays getting married then people might try to marry animals" - somebody somewhere
- 2Real

We now have generdless people, slippery slope...

We now have generdless people, slippery slope...
- ClaudeFather

so

so
- 2Real

not sure what else can be said to you, PCReal should be your new name.

not sure what else can be said to you, PCReal should be your new name.
- ClaudeFather

am I telling you that you have to use the correct words or whatever?

I mostly ignore it and laugh at the people that complain about it. It's not that bad guys

not sure what else can be said to you, PCReal should be your new name.
- ClaudeFather

But you have a differing opinion. That equals racist in his narrow lazy world.

History is a mess and so is this situation. Stuff like this only hurts progress. I’m for taking down confederate statues (if commiting open armed treason causing the death of thousands isn’t grounds to remove the figure’s statue, I don’t know what is.) but to hold an 80 year old satirical song up as your reason for removing someone so ingrained in your franchise’s legacy is too reactionary.

But you have a differing opinion. That equals racist in his narrow lazy world.
- MBFlyerfan

so you think a lady that sang racially insensitive songs is good to pair with hockey is for everyone? come on guys it's not hard to understand why all this was done