My only wish, an ode to the other fans

[Aero]

Originally Posted by Old Ska

Diappointing.

Does RSL security allow other banners (aside from the Loyalists ones) to hang in the stadium?

Yes, they do. This is the only banner I have seen that they have taken down. There are all kinds of banners hanging in the stands. They are very good about allowing anyone that wants to hang a banner to hang one. I think that they made the right choice in this case though.

[montgjules]

Some would call it offensive because of being disrespectful toward the Christian reigion. Others would consider it offensive because of being Christian-centric. Like Christmas trees in public spaces being offensive to some of other religions. Either way, it isn't Utahns only that would have taken it down. I agree with the decision.

I would also agree with banning banners with other religious messages if ppl considered them offensive. I'm all about bing inclusive and not offending one group or another. (Except all you dang liberals who are offended by anybody else being offended, sparking loud minorities screaming freedom of speech over things that 95% of the population feel they should have freedom not to see... :p )

However, I bet I'm not the only one who mispronounces Jason's name on a regular basis. Oops.

I'm now done with political argument. Please feel free to hate me for my conservative, religious viewpoints. 🙄

[Old Ska]

Interesting viewpoint. I still find it VERY disappointing.

Maybe it is because I am an old school soccer fan, but barring something that is outright vulgar, I don't think the front office (RSL security) should be censoring what banners fans bring into the stadium.

What is next? Lets say that down the line it becomes clear that we need a new coach for some reason...can we not criticize the coach with a banner? Are they going to go after chants that use hymns as the tune? (Guess what: "Elliger's Army" is set to "God Save Ireland" but I will bet money most people at RE think it is "In Our Lovely Deseret" or "Jesus Loves the Little Children".) Why would that be okay and not a banner with a pun on Jason Kreis' name? Are they going to avoid ever hiring a player named Jesus (Hey Soos)? I was going to bring a banner that says "USA's To Do List: Afganistan: check! Iraq: check! Costa Rica: " is that offensive and likely to be torn down? As someone concerned about Ireland I could make a really good case for how offensive "Loyalists" as a team-condoned name for the supporters club is. I mean, the Irish Loyalists are notorious murderers and rapists!

As a Mormon I don't think that the banner in question was in extremely great taste, but it wasn't horrible. I am more bothered by the boob-job poster/calendar girls the FO saw fit to trot out at the home opener (which is evidence to me that they aren't all THAT concerned about community morals and standards).

As a consumer of RSL's product (4 season tickets and several dozen individual game tickets) I think that my view on this is relevant. I'll pipe down about this from here on out, but seriously, this kind of thing affects whether I'll continue to support the team with my pocket book. And I suspect that you folks in Utah really don't know how bad it makes you look to people who already (wrongly) think you are a bunch of right-wing cultists. I know that in this forum there is an unwritten law against saying anything against the FO (who have done a fantastic job with 95% of everything related to the team to this point), but this one seems like such a no-brainer to me that I am amazed more people aren't concerned about it.

At the very least it would be nice to get a copy of whatever policy statement they have regarding this. Who is the person responsible for making the call whether something is offensive or not? How do they decide? What I don't like is that we don't know what the policy is, but yet it is enforced. If we knew what it was (no religious symbols, no swear words, no calls to violence, etc) I would feel better about it because it was made known even if I disagreed with it.

[montgjules]

Ska, I totally love the fact that you feel strongly and voice your opinions. Whether or not we agree 100% is less important than the fact that we can agree OR disagree civilly.

I gave up on ppl thinking of Utah or Mormons properly long ago. The polygamist jokes will haunt us forever. (And then some.)

"Utah: A Pretty Great State" (marketing gone wrong......)

[Stucki]

Originally Posted by Old Ska

Interesting viewpoint. I still find it VERY disappointing.

Maybe it is because I am an old school soccer fan, but barring something that is outright vulgar, I don't think the front office (RSL security) should be censoring what banners fans bring into the stadium.

What is next? Lets say that down the line it becomes clear that we need a new coach for some reason...can we not criticize the coach with a banner? Are they going to go after chants that use hymns as the tune? (Guess what: "Elliger's Army" is set to "God Save Ireland" but I will bet money most people at RE think it is "In Our Lovely Deseret" or "Jesus Loves the Little Children".) Why would that be okay and not a banner with a pun on Jason Kreis' name? Are they going to avoid ever hiring a player named Jesus (Hey Soos)? I was going to bring a banner that says "USA's To Do List: Afganistan: check! Iraq: check! Costa Rica: " is that offensive and likely to be torn down? As someone concerned about Ireland I could make a really good case for how offensive "Loyalists" as a team-condoned name for the supporters club is. I mean, the Irish Loyalists are notorious murderers and rapists!

As a Mormon I don't think that the banner in question was in extremely great taste, but it wasn't horrible. I am more bothered by the boob-job poster/calendar girls the FO saw fit to trot out at the home opener (which is evidence to me that they aren't all THAT concerned about community morals and standards).

As a consumer of RSL's product (4 season tickets and several dozen individual game tickets) I think that my view on this is relevant. I'll pipe down about this from here on out, but seriously, this kind of thing affects whether I'll continue to support the team with my pocket book. And I suspect that you folks in Utah really don't know how bad it makes you look to people who already (wrongly) think you are a bunch of right-wing cultists. I know that in this forum there is an unwritten law against saying anything against the FO (who have done a fantastic job with 95% of everything related to the team to this point), but this one seems like such a no-brainer to me that I am amazed more people aren't concerned about it.

At the very least it would be nice to get a copy of whatever policy statement they have regarding this. Who is the person responsible for making the call whether something is offensive or not? How do they decide? What I don't like is that we don't know what the policy is, but yet it is enforced. If we knew what it was (no religious symbols, no swear words, no calls to violence, etc) I would feel better about it because it was made known even if I disagreed with it.

If the sign had just used his name, I would have seen it as a clever play on words. The way it was, I understand why they took it down. As they haven't taken down any other signs or banners, I don't see it as a problem. I don't know if they have stopped any at the gate. If large numbers of banners start getting confiscated then I will be upset by it. If this is isolated, I don't see anything to get worked up about, yet.

The poster girls are the 1280 Zone Girls, I'm not sure that had anything to do with the FO, but they are to be found at any 1280 remote.

The love affair with the front office will end when the euphoria from having a team wears off.

[Aero]

Originally Posted by Old Ska

Why would that be okay and not a banner with a pun on Jason Kreis' name?

I have heard before that Jason doesn't like this particular pun at all. He is very, very uncomfortable with it. And that is a good enough reason for me not to want in hanging up. I really don't care if it offends anyone else, but I certainly don't want to see something meant to help the team actually be a detriment. If Jason doesn't like something that is good enough reason for me to take it down.

I thought it was in rather poor taste, and I'm one of those "dang liberals", but I would have probably been okay with leaving it up if it weren't for how Jason felt about it.

[Old Ska]

Originally Posted by Aero

I have heard before that Jason doesn't like this particular pun at all. He is very, very uncomfortable with it. And that is a good enough reason for me not to want in hanging up. I really don't care if it offends anyone else, but I certainly don't want to see something meant to help the team actually be a detriment. If Jason doesn't like something that is good enough reason for me to take it down.

I thought it was in rather poor taste, and I'm one of those "dang liberals", but I would have probably been okay with leaving it up if it weren't for how Jason felt about it.

I guess I am trying to sort out what you are saying here.

Are you saying that the RSL guy was looking specifically for Kreis/Christ banners? But he wouldn't, for example, take down one that said "Pope is Infalliable"?

Unless he took it down because of how bad Pope stunk up soldier field Saturday....

[Aero]

Originally Posted by Old Ska

I guess I am trying to sort out what you are saying here.

Are you saying that the RSL guy was looking specifically for Kreis/Christ banners? But he wouldn't, for example, take down one that said "Pope is Infalliable"?

Yes, I guess that is what I'm saying. I have heard that Kreis doesn't like that particular play on his name at all, so it wouldn't be too hard for me to imagine that they have been told to look out for that. But I would bet that a "Pope is infallible" banner would be just fine. Unless, of course, he has made it known that he doesn't really like that particular reference either. I haven't heard anything on that particular issue though. I guess you could try it and see.

Unless he took it down because of how bad Pope stunk up soldier field Saturday....

He certainly didn't look all that good. Maybe he won't be called up any more and we can have him all to ourselves. I can be a selfish fan, can't I? 🙂

[Deuce]

Originally Posted by Old Ska

I know that in this forum there is an unwritten law against saying anything against the FO (who have done a fantastic job with 95% of everything related to the team to this point), but this one seems like such a no-brainer to me that I am amazed more people aren't concerned about it.

At the very least it would be nice to get a copy of whatever policy statement they have regarding this. Who is the person responsible for making the call whether something is offensive or not? How do they decide? What I don't like is that we don't know what the policy is, but yet it is enforced. If we knew what it was (no religious symbols, no swear words, no calls to violence, etc) I would feel better about it because it was made known even if I disagreed with it.

You are not the only one concerned about censorship. I am not aware of any unwritten law or policy that excludes the FO from criticism... I think you will find that the FO will be the target of many campaigns once the honeymoon atmosphere has passed!
They are not perfect by any means but that is not my point.
My point actually is that if you are a season ticket holder then you recieved the rules and policies for RES in your ticket package and it clearly states that "flags and banners are prohibited" however the front office went to bat for us and got us permission from the RES folks to have flags banners and drums.
That permission comes with the responsibility to not abuse the privilege. I, for one, however strongly I feel about censorship, am not going to argue a point that may ultimately get the rest of the flags, banners and drums banned from the stadium.

It may be sleeping with the enemy... so what. It is all about compromise. We get to have flags and banners and they get to use "thier own" discretion on what is allowable.

It may be a slippery slope but the alternative is actually written into the rules already. It is a privilege to have them at all.

[clarette]

Uh, is anyone going to be irate if I wear my "Mary Is My Homegirl" T-shirt to Iggy's on Friday? 😲