The Subtle Conflation in the 2012 Mets Stars and Stripes Hat

Earlier this week MLB started roll out the 2012 Stars and Stripes hats into stadiums and stores. In case you have been under a rock the last few years in baseball, several years ago the MLB had all the teams wear hats to show off patriotic pride on Memorial Day, 4th of July, 9/11 etc. MLB also sold the hats in stores where a portion of the proceeds went to the Welcome Back Veterans campaign.

The first year this was done, all of the hats were red with a flag version of the team logo. The second year they were navy blue. The third year they were white on top with either a red or blue brim. This concept was devised because a major complaint has been the hats don’t go with the uniforms, and this model made that a little better.

In 2012, the hats are the normal home hats for the team, but the logos are filled with camouflage.

That is not an attractive hat. As you can imagine, this hat does not look attractive for probably any team wearing it.

Now my normal complaints about this hat hold true from previous years. Previously, I talked a lot about how this is “slactivism” at its best. Slactivism, is basically lazy activism. Its the type of activism that doesn’t help any body. Yeah some of the proceeds go to a great organization, but if you really want to help out, donate time, not just $35, and who knows how much of that $35 actually makes it to the charity. This is almost as bad as changing your status on facebook (although that remains as even more lazy form of slactivism).

My new complaint is about how this conflates the idea of patriotism and military. Ever since 9/11, and really since 2003 with the War in Iraq, miltary and patriotism have become same entity. Not supporting the war pubicly (although this has waned since 2008), or not supporting troop decisions (still holds true) is seen as publicly saying that you harbor negative thoughts or feelings to the country as a whole.

Now the hats already conflated the idea of patriotism and military as they were patriotic hats raising money for the military on a mix of military and civilian pride days. This has been exasperated now as players are supporting the military, or being forced to show solidarity with the American Military in a capitalistic manner on July 4th, a civilian holiday, and 9/11. We all have our opinions about 9/11 but ultimately, if we are to single out a group on 9/11, it should be our first responders (which includes the military, but not like this).

In other words, I’m dissapointed but not surprised in the MLB for making this decision to put camo on the hats. It’s disrespectful to players who support other countries, and it’s disrespectful to Americans who support their patriotism in ways that do not conflate with the military. This is what makes the hats different than the team giving seats to the military at the game. When a team gives military seats at the game it is a personal sign of respect. It is a direct thank you. It is also a gesture that does not force anyone else to participate. As soon as we bring in these hats, and then we make a spectacle out of it, we are forcing everyone to participate.

It is sad but true that the Military and Religion have this protection in this country. You cannot openly criticize either one without having your own character (not your reasoning, but your character) criticized as well. Baseball is by no means apolitical. However, over the last four years, there is something that feels so manufactured about the Military/Patriotic/Baseball connection. Previous movements happened on both a player level and front office level. This can be anything from Jackie Robinson to the Mets wearing the NYFD/NYPD hats. However this feels very corporate, which to me personally, leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

I know there will be a good chunk of readers that will disagree with this, and you have every right to. I have always been in the boat of if an action is going to demean or belittle the thoughts and opinions of another group, than that action shouldn’t happen (the action here being Stars and Stripes hats and what it says about baseball in the larger picture). Feel free to comment. I won’t censure anyone’s words, but sometimes it does take a while for comments to be posted.