Op-Ed: Harrison Butker is a Smorgasbord of Intolerance

By: Zachary Draves

Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker is receiving flack for his recent commencement speech at Benedictine College, a Catholic liberal arts institution in Atchison, Kansas. 

(Courtesy: Patrick T. Fallon/AFP Via Getty)

Instead of devoting his allotted 20 minutes to congratulate the graduating class and give them a sense of hope and optimism for the future, he instead chose to devote that time to air out his grievances over DEI, Pride Month, COVID, abortion, gender roles, and something called the “church of nice”.

On Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Butker said “The world around us says that we should keep our beliefs to ourselves whenever they go against the tyranny of diversity, equity and inclusion. We fear speaking truth, because now, unfortunately, truth is in the minority.”

The idea that DEI is somehow tyrannical is laughably oxymoronic. Bigotry and prejudice have always been forms of tyranny and DEI programs are there to push back against that and to recognize that each and every one of us have a role in building a more equitable and just society.

On the topic of Pride he said “Not the deadly sins sort of Pride that has an entire month dedicated to it, “but the true God-centered pride that is cooperating with the holy ghost to glorify him.”

Never mind the fact that Pride is celebrated in June and has been a thing since 1969 after the Stonewall Rebellion in New York City.  

Butker then managed to find a way to tie COVID and reproductive freedom together by saying:

“While COVID might have played a large role throughout your formative years, it is not unique. The bad policies and poor leadership have negatively impacted major life issues. Things like abortion, IVF, surrogacy, euthanasia, as well as a growing support for the degenerate cultural values and media all stem from pervasiveness of disorder.”

What one has to do with the other is anyone’s guess?

(Courtesy: Cooper Neill/Getty)

Then if that wasn’t enough he offered his “brilliant” take on gender roles by saying:

“I’m beyond blessed with the many talents God has given me, but it cannot be overstated that all of my success is made possible because a girl I met in band class back in middle school would convert to the faith, become my wife, and embrace one of the most important titles of all: homemaker.” 

He followed up by offering “words of wisdom” to women who didn’t fit into that prototype:

“I think it is you, the women, who have had the most diabolic lies told to you. Some of you may go on to lead successful careers in the world but I would venture to guess that the majority of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world.”

He also managed to sneak in a Taylor Swift lyric to make his case from her 2022 hit “Bejeweled” and refer to her relationship with Travis Kelce. 

“As my teammate’s girlfriend says Familiarity breeds contempt,” he said. 

Oh wait there’s more!

He said to the male students “This absence of men in the home is what plays a large role in the violence we see all around the nation. Be unapologetic in your masculinity, fighting against the cultural emasculation of men. Do hard things. Never settle for what is easy.”

Then as if heads weren’t throbbing enough, he made a blatantly false statement rooted in anti-semitism:

“Congress just passed a bill stating something as basic as the biblical teaching of who killed Jesus could land you in jail.”

There is no such bill.

Congress passed a resolution condemning the rise in anti-semitism coinciding with the War in the Middle East. Plus the theory that the Jewish people killed Jesus Christ is a longstanding anti-semitic trope. 

(Courtesy: Chris Unger/Getty Images)

In response, the NFL issued a statement through Jonathan Beane, the senior vice president and chief diversity and inclusion officer:

“Harrison Butker gave a speech in his personal capacity. His views are not those of the NFL as an organization. The NFL is steadfast in our commitment to inclusion, which only makes our league stronger.”

Yes Butker has the right to speak his mind and contrary to what some are advocating for, he should not be cut from the Chiefs. Just as much as he has his rights others have theirs to call him out for his blatant intolerance.

The truth is American society and culture is at its best when we embrace our diversity, where women have the freedom to make choices, where LGBTQ+ people are out and proud without shame, where men can be fully human, and where anti-semitism is rooted out.

Oh and if you’re trying to make the argument for traditional gender roles, it might not be the best thing to quote someone who gleefully sang “No deal, the 1950s s— they want from me, I just wanna stay in that lavender haze.”