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Editorial in the Post

The following letter to the editor was in the Post today. I think it makes a good point about why we shouldn't rely on corporate contributions to fund what we think is important. I also think we should be able to use a public facility to help the public bring attention to the injustice of taxation without represenation. That would also honor RFK's legacy of fighting for justice and put those ideals into action.  Here's the letter to the editor:

Values vs. Value in Naming a Stadium

Wednesday, May 11, 2005;  Page A16

 

What's in a name?

To Shakespeare, a name evoked deep meaning, but to the D.C. government, it means cash, as indicated by the decision to sell the naming rights to Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium ["Investment Firm Close to Deal to Rename RFK," Metro, May 4].

Sure, the city can use the funds, but a stadium's name is about more than money. Public names provide a sense of common purpose. They also help shape our collective memory, our concept of community and the meaning of our democracy.

The city says it will honor Robert F. Kennedy by using much of the roughly $5 million it would be paid to rename the stadium ProFunds Field at RFK for youth recreation facilities. While that is a good cause, such a deal fuels the impression that we must wait for corporate money to take care of our needs. This is a problem in our society. We rarely build parks or open museums. Instead, we wait for Nike to come in and paint its swoosh across the length of basketball courts it has refurbished.

The D.C. Sports and Entertainment Commission has said that youth fields "created with sponsorship money also might bear Kennedy's name," thus honoring his legacy. What that actually means is that public heroes can make do with a park, but for the big boys with the big dollars, nothing but the best will do.

Just because other cities have cashed in on their ballparks doesn't mean the District should. By promising hundreds of millions of dollars to build a new stadium for the Nationals, District residents have already paid enough for baseball.

DAVID MADLAND

Washington

Mike Panetta @ 12:06 PM
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