Rules irritate me.
Let me clarify. It irritates me when someone uses the rules that exist for the good of X to prevent the good of X from happening. In Jesus' time, the Saducees and Pharisees burdened their people with all sorts of rules which they believed were necessary to please God. "No walking more than so many feet on the sabbath," and so forth. It was ridiculous to be that specific. Part of Jesus' revolutionary teachings was that the two greatest commandments were all that was necessary to please God and live a fruitful, satisfying life. Keeping the letter of the law kills your soul, but keeping the spirit of the law brings life.
This weekend will see Super Bowl XLI® in Miami. The two teams, the Chicago Bears® and the Indianapolis Colts® will represent the NFC® and the AFC® respectively. Please note that the words Super Bowl XLI®, Chicago Bears® and Indianapolis Colts® along with the acronyms NFC® and AFC® are licensed and protected by the NFL®. It is unlawful for organizations, entities, persons, or corporate bodies and/or enterprises to use these terms in promotion of their own events. A church in Indianapolis (thank goodness they didn't ® the city name itself) has found out through lawyers for the NFL that they could be sued if they have a Super Bowl party or show the Super Bowl® on anything larger than a 55 inch screen. Some homes, I reckon, are also breaking the law by using their projection TVs and having a few friends over. I wonder why the lawyers don't go after them?
All the NFL® has done by enforcing this law aimed at protecting the NFL® from being abused is alienate fans in Indianapolis. A few years ago, my own church hosted a similar party on it's projection TVs for families that didn't feel comfortable taking their kids to sports bars. This is a new and untapped potential audience and such events promote the NFL and football in general as an all-American, family-friendly activity. How on earth is that wrong? This is holding to the letter of the law (no events and no screens larger than 55 inches) and ignoring the spirit of the law (protecting and promoting the NFL®). Commissioner Roger Goodell had better learn such differences quickly if he expects his league to prosper and expand enough to support teams in cities outside the United States.
By the way, I didn't have to ® every term (or the NFL logo) because they constitute illustration and fair use. I was just showing how cumbersome and ridiculous it is to hold to the letter of the law.
Let me clarify. It irritates me when someone uses the rules that exist for the good of X to prevent the good of X from happening. In Jesus' time, the Saducees and Pharisees burdened their people with all sorts of rules which they believed were necessary to please God. "No walking more than so many feet on the sabbath," and so forth. It was ridiculous to be that specific. Part of Jesus' revolutionary teachings was that the two greatest commandments were all that was necessary to please God and live a fruitful, satisfying life. Keeping the letter of the law kills your soul, but keeping the spirit of the law brings life.
This weekend will see Super Bowl XLI® in Miami. The two teams, the Chicago Bears® and the Indianapolis Colts® will represent the NFC® and the AFC® respectively. Please note that the words Super Bowl XLI®, Chicago Bears® and Indianapolis Colts® along with the acronyms NFC® and AFC® are licensed and protected by the NFL®. It is unlawful for organizations, entities, persons, or corporate bodies and/or enterprises to use these terms in promotion of their own events. A church in Indianapolis (thank goodness they didn't ® the city name itself) has found out through lawyers for the NFL that they could be sued if they have a Super Bowl party or show the Super Bowl® on anything larger than a 55 inch screen. Some homes, I reckon, are also breaking the law by using their projection TVs and having a few friends over. I wonder why the lawyers don't go after them?All the NFL® has done by enforcing this law aimed at protecting the NFL® from being abused is alienate fans in Indianapolis. A few years ago, my own church hosted a similar party on it's projection TVs for families that didn't feel comfortable taking their kids to sports bars. This is a new and untapped potential audience and such events promote the NFL and football in general as an all-American, family-friendly activity. How on earth is that wrong? This is holding to the letter of the law (no events and no screens larger than 55 inches) and ignoring the spirit of the law (protecting and promoting the NFL®). Commissioner Roger Goodell had better learn such differences quickly if he expects his league to prosper and expand enough to support teams in cities outside the United States.
By the way, I didn't have to ® every term (or the NFL logo) because they constitute illustration and fair use. I was just showing how cumbersome and ridiculous it is to hold to the letter of the law.
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