Neptunus Lex

The bridge world is aflame about the news that the US team at the international championships in Shanghai held up a crudely lettered placard bearing the words “We didn’t vote for Bush“. Whether you color it cute or spontaneous, the political speech has gotten the team in trouble with the US Bridge Foundation: Lawyers for the organization are talking about a one-year suspension.

“This isn’t a free-speech issue,” said Jan Martel, president of the United States Bridge Federation, the nonprofit group that selects teams for international tournaments. “There isn’t any question that private organizations can control the speech of people who represent them.”

I think the only thing more pugnaciously stupid than injecting your company into the culture wars in front of an international audience - especially when your livelihood depends upon that employment - is having that company make a big, international fuss over the issue. Still, actions have consequences, all the way around. The ladies had a perfect right to tell the truth, just as the USBF has the perfect right to terminate their association with the team.

It’s just silly though. All of it.