Honor The Dead By Buying A Cap

Yogurt famously said in Space Balls, “Merchandising, merchandising, where the real money from the movie is made.”  Like most jokes, there is a twinge of truth to it. 

Of course, Mel Brooks was making a joke, albeit a satirical one. There was nothing funny about what Major League Baseball and New Era did today even if it was equally as absurd as Mel Brooks holding Space Balls the Flamethrower:

Today is about honor and respect . . . SO BUY A CAP NOW!  

Look, New Era is permitted to profit from the sales of their caps. They’re allowed to market their products as they seem fit. Based upon the availability of cap sizes remaining, it even appears to be working. With all that said, this is just tone deaf. 

This is a day to honor the lives of brave warriors who sacrificed their lives in defense of this country. It’s a day for moments of silence and reflection even if we spend most of the day between bar-b-ques and going to baseball games. It’s really not a day to purchase camouflaged caps to tip to bring to a graveyard just so we can tip them. 

Another small note here. If Major League Baseball and New Era are going to profit off the lives of fallen soldiers, shouldn’t they give something back?  Look at the sale last website. Double check the Twitter feeds and other social media accounts. Is there even one mention that even the slightest portion of the proceeds will go to help soldiers and their families?  

No, there are none. So while we’re tipping our  $39.99 caps (plus shipping and handling), they can’t even donate what amounts to a tip to those from whom they profit.