Readers React: If football dies, so does part of the American character

To the editor: Hurray to Mark Edmundson for standing up to the football haters and exposing them for the bleeding hearts they are. (“Football and the inspiration to be brave,” Op-Ed, Jan. 30)

Football is a game that takes our American frontier experience and boils it down to four quarters on a 100-yard patch of gridiron. Building this nation was tough, and football is tough.

It saddens me that parents are increasingly opting to keep their children from playing the game. Even The Times’ own sports writers have penned columns that are critical of the NFL in particular and the game of football in general.

If all these detractors have their way, this great game will sadly go the way of the dodo bird — and so will a vibrant, tough and important aspect of our American character.

Steve Beck, Glendora

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To the editor: Edmundson says that “actual instances of courage seen close at hand are hard to come by.” Really? Where’s he been?

How about the medical professionals of Doctors Without Borders who volunteer to tackle Ebola? They’re at the top of my heroes list, and it is not a short list at all.

To borrow an exclamation used by Edmundson: Lookit! Lookit! That’s really “being brave, taking a chance, showing guts.”

Rock O. Kendall, Laguna Niguel

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To the editor: Edmundson states that it’s difficult to witness actual instances of bravery in our world today.

What about the postal worker who delivers mail in an area where he’s likely to encounter nasty dogs and worse? What about the fireman who runs into a burning building to rescue someone? What about the police officer who is faced with split-second decisions on the job?

These sure sound like examples of bravery to me.

Sylvia Quittman, Laguna Woods

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