Baseball earned the title of the American Pastime more than a century ago, and the annual Congressional Baseball Game for Charity has been a tradition in Washington, D.C., since 1909. Our lawmakers have a difficult and important job, and this event allows them to have some fun and get to know each other a little better.
The shooting at the GOP’s practice on Wednesday was senseless and sobering. Five people were injured, including Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana and two Capitol Police officers.
Two Kansas Representatives are on that team, Dr. Roger Marshall of Great Bend and Kevin Yoder of Johnson County. They were not injured; in fact, Marshall said he attends practice regularly but was not there Wednesday. He issued a statement so that concerned Kansans would know he was all right.
“The coward who did this will not win in any way,” Marshall said, as he asked for prayers for those injured and their families. “Though shaken, we are not deterred in our mission to turn this country in a better direction.”
The country is behind that sentiment. The game was set to go on Thursday and while Democrats and Republicans were on opposite teams, we as Americans are all on the same team.
As NBA Coach Phil Jackson once said, “The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team.”