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No Disrespect Intended, Of Course
This morning I learned that Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks, has stopped the playing of the National Anthem at their home games; it was his decision alone. The anthem has not played for any of the 13 games played at home. The most shocking part of this decision is that he supposedly hasn’t received negative feedback. Or maybe fans just don’t care.
Cuban has backed players’ protests in the past. In June 2020, he supported players and coaches who refused to stand during the playing of the anthem:
‘Whether it’s holding their arm up in the air, whether it’s taking a knee, whatever it is, I don’t think this is an issue of respect or disrespect to the flag or to the anthem or to our country,’ Cuban said. ‘I think this is more a reflection of our players’ commitment to this country and the fact that it’s so important to them that they’re willing to say what’s in their heart and do what they think is right.’
I had to read the quotation twice. I think any player who behaved in this way fully intended to disrespect this country.
I would love to imagine that some fans will finally choose to demonstrate their love of country and begin to sing the anthem spontaneously at an upcoming game.
Take that, Mark Cuban. No disrespect intended, of course.
Update: After this post was written, the NBA released a statement asserting that all NBA teams must begin each game with the national anthem.
Published in Culture
If Ms. Psaki is not proud of her country, she can blame herself. Everything I do not like about my country today can be laid at the feet of people like her.
Just to refresh our memory, this is what the Marxist/Socialist/pick-apart-the-worlds-greatest-democratic-republic people don’t like. Written in 1814 by Francis Scott Key who had been inspired by the sight of the American flag still flying over Fort McHenry after a night of heavy British bombardment:
Personally, I think somebody should take a boombox and go serenade Ms. Psaki a la John Cusack with it until she gains a little more respect for the country that gives her a podium to spew her hate-America woke pile of steaming excrement. We can use this rendition of the anthem:
I think anytime is a good time to remind us there is a place called “land of the free and home of the brave” and we need to live up to it. Sing it loud and proud. Sing it often. Psaki-and-Co. can sit down or take a knee while the rest of us stand up. I’ll be hand over heart thinking of my nephew 2 LT Joshua getting ready to muster out across the ocean soon.
Say it! Say it! Say it! And G-d bless your nephew.
Oh my gosh, please please create this as a post. And invite addenda/substitutions in the comments. I would read the hell out of that.
And now by his patriotism.
Some people will remember this offense.
I so do.
It is. And what is worse is that this costs the salary of the Director, the brain power of the people who leave rather than tolerate him, the costs of HR or legal department time to deal with any fallout he creates, and all the noise he creates in the signal that is supposed to be productivity.
What businesses need is a hybrid consultant/axe-man to clear out these problems. Deadwood is bad; diseased wood is far worse.
Ties that bind become weakened if not re-tied regularly. And with the Left, you give them an inch they take miles and miles. I view saying the pledge and singing the anthem not as forced dogma, but more a reminder of what we aspire to be as a country: land of the free with liberty and justice for all.