Texas Senate passes bill requiring teams with government contracts to play national anthem at game

[riversedge]

https://news.yahoo.com/texas-senate-passes-bill-requiring-teams-with-government-contracts-to-play-the-national-anthem-025936653.html
Jason Owens
Thu, April 8, 2021, 9:59 PM·2 min read

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The bill gained traction after the Dallas Mavericks stopped playing the national anthem before home games this season. The practice went largely unnoticed until team owner Mark Cuban acknowledged the decision on Feb. 9 after 13 games had passed without the anthem being played.

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A day later, the NBA announced that all teams would be expected to play the anthem before games, and Cuban complied alongside a statement calling for voices who protest during the anthem to be heard:

“We respect and always have respected the passion people have for the anthem and our country. But we also loudly hear the voices of those who feel that the anthem does not represent them. We feel that their voices need to be respected and heard, because they have not been.

"Going forward, our hope is that people will take the same passion they have for this issue and apply the same amount of energy to listen to those who feel differently from them."...............................

[Diamond_Dog]

1. All the problems in Texas

With the recent power grid debacle, etc.

And they focus on this.

[madaboutharry]

2. I am so tired of these fake patriots.

These republicans spend all their time on bullshit because they don’t care about doing anything that actually helps people.

[SoonerPride]

3. Performative jingoistic patriotism

All hat
No cattle

[11 Bravo]

4. That seems to be a fairly explicit violation of the First Amendment.

[In It to Win It]

6. It really does

[Diamond_Dog]

5. Aren't these the same people

Who keep talking about seceding from the Union?

[Comfortably_Numb]

7. Rube buki theater. Dumbass clowns...

[Moostache]

8. If I were Cuban (or any other owner)...

I would find the most obnoxious, offensive speed metal version of someone torturing the anthem and have it played 3 hours before any scheduled game. Then I would file a suit against the state of Texas and laugh my balls off when the QOP SCOTUS had no choice but to invalidate the law as clearly unconstitutional.

After which, I find the best singer in the world to perform one last anthem as a tribute to a by-gone era of faking patriotism through meaningless symbols (anthems, flag pins, freedom fries) and in recognition of those who HAVE fought, died or been maimed in service of this nation.

I would also set donation booths inside every entrance to the stadium or arena; with established donation goals to meet that would trigger the next anthem performance - but not until the entire $ amount goal is attained. Every single cent collected would go to fund VA operations and improve benefits for veterans and their families.

Let's get real about the power of the anthem and the good that it CAN do and stop with the fake patriotism bullshit. already.

[niyad]

9. I do like your ideas!

[DBoon]

13. This may be too melodic for your purposes

[niyad]

10. Teams with government contracts? The crap WE pay for, those flag roll outs, etc?

[gratuitous]

11. And here I thought conservatives were against over-regulation of bidness

Perhaps not so much, huh?

I was chatting with a church volunteer from Germany, who was a little puzzled by all the American flags festooning the cityscape. I explained that sometimes some of our dimmer citizens needed to be reminded of what country they were in. We went for a long bike ride, and as we rolled into the small town that was our destination, we passed a local auto dealer who had a ginormous flag flying in the breeze. Andi turned to me and asked, "What country are we in, again?" We shared a nice little chuckle.

[EndlessWire]

12. I love the National Anthem.

But, I also love "America The Beautiful." And, "This Land Is Your Land." There's another one I can't remember right now. Any of them would work for me.

So, is this Anthem they are mandating the anthem of the country of Texas, or not? Because, if it's our National Anthem, they can't infringe on the rights of the players to NOT play it. Maybe the players should vote to play something else?

But, that's probably not the point...

[struggle4progress]

14. "Forget about freezing in the dark: let's talk about the National Anthem!"