NBA player Dion Waiters informs he is a Muslim and plans to skip national anthems

[Feron]

99. Thanks to Jehovah's Witnesses..

children aren't forced to say the pledge at school.

Just because he may be a religious nutter, does not mean that he is necessarily wrong. People shouldn't be coerced/forced into praying, singing, reciting oaths, or any other activity that the individual doesn't want to do. Even if his reasons are suspect, he has that right as long as it doesn't infringe on others. And yes it takes courage to go against the grain and especially an American sacred cow.

Furthermore, he shouldn't have to stay out of sight while the anthem is playing. If America is so fragile that the sight of an American quietly sitting down and opting out of the anthem is so distressing, then it's time to stick a fork in the country. Because that would prove that we're more obsessed with conformity and symbols than actual substance.

I also don't buy the concern trolling about Muslims in this thread. People aren't going to suddenly hate Muslims because of him and those that hate Muslims are going to hate anyway. Attacking members of a religion because one prominent member doesn't sing a song basically tells me that the attackers would look for any excuse no matter how flimsy. I hate it when people blame the victims. Muslims could do everything "right" and still be attacked/discriminated against.

I really couldn't care less if one person doesn't say the pledge, pray, or sing an anthem. If people are upset about that, then they need to get a life, hobby, something.

BTW you missed Roseanne Barr's version of the anthem.