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Do you care that Josh Howard dissed the National Anthem?

Posted by lotusb • 9/19/08 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: dallas mavericks, josh howard, star spangled banner

Dallas Mav shooting guard, Josh Howard is being frowned upon for his comments during the National Anthem at one of their games. He said:

"'The Star-Spangled Banner' is going on. I don't celebrate this [expletive]. I'm black."

Now, as a black woman I am in the middle on how I feel about this. On one hand, so what...freedom of speech. He can say what he wants, being an American dosen't mean you wanna sing about stars and purple mountains and crap like that. On the other hand, I don't see why some people choose to do and say things in the media that will only bring negetive light to the people they (whether they want to or not) represent. Not all black men are that careless, but now because of him, a few more people in the world are going to think so.

What do you think?

User Comments

9/19/08

Anok

I dunno - does the national anthem present a racial problem of sorts?

I guess I'm saying that I'm not sure why his ethnicity plays a part in this? I know plenty of people who refuse to stand or sing the anthem, or say the pledge in protest when they are in disagreement with this country - I think it's a powerful tool of dissent, actually.

But again, Maybe some context would help? A link to the article, or something?

[reply]
1. 9/19/08
  
  lotusb
  
  His ethnicity plays a part in it, because HE brought his ethinicity up. Not me or anyone else. Try this link, it's where I found it...not very reliable but it's also on Yahoo:
  perezhilton.com/2008-09-18-dallas-mavericks-star-disses-the-national-anthem
2. 9/19/08
  
  Anok
  
  Yeah it's all a bit vague. I agree with the celeb gossip blogger (minus the curse words) - what does it have to do with it? LOL.
  
  Weird.
3. 9/19/08
  
  lotusb
  
  Nothing. I know a lot of black people, mostly from my grandmother's generation, who take a strong opposing position in regards to patriotism. The whole, Ali perspective that "America still calls me N**ger so why should I give a sh*t" which is literally what my Grams says, and often. Lol..but she grew up in a time when this was true and I can understand her opinion. Howard, is my age...and needs to sit down and shut the fck up.
4. 9/19/08
  
  Anok
  
  Ah, OK I got it.
9/19/08

poisonapplesauce

I am as patriotic as possible, I have an overinflated sense of pride in my country so when anyone regardless of race or affiliation does not show pride in country it always irks me. I do think that it was a careless statement, and I have noticed with the election coming up alot of people have made similar statements. I do agree with you in that I am torn, but for different reasons. As a patriot I am dismayed, but also as a patriot I believe in free speech. It's difficult to take a stand one way or another on this. I do think that perhaps a few will stereotype because of that comment, it's a sad truth in our society. America's next top model had a similar problem last week or the week before

[reply]
1. 9/19/08
  
  lotusb
  
  Not familiar with what happened on ANTM, do tell... However, I see where your coming from. I personally am not patriotic aside from the fact that my family and ancestors fought very hard to be here, and for that I take a lot of pride. However, I don't think any one country is better than any other country. I think stating that in anyway during our anthem, to a camera...is completely uncalled for. Freedom of speech dosen't have to render carelessness. I think in writing this comment, I'm forming a less ambiguous opinion...lol.
2. 9/19/08
  
  Anok
  
  I think he may have nullified and kind of point by making it a race issue. I mean, freedom of speech, and refusing to support your country bu way of not singing the anthem and even explaining why is good, I think.
  
  But tying it to race seems...well...weird.
3. 9/19/08
  
  lotusb
  
  Like I said above, he's probably drawing from a very old school of thought. He's an NBA player, and therefore among one of the more fortunate people in the country. He is basically being a spoiled brat and wants attention.
4. 9/19/08
  
  poisonapplesauce
  
  Oh on ANTM, the transgender girl got too close to the little prissy girl from some ity bity town so she kind of pushed her off, and because the transgender girl/guy was black it became like a whole race thing, like she must be racist and the other girls cornered her and were being pretty mean, the next day there was talk on some show, I will have to look back at the Tivo and see which show it was that commented, but they said that the women bullying her like that was a bad example of how real black women are and that viewers were concerned that the actions of a few girls were going to paint a bad image of strong black women. The cited some blog and some viewer comments that used terms like gang mentality and reverse racism, it was really blown out of proportion on both sides, but the underlying controversy of the actions of some public people setting bad examples for a group of people is what made me think of it.
9/19/08

tjefferson85

Nobody can ever call me unpatriotic, i fight for this country. I may not agree with everything the government does, but i take pride in knowing i am fighting to keep people free to say what they feel. Although this was completly reckless on his part, being a celebrity of sorts, he shouldn't have did what did, but i also feel that just because you don't sing the national anthem your not patriotic, i am very sick of the overt patriotic things going on, some people take it too far. This sttement doesn't make him any less American than the next American. Stop the madness!

[reply]
1. 9/19/08
  
  lotusb
  
  Not less American...just more annoying. I agree with you, you should be proud. And everyone is entitled to their own opinions.
2. 9/19/08
  
  poisonapplesauce
  
  yeah, I'll go with more annoying too that sums it up well
9/19/08

RTBjr73

It doesn't bother me, because it would be a waste of time. You are who you are, and you believe what you believe.

As far as race? As a man who is white, I have come across white people who have expressed the same feelings as Josh Howard. The same goes towards them, it would be a waste of my time to let it bother me.

I am a veteran, and every day of my life I have had the belief that you are entilted to your own feelings and views. I don't have to like them, and I will not call you a Piece of scum, but don't expect me to give you any more time than needed to walk away from you and ignore you on silliness.

What Josh did was not against the law, but it WAS silly. Between this and stating last playoffs that he occasionally smoke dope pretty much shot him in the rearend of ever having a chance to capitilize on endorsements.

It's like Albert Einstein said - "The are two things that are infinite; the universe and human stupidity. and I am not all that sure about the universe."

[reply]
1. 9/19/08
  
  lotusb
  
  He's obviously just a little more careless then professional. I guess it always bothers me a bit when people in the position to project such positivity to a large group of people(or stay silent for that matter) instead choose to do stupid little things in order to grab attnetion.
2. 9/19/08
  
  RTBjr73
  
  Well, some people are not prepared to handle the spotlight.
  
  Here's my point. Let's take tennis players. Arthur Ashe and John McEnroe. Now if you know tennis, you know these two guys.
  
  Arthur Ashe - great player, smart, intelligent, worldwide activist, and to me, a true hero in life and someone I want my kids to know about.
  
  John McEnroe - great player, smart, intelligent, but someone who lacked in class, and di not know how to keep his mouth shut.
  
  Although both were two of the greatest players in tennis history, one will be remembered for things of greater value, and one will be remembered as a spoiled brat.
3. 9/19/08
  
  lotusb
  
  Ironically, McEnroe, has had a ton of sponserships, commercials and apperances in major movies and television shows BECAUSE of his tantrums. Lol...maybe that's the look Howard was going for.
9/19/08

rmaxwell142

That kinda gets on my nerves when people disrespect the National Anthem, knowing the history of the song. I wrote a post about the history of the song just last month on my blog.

To me, it's like disrespecting all the people who died to make sure we have the freedom of speech...or even the freedom to play basketball for a living!

Anyway, I just wanted to throw in my 2 cents there.

[reply]
1. 9/19/08
  
  lotusb
  
  I can understand your perspective. It depends on how patriotic you are. I was raised by parents who were against patriotism. They always taught me that no country is better than the next and things like the anthem for any country is a display of worship to something other than God and shouldn't be indulged in. Lol...THATS how I was raised. I found a happy medium since then, and don't really take on their belif. Still not patriotic, but for heaven's sake, I have more respect than to say something as dumb and careless as Howard did.
2. 9/19/08
  
  poisonapplesauce
  
  @rmaxwell142 yeah that is where I was coming from on my initial response. haha I'm still torn. I give up, too much thinking.
9/19/08

kdawg68

he has a right to think/say it, but please, if you feel that way Mr. "woe is me, I only make millions of dollars playing a sport for kids - my life is so hard and oppressed in this evil land" - pack your bags and go somewhere else. Seems simple to me.

[reply]
1. 9/19/08
  
  lotusb
  
  True...although I don't think the pay in over sea's basketball is quite as good Lol...