Dion Waiters skips national anthems because of his religion

I don't agree with this at all. Nationalism is showing loyalty, respect, and appreciation to a country and the people you share laws and borders with. It's not believing your fairy tales are more correct than someone else's fairy tails. That being said, this is 'Merica, he can do whatever he wants to do as long as it doesn't hurt someone else. Just kiss any sponsorship dollars goodbye.

 

Notice that you equate respecting our anthem with loving the country. The anthem becomes a symbol for the country that needs to be treated as sanctified. To me, that turns it into a quasi-religion.

 

A national anthem should not be equated with religion - it's a gross mistake to equate what holds high esteem equals religion (I say that as someone that is in a minority religion in this country). The Pledge of Allegiance could very well be conflicting as it's a declaration that could go against someone's beliefs and that is why it is often not part of non-governmental public events.

IMO, one should always show respect to the national anthem (the American one and any other one being played) out of "respect" for the reverence others hold for it. It's a function of respect - if an individual chooses like Waiters is to not be "present" - it's, to me, a misguided notion at best, a "hey look at me" action at worst. I don't think it's based on religious beliefs and I say that after decades of thinking on the question.

 

I think the article is misleading dion never directly said this

 

Sort of off-topic, but not really - which is worse, not participating during national anthem or not voting?

 

http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2014/11/dion_waiters_informs_neomg_tha.html

Yea, right, lets see how long that lasts...

 

Religions cause nothing but trouble, but I have never heard of any religion being against a national anthem of any country. Guy just wants attention.

 

I would have more respect for him if he was offended by the image and likeness of the American dollar too.

 

we don't have all the facts yet, did he have to attend to a religious need and he left or did he not participate in the anthem....

Being a Muslim, both scenarios are wrong....if he needed to attend to a religious need (praying) then he could've done it at a more opportune time (shoot around) and the latter is even worse, for how much this nation has given him he should be first in line to sing the national anthem.

I find no real reason for him doing this other than wanting attention, dbag move to use an already misconstrued religion for attention.

 

Did not want to participate*

 

I'm muslim and I would have participated in the anthem. So your right, the idea that he didn't do due to Islam is wrong.

 

Pakistan is 10% Christian.

 

If an American muslim who refuses to stand because of the oppression they feel it symbolized were instead born a Christian in Pakistan and made and claim about the oppression Islam symbolized, they would be beaten, burned, killed, attacked with acid, etc.

I don't have a problem with him choosing not to stand, but I hope he appreciates the irony someday.

Also agree with the other poster. Would have a lot more respect for guys who did this if they didn't take the American dollar, sign shoe deals with evil corporations, etc.

 

Yours is a slippery slope argument. One could easily argue that sports are a religion on the exact same basis. They are definitely a quasi-religion for Americans. However, I don't think that makes them inherently evil - much like national anthems.


On a related note, I watch a lot of NHL hockey. It was a great human moment to watch the respect and unity shown by American & Canadian teams during the national anthems (particularly the Canadian anthem) after the deaths of the Canadian soldiers.

Edit: I know the vast majority of NHL players aren't Americans, but they're from all over the world. The anthem is a moment for people to stop and reflect on priorities bigger than the moment - whatever those are.

I don't think anyone should be forced to participate at all. Just pointing out the positive side... they're not the modern interpretation of "religion as the root of all evil."

Just my 2 cents.

 

I agree with you, but in pakistan Christians aren't the only oppressed group of people. Shia Muslims also are being targeted for many of the same reasons.

 

Seems to me a lot of sentiment in this thread is in direct contradiction to what has been said in this thread: http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=259697

It's bad to refuse to participate in the national anthem because of religion. But it's okay to giggle in some personal game while it is sung?

Hypocrisy?

 

2-5 %.

 

Sounds like a rubbish article to me. He didn't show up for one anthem and some journo has pulled something outta his ass..

Next..

 

But I'm not arguing it is evil. I'm just saying that I understand why some aspects of it might conflict with one's religious principles, for example if such ceremonies represents to him a worshiping of the country. And its easy to see why one might view it in that way.

 

I'm reading an ESPN article of Nov. 8th that says he was back out there with his teammates, that it was a one-game thing. Maybe he realized he can be a Muslim and stand for the National Anthem too. Or someone told him the fallout wouldn't be worth it, to just get out there.

So maybe all the "ISIS" crap is not only dumb but also a bit premature.