If you aren't up to date on Josh Howard's recent antics, please watch this video, and any others concerning his ridiculous actions in the past few months.
Josh, first of all, let me say that I love free speech. There's nothing more important to me than having the right to say what I feel, where I feel it, when I feel it—as long as it is not slanderous, hateful, morally ignorant, or all of the above.
I do not believe that someone should be punished or accosted simply because of an opinion they may have. I believe that our society has become far too politically correct, and I agree with people like Carlos Mencia—although he's definitely not a favorite comedian of mine, so please don't judge—when they say that we take ourselves far too seriously as a people.
We should all be able to make jokes about each other, whether they be about what different races eat, how they raise their kids, how they drive, how they speak, political affiliations, etc., without hating one another for it. After all, differences in people are what make us individuals.
Whether you want to acknowledge it or not, stereotypes are usually based in at least some truth, so we might as well laugh about it, without hating each other. We are—all of us—quite imperfect.
All that being said, I believe your comments about the American flag were completely out of line. There's a difference between pointing out things that are wrong with something or someone in a way that could at least possibly be constructive, and being a slanderous idiot.
There is a difference in calling out policies or methods with which the government handles things in a way that could bring about change, and disrespecting everything that has made this country what it is today. Maybe it's not the greatest country in the world, as some claim, or maybe it is.
But for sure it's a place where a person can for the most part be whatever he or she wants to be and always can live in peace without being jailed or killed because of religious beliefs, race, sexual orientation, political affiliations, and so on.
These rights are available to us because of men and women who have bled and died for those rights, and continue to do so as I sit and type this.
Josh, whether you like it or not, you are person of influence in the United States of America. Sports figures here have a ridiculous amount of influence on the rest of society—even, for some reason, when they aren't the people you really want to model yourself after. This goes for people of all ages, not just kids.
If you have a problem with the way things are in America, you definitely has an opportunity to raise awareness about problems you may perceive and do everything you can to get those problems acknowledged and changed. A perfect time for you to do something, J-Ho, would be in the offseason.
Instead of spending your free time smoking marijuana with all of your NBA buddies—which is something you have also recently made your opinions on so blatantly clear (and is not something I really care about one way or another)—you could find some way to make your voice heard and spend your time more productively.
It wouldn't be difficult at all. Athletes' voices and opinions are heard whether they want them to be or not. You know this better than anyone, buddy.
- B/R Ticket Guide
Now, I don't know what your true feelings are about the United States, or the flag, or anything else. You may have been kidding, or saying those things merely because you were around people who felt that way and got caught up in the heat of the moment. You may not have meant those things at all. Somehow I doubt that, but it may be the case.
However, it is idiotic, moronic, and completely ungrateful of you to say what you did, at any time or place. America pays you, Josh. The reason you is a multi-millionaire for playing a GAME in the first place is because Americans pay you so they can watch you have fun. What a life! A lot of those people who pay you so they may watch you are the very people who are fighting and dying for this country.
Whether or not you agree with what our military is doing is beside the point, and has nothing to do with the individuals carrying out our military's particular instructions and goals. The people who are defending American interests and also the interests of others at this very point in time, and those that did in the past, are people who are helping pay your salary.
This next point is where others may begin to disagree with me, Josh, if they do not already, and possibly get extremely angry. Let me preface what I am about to say with this. I despise racism, and I despise our country for what it did to the Irish, Chinese, and Polish when they began to immigrate here, and for what we did to Japanese immigrants and civilians during World War II.
I despise our country for what it did to American Indians when we arrived—though most people don't realize this, the treatment of American Indians by our country was one of the largest genocides in our world's history. I despise America for the treatment of African-American slaves before and during the Civil War, and for the treatment they and their decendants have received in our country, the "Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave," for a hundred years and more afterward.
Our country, for all its professions of all men being created equal and all men and women having the exact same rights, has been a two-faced, back-stabbing place for certain people to live at times, and unfortunately, still is for some today. Though racism is not nearly as prevalent or blatantly expressed as it has been in the past, the undercurrent of hate for others not like ourselves is ever-present in our society, by all races of people, not just white or black.
(If I have missed any other peoples who have been oppressed here in America, I truly apologize. It is very likely that I have done so, as we have been historically quite a dangerous place to live for those other than WASPs.)
However, your professed reason for not standing at attention during the national anthem are ludicrous. You're black. Okay. Is that it? Why should that be the reason you're cursing what countless people have died to earn and protect? If you doesn't stand for the anthem, whatever, that's fine. That in itself isn't something that's all that out of the ordinary or even something that should be made a big deal of.
But to curse the flag and our country because of your skin color in this day and age is ridiculous. (By the way Josh, I'd bet a lot of money that Barack Obama would love it if you would keep your mouth shut about who you're going to vote for. I'm pretty sure he doesn't want or need your personal and most-eloquent endorsement of "Obama '08 and all that s***.")
Like I said, it's fine if you disagree with what's going on in our society and our government, because America is quite obviously far from perfect. If you want to sit for the anthem, fine. That's your right as an American citizen, because you can believe and act however you may choose here.
I openly acknowledge the fact that there is on going racism in America, and I even understand if you are still enraged as a black citizen because of the treatment of your ancestors here. I am angry with it, and I've never been racially profiled or discriminated against. Because of where I was born and the color of my skin, I luckily probably never will be. No one should ever be treated differently because of their skin.
If you hate that part of America, and you don't want to salute during the anthem, then by all means, keep your butt in your seat. I've even thought about it myself a couple of times in recent years.
But that's as far as this particular political statement should go in this particular forum. If you have problems with racism in America and wish to change it, please, by all means attempt to do so. Just not in this way, and preferably in one that doesn't perpetuate the widely held perception that athletes are stupid.
Josh, man, you get paid like you do for playing a game because of people who have given you those very same rights that allow you to believe and act as you choose. You're a multi-millionaire. And although you're pretty good, it's not like you're one of the greatest of all time or anything. You're not even the best player on your team, and you still make insane amounts of cash.
People who make money that is almost infinitely less than you do give money to you that, hell, with our economy the way it is, they probably don't really even have to give to their kids. Please be grateful for the rights and privileges you have, for the money that you make, and the freedom that you enjoy. Don't attack the symbols and country that have given those things to you.
All that being said, I do not believe you should be punished for what you have said and done. I don't think you need sensitivity training, a talk with Cuban about how to act in public, or courses on how to give an interview. I don't think you should be suspended, fined, fired, cut, or expelled from the league.
I don't think you needs to change what you believe, or even retract what you said. I don't think anything should be done to or with you at all. After all, Josh, this is America, and you can believe and say whatever you want.
What I do believe is this. You should go play basketball in Greece, Italy, China, Germany, or Russia—anywhere else but here. Somewhere you feel like you aren't oppressed or cheated even though you're given millions to pass and shoot a ball through a hoop. Somewhere you feel you can stand for the national anthem regardless of skin tone.
Somewhere that no one has died or is currently dying to protect your freedoms, and no one will be offended by the moronic feelings you apparently have for symbols of that freedom. Because, as an American, another freedom you've been given is the freedom to leave whenever you choose. I believe you should exercise that right to your fullest extent.
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about 1 month ago
Josh Howard should just shut up and play.
about 1 month ago
Good article. That's a great way to look at it. and people wonder why blacks are stereotyped...
about 1 month ago
Where have you been living under a rock? There already have been way too many articles on Bleacherrreport stating the same thing. Personally, I don't care what Josh Howard said he is free to feel whatever he wants to. It's only sensative saps who get so upset about it.
from about 1 month ago
haven't been living under a rock man. i just got on bleacher report a few days ago and decided to write something about it.
i also think josh howard is free to feel whatever he wants. i just think he should go get paid somewhere else.
about 1 month ago
This article should be hung in the foyer area of the Racism Hall-of-Shame.
I was most intrigued at how the author impressed having *lied like a muthuphuugka* about loving free speech. Because, if he did, then there is no way that his mind is able to defecate this article on this site.
Furthermore, Josh Howard experienced some tumultuous White-racism by which ---FORTUNATELY!--- he didn't allow the riches he wound up attaining, to cause him to sweep under a societal-rug to forget about.
He and his family have seen and lived in the real AmeriKKKa for Blackfolk. Which millions shouldn't ever make a person to forget about, as they go on to excercise the Civil-Right to speak about it, in hopes that it will someday be purged from this great nation.
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The U.S. Constitution specifically alludes to an essence, which depicts how every citizen should be able to pursue Life Liberty & Happiness free, of Racism and Inequality. But, of course, when a galactically-White racist reads/hears of some Black person who doesn't appreciate that mirage, then its;
"Leave! Move to another Country! We won't miss you!"
...the shame, the shame...
It's never, "Thats right, you're correct! So, lets do something about it! And get this great Nation on the Equality-track that our Founding-Fathers dreamed of!"
...the shame, the shame...
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Again, only a white-racist will criticize Josh Howard. Especially, by telling him to leave this country, as if...it's not also his Land and his Home where he should be entitled to exist in Equality, which has been absent for his Race of People everysince *The Mayflower* docked.
Equality, that would've prevented his Heart from feeling like we witnessed during that flag-football game recently.
from about 1 month ago
So it's racist because he says "If you don't like it leave."
I think it's a reasonable thing to say, and I'm sure he would say the same to any anti-American white hippies.
from about 1 month ago
what i had to say about josh howard had absolutely nothing to do with his being black. not a thing. it had everything to do with what he said about the country he lives in which pays him so much to play a game.
anybody who has any sense would criticize josh howard, and not just for what he said about the national anthem. the guy has been all over the news for negativity lately. he's lucky enough to get to play professional basketball for a living, and i think all athletes, not just howard, should be more grateful about their situations. jared allen, a very white athlete, was being irresponsible with his career when he was having trouble with controlling his drinking. i thought he was an idiot too. it has nothing to do with what color they are, athletes should be more careful.
if you've seen the video, josh is the one who brought up his color. not me. like i said in the article, if he wants to feel the way he does, that's fine. i just don't think he should say things like he did.
i also talked about the fact that i hate racism of all kinds in my article. i think it's horrible and ridiculous. so personally attacking something i've already made plainly clear really makes no sense.
thanks for reading and posting though man, i appreciate it.
about 1 month ago
Joe,
You're not sure. Because he didn't say the same thing to anti-American White hippies. And since Josh Howard isn't anti-American, then you show that you're obviously just fine with the author giving 'a pass' to White's powerful Racism as it has effected Josh and his family.
Again, for you racists to rant what you rant here in this article ---versus, "Lets make it right! Lets find that Equality our Democracy dreamed of, so you don't have reason to feel this way Josh!"--- is simply, blatant veracity validating why Global hatred for our Nation has increased by epic proportions.
man-0-man, Joe, the arrogance and *Superiority-complex* exuding from you White racists...is bordering phenom.
from about 1 month ago
i didn't say anything about anti-American white hippies because that's not what i was talking about. like i said about josh, anybody that has a problem with the way something is in america shouldn't just gripe about it, but try to do something about it, try to get it changed. sitting around griping about something or cursing america doesn't change a thing. it does more to keep the problems alive than anything. inaction accomplishes nothing.
about 1 month ago
also, global hatred for our nation has increased by epic proportions because we are trying to force democracy on countries that it won't work in and that don't want it, and because we are a nation of extreme excess. we drive unnecessarily huge cars and build huge homes and get more and more stuff that we don't need, wasting money instead of giving it to people who need it. we step into a country like iraq and try to find w.m.d.'s that aren't there, and do absolutely nothing about situations like Darfur.
about 1 month ago
yung, i keep finding comments you've made that don't really make any sense. i said that if josh had a problem with the way america is, which i agreed to about 5 times in my article, he should try to use his influence and position positively to change it. he wasn't bringing up problems with racism in america by saying what he did. all he said was, "i don't stand up for that s***, i'm black." how is that bringing up racism in a way to get it changed and true equality brought to america? i fail to see how that is what he did.
about 1 month ago
patti
how does being proud of one's country exude ignorance, cowardice, stupidity, or ease of manipulation? especially when i agree so whole-heartedly in my article that there is still racism in america and that it is pathetic? is it because i live in america that makes it stupid? because i would say the same thing no matter what country i lived in. i think if someone has that serious of a problem with where they are and what is going on, and they have the means to affect change, which josh does, they should either do something about it, stop complaining, or move. it has nothing to do with skin tone.
about 1 month ago
no, complaining is NOT doing something. there's complaining, and then there's letting your discontent be known and taking action to change it. i think we're basically thinking the same thing here. that if there's a problem, let your voice be heard and change it.
what i still don't see is any "statement" by josh howard in what he did. there was nothing of substance in what he said. if he had said "i don't stand for this s***, i'm black, and i'm not going to support a racist country" or "i don't stand for this s***, i'm black, and i'm tired of being oppressed because of it," it's a different deal. but all he said is, i'm black. my point was that simply being black doesn't seem to be a reason for much of anything really. there's got to be some reason that being black had been hard for him or crappy for him to make him not want to stand, and he should let it be known. i agree that there most likely has been that, i'm sure he has great reasons to feel the way he does, he should just let them be known in a more intelligent manner. he didn't do anything to help his cause by anything he said on that video.
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