Mavericks Basketball Player Josh Howard Does He Truly Have The Freedom of Speech

Is it the controversy or the battered reputation of Josh Howard, that America is looking at this week?

The Dallas Mavericks forward, Josh Howard, while at a Charity Flag Football game…the national anthem is being played in the background…comes to a cell phone camera and states, “The Star Spangled Banner is going on right now. I don’t even celebrate that (%#$@#&^%). I’m black.”

Howards’ agent was unavailable for comments, as was Donnie Nelson, the Mavericks’ president of basketball operations and Mark Cuban, team owner of the Mavericks. This was an off court event.

“Basketballs’ Bad Boy.” was quoted last year as saying he smoked marijuana and Josh was arrested in July for drag racing. For which he is scheduled to appear next week.

Now granted there are probably few Baby Boomers out there who have not dragged raced, been to a drag race or smoked pot. Furthermore,  Jehovah Witnesses do not salute the flag or sing the national anthem. So, where should we stand on this? What say you, Baby Boomers?

Here is a you tube that shows the whole conversation: It might offend some of you with it’s off color remarks. Rated “M”

In a country that stands for “FREEDOM of SPEECH” do we, the people, have the empowerment to say…”it is his right, even though I feel he is wrong.”
As a leader of the community and for children and people who look up to him, does he owes the community and fans, to be a leader…
Does being a leader mean following what the norm does.
Is he merely disgusted with the way that the country is going?
Is he seeing the anthem as a racial slur?
Is there freedom of speech in America?

What say you, Sports Fans, and fellow Americans?
Thumbs up or thumbs down?

My reply to Josh…Josh, 13 % of Americans, are blacks…that makes it over 39 million. I do not think those figures are accurate. I think the figure is higher. Of those over 39 million, the % of those who feel the way you do, are very small, let’s say very, very small. Perhaps it is your youth that leads you to your statement about being black and not believing in the national anthem.

Black men were given the right to vote before women in the United States and only then because we fought and demanded it. My point is that black men where given rights that any and all women did not have. Those rights still prevail. Do not take them for granted.

Those who do not wish to be here have the inalienable right to leave. It is easier to leave the U.S., then it is to come in. There are 1000’s of people from other countries who would love to be in your shoes.

Walk softly and play Basketball, it is what you do best, your speeches, are less then to be desired…

~The Baby Boomer Queen~

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