The Little Denver Nugget Who Wouldn't
One Player Challenges the NBA's Forced Nationalism

by mattro
Raptorial 1996

Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, an extremely talented professional athlete, employed by the NBA's Denver Nuggets, has drawn unwanted scrutiny upon himself for refusing to stand at attention during the singing of the US national anthem before basketball games. His reasoning is simple enough: doing so conflicts with his Muslim beliefs. For most, this reason is good enough and no more need be said. For those who press Abdul-Rauf on the issue, he will explain exactly how his actions uphold what he believes and what his specific grievances with the national anthem ritual are. His personal interpretation of the Koran forbids him from partaking in nationalistic ritualism. He further states he feels the "Star-Spangled Banner" and the American flag are symbols of tyranny and oppression.

His elaborations have angered many so-called 'proud' Americans and the NBA has suspended Abdul-Rauf without pay. For each game he misses, he loses over $30,000. The discussion is heating up, angry words are flying at Abdul-Rauf, and as deeply offended Archie Bunker types tell him to 'love America or leave it', one important point is being lost: It doesn't matter why he is abstaining from a symbolic American ritual. He has more of a right to do so than anyone has the right to question him for doing it.

Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf is an American citizen with all the rights and privileges thereof. Among these rights are the freedom of speech, expression and religion. These freedoms are what enrich the United States as a nation. Mere symbols do not achieve this. Symbols (such as flags and musical pieces) and symbolism (standing at attention during the presentation of flags or songs) are certainly legitimate mechanisms for expressing nationalism, but they are vacuous if they don't symbolize something. One person's (or 100,000 persons') abstaining from nationalistic rituals does not jeopardize American culture, it may actually strengthen it.

As entrenched in American culture as they are, it is important to remember that symbols themselves are not reasons to be nationalistic. The United States was not founded for the flag or for the "Star-Spangled Banner." This nation was formed to establish a system based on personal freedoms and create a climate in which such freedoms could thrive. The flag and the national anthem are symbols of this freedom, but the freedom comes first. It always has and, hopefully, it always will.
Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf is being an American in the truest sense of the word: He is expressing what he believes in. He has been quietly exercising his constitutional rights since the present basketball season began last November. When his team plays against the Vancouver Grizzlies or the Toronto Raptors, he sits during the Canadian anthem as well. His actions are nothing personal against the US, but they are personal and everyone else, including the NBA, should just butt out.

The league's rule is 'stand and line up in a dignified posture during national anthems'. Enforcing nationalism, for whatever reason, is wrong and, in this case, such a rule is just plain unconstitutional.

Cut the guy some slack.

UPDATE: Just over a week after the Mahmoud Abdul Rauf/NBA disagreement became news, the issue was, apparently, resolved. Rauf, who during the debate with league officials had been sitting out of his team's games, decided he had found a better way to approach the issue. Rauf is one of the most potent players on the Denver Nuggets and rather than disrupting his team's chance to make the playoffs by sitting out he changed his hard stance on the issue. Also, other Islamic players in the league, particularly Hakeem Olajuwan of the Houston Rockets, expressed surprise at Rauf's interpretation of the Koran as it pertains to nationalism. Rauf made a decision that from now on during the flag salute he will stand by his teammates and say a silent prayer in his faith.

But much damage has already been done and some non-Islamic Americans reacted to Rauf's actions intolerantly if not downright moronically.

One of Abdul Rauf's first games back took place in Chicago against the Bulls. The 'open-minded and tolerant' home town Chicago crowd waved flags and cheered during the pledge of allegiance. They boo-ed Rauf when his name was announced as he entered the game for the first time.

In Denver, radio deejays from one station decided to make a point of some kind by barging into a mosque playing the US national anthem on brass instruments. Understandably, the Islamic community was outraged by this. The station issued apologies and the deejays involved were rightfully suspended.