POWER PLAY: MESS WITH SYMBOLISM, EXPECT A BACKLASH

An NBA player is causing quite a bit of trouble lately, and for once it isn't Dennis Rodman.

Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, known as Chris Jackson before finding Allah, was suspended last week by the league for refusing to stand during the traditional playing of the national anthem prior to each game.

Why the league is upset about this just now is unclear. Abdul-Rauf, who plays for the Denver Nuggets, has ducked the anthem all season on religious grounds.

"I'm a Muslim first and a Muslim last," he said. "My duty is to my creator, not to nationalistic ideology."

However, Abdul-Rauf did inject some politics into the situation, calling the American flag a "symbol of oppression, of tyranny."

The U.S., of course, has been oppressive and tyrannical at times. Slavery, the genocidal policy toward the indigenous inhabitants of the continent, and forced internment of American citizens of Japanese descent are not among this nation's proudest achievements. However, in the fields of oppression and tyranny, America has been no worse than many countries and far better than most.

But Abdul-Rauf isn't necessarily anti-American. The NBA added two expansion teams this season, both of which are based north of the border, and he won't stand up for "O Canada" either.

Now, while America is guilty of more than a few major sins, what have the Canadians ever done to anybody? Except for Loverboy and Anne Murray, they don't owe anyone any apologies.

I don't particularly understand why Abdul-Rauf feels as he does. When it comes right down to it, unless it is the Olympics or some other international competition where nationalistic feelings are running high, the playing of the anthem at sporting events is just a ceremony.

Just because you stand during the anthem doesn't mean you endorse everything the government has ever done. It is more a matter of politeness than anything else.

And the NBA has a rule that all players, coaches and trainers stand in a dignified manner during the anthem. This slightly changes the issue.

If Abdul-Rauf is on his own time and doesn't wish to respect the anthem, that's one thing. Violating company rules is another. While the NBA would likely be sued if it punished Abdul-Rauf for participating in a protest at a nuclear power plant, it is certainly within its rights to crack down on protests made on company time.

Some people just want to be different, I guess. Look at Rodman.

However, as goofy as he is, Rodman at least is smart enough to know not to mess with patriotic symbolism. Even if Abdul-Rauf's motivations are innocent, he will be vilified. People tend to take their symbolism seriously.

Once while working at a different paper, I was assigned to take photos at a rodeo, an event which tends to bring out the zealously patriotic en masse.

When the national anthem started I stood respectfully at attention with my hand over my left lung like I'm supposed to. However, I did not remove my ball cap. A couple of bars into the tune, an older man walked up to me and told me to remove the cap. I asked him why and he said because the anthem was playing.

I replied that if he could adequately explain how the presence or absence of a cranial cover could have any relation whatsoever on one's level of patriotism or respect for American symbols, I would gladly remove it. He just looked confused and left me alone.

I still don't remove my hat during the anthem. That may offend some, but as far as I can see there isn't a valid reason to do so. "Because you're supposed to" isn't a good explanation. However, since I rarely wear a hat anymore, I usually don't have one to take off, anthem or no.

But when it comes to symbolic acts, people don't usually consider logic or reason. They don't ask themselves, "Is this really necessary." It is a matter of tradition, and you don't mess with it -- unless like the whole hat thing it is dying off naturally.

Abdul-Rauf is probably learning that right now.

Marc Powers is a member of the Southeast Missourian news staff.