Daily Kos

I Missed This Etan Thomas Gem; Did You?

by AnthonySF

Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 11:27:18 AM PDT

I have to admit, I was very busy last weekend.  I had friends in town and went to two great concerts (Green Day and Audioslave), and thus had to miss our monthly meeting of Bay Area Kossacks.

I also missed most of the news coverage of the D.C. rally (was there much?), with the few minutes of TV I caught focused entirely on Hurricane Rita.

But this morning I happened to stumble upon a speech basketball player Etan Thomas gave at the protest on Saturday that is a riveting call to arms.

(For those of you who aren't sports fans, Etan Thomas, out of Syracuse, is the backup center for Brendan Haywood on the Washington Wizards.)

In his address Thomas spoke like a seasoned beat poet, elaborating on a wide variety of issues from social injustice to poverty to racism to the war -- while calling out individual members of the Bush cadre by name:

I'd like to take some of these cats on a field trip. I want to get big yellow buses with no air conditioner and no seatbelts and round up Bill O'Reilly, Pat Buchanan, Trent Lott, Sean Hannity, Dick Cheney, Jeb Bush, Bush Jr. and Bush Sr., John Ashcroft, Giuliani, Ed Gillespie, Katherine Harris, that little bow-tied Tucker Carlson and any other right-wing conservative Republicans I can think of and take them all on a trip to the 'hood.

Not to do no 30-minute documentary. I mean, I want to drop them off and leave them there. Let them become one with the other side of the tracks, get them four mouths to feed and no welfare, have scare tactics run through them like a laxative, criticizing them for needing assistance.

He then gets brilliantly policy-specific:

I'd let them know how it feels to be an employee at will, able to be fired at the drop of a hat. I'd take away their opportunities, then try their children as adults, sending their 13-year-old babies to life in prison.

I'd sell them dreams of hopelessness while spoon-feeding their young with a daily dose of inferior education. I'd tell them no child shall be left behind, then take more money out of their schools, tell them to show and prove themselves on standardized exams testing their knowledge on things that they haven't been taught and then I'd call them inferior.

I'd soak into their interior notions of endless possibilities. I'd paint pictures of assisted productivity if they only agreed to be all they can be, dress them up with fatigues and boots with promises of pots of gold at the end of rainbows, free education to waste terrain on those who finish their bid.

And of course he doesn't leave out the hypocrisy:

I'd feed them hypocritical lines of being pro-life as the only Christian way to be. Then, very contradictory, I'd fight for the spread of the death penalty, as if "thou shall not kill" applies to babies but not to criminals.

Then I'd introduce them to those sworn to protect and serve, creating a curb in their trust in the law. I'd show them the nightsticks and plungers, the pepper spray and stun guns, the mace and magnums that they'd soon become acquainted with.

I was shocked that a professional athlete in a major league would be so outspoken; Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling was decidedly "soft" in his support of our lame duck.  Thomas gives me hope that the tide is indeed turning on this ship of fools.

I recommend checking out both the transcript and the video.  You will be electrified.

Tags: republicans, sports, war protest (all tags) :: Previous Tag Versions

Permalink | 148 comments

  •  Please recommend (4.00 / 68)

    if you think it's worth sharing.

    Visit RemoveRepublicans.com and follow every 2006 Senate race.

    by AnthonySF on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 11:24:17 AM PDT

    •  Thank you for the diary ... (4.00 / 8)

      I don't think that I ever would have picked this up otherwise.

      Articulate, impassioned, strong, and right on the issues.  Let him speak to the youth of America ...

      The clock keeps ticking ... Osama bin Forgotten

      by besieged by bush on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 01:11:45 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  I agree with your sentiment... (2.00 / 9)

        really I do, but it grates on me when African-Americans are called articulate.

        -7.25, -6.87 You must work - we must all work to make the world worthy of its children. - Pablo Casals

        by peacemom on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 02:03:06 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

        •  Why? n/t (none / 0)

          The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.

          by Ianua Ditis on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 02:18:13 PM PDT

          [ Parent ]

        •  Me too -- don't get this ... (4.00 / 3)

          I meant/mean "articulate" as a strong compliment and has absolutely (ABSOLUTELY) nothing to do with race, gender, ethnicity ... This has to do with the skillful use of language -- a skill that I value and respect in others.  And, again, I recognize that as a skill independent of any other attribute.  

          (Although, of course, Luntz is extremely 'articulate', but uses this (and other skills) to support horrific causes and help foster dangerous policies on society.)

          The clock keeps ticking ... Osama bin Forgotten

          by besieged by bush on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 02:25:06 PM PDT

          [ Parent ]

          •  The reason is it implies that they aren't normally (3.33 / 6)

            It's like telling a woman "wow, you're really good at that!" or "Wow, you're really brave!" in a tone of surprise. It has an inevitable baggage of condescension - even if you personally didn't mean it that way, and aren't aware of it - going back to the whole business of it a) being illegal to teach slaves to read, b) legal to use literacy as a way of denying voting rights, which is going to annoy some black Americans the way telling me "gee, you're surprisingly good with tools!" is going to make me grit my teeth even as I say, "Why, thank you, sir!" and bat my eyelashes...

            "Don't be a janitor on the Death Star!" - Grey Lady Bast (change @ for AT to email)

            by bellatrys on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 03:10:14 PM PDT

            [ Parent ]

            •  Grf. (4.00 / 10)

              Maybe I'm hopelessly naive, but I did not read that as

              'Wow!  He's really articulate [for an African-American]'..

              I read it as

              'Wow!  he's really articulate [for a basketball player]'..

              Big difference.  Sports players are not put on the team for their debating skills.  They are put on for their basketball skills.

              And they can BE smart and still not be articulate, it's worth a coach's while to have a player that can learn the plays, and be able to think outside the box, but that doesn't mean they can put advanced concepts into words and use an orator's skills.

              It's a bonus that this young man can.  I respect him for it.  He's using what fame he's getting to get the word out there.  I'd not be surprised if he's seen it firsthand and he's one of the lucky ones to 'get out' with a lot of good life skills.

              I'm still an Edwards supporter, and a Patriots fan. Not having the best year here...

              by Stymnus on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 04:39:24 PM PDT

              [ Parent ]

              •  Thank You (none / 0)

                I didn't think that it was a remark of surprise that he was black and articulate either.  And I didn't even think that it was surprising that he was an athlete and articulate.

                I just thought "an articulate person".  Cool.  It seems like there is such a dearth of that in our society that when an articulate voice is heard it surprises those of us who can appreciate it.  We are so used to being hammered with bluster, screaming and mindless hate.

                by AngryOne on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 05:52:24 PM PDT

                [ Parent ]

                •  so sayeth AngryOne (none / 0)

                  "What's becoming of us?!"

                  "They're telling us something we don't understand"
                  General Charles de Gaulle, Mai '68

                  by subtropolis on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 10:50:25 PM PDT

                  [ Parent ]

                  •  Angryone, I agree (none / 0)

                    however, somebody posted below that "eloquent" would have been better, and I agree there too, only because "articulate" is not quite good enough.  The man was inspired, poetic, impressive, etc.

                    Apparently there are some to whom this term is offensive, damning with faint praise, and when someone calls Thomas articulate they see it this way

                    But he was also articulate in the sense of "speaking distinctly" in that he said what he meant in a concise and forceful manner.

                    At any rate, what I would like to know is does anyone have a contact for Mr. Thomas??  He must have a fan club or a team email.  I was unable to find anything so far on the Wizards site, but it should be posted up near the top of the thread or maybe as an update

                    The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.

                    by Ianua Ditis on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 11:01:50 PM PDT

                    [ Parent ]

              •  You (none / 0)

                wouldn't feel that way if someone told you to your face that you were "ARTICULATE" for a black man.

                "The ultimate measure of a person is not where they stand in times of comfort and convenience but where they stand in times of challenge" - MLK

                by rickpolitic on Fri Oct 07, 2005 at 04:47:55 AM PDT

                [ Parent ]

            •  Exactly, and (none / 1)

              thank you for saying this so well ... are we surprised when women/African-Americans/children/name any group that's not white & male :) speaks well, with passion and authority and authentically?  Why, yes, we are surprised.  Even here, sometimes.  Good on you for saying so!  

              Think what you are doing today. -Fred Rogers

              by JanL on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 05:25:10 PM PDT

              [ Parent ]

              •  Chris Rock.... (none / 1)

                ...has some great commentary on this subject. He says that whenever white people are talking about Colin Powell and want to feel all enlightened and whatnot, they always say the same thing. They always say "oh, he speaks so well!" And Rock then says that it's like the expectation would be that he'd speak in grunts or something.

                by metal prophet on Sat Oct 01, 2005 at 10:54:32 AM PDT

                [ Parent ]

            •  The reader in this case (4.00 / 3)

              must contemplate their perception of the circumstances surrounding the reason for the use of the word "articulate." If they perceive it to imply "surprise" it means one thing. If they perceive it to imply "pleasure" it means something else. Lacking knowledge of the intent of the author, I'd say the perceptions of the reader tell us more about the reader than about the author.

              I've heard numerous kossacks use the term "articulate" to compliment various diarists. In fact, that word ranks right up there as perhaps the highest compliment to be had in this forum.

              -6.88/-5.64 * We won! We won!.... Now back on your heads.

              by John West on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 05:56:13 PM PDT

              [ Parent ]

              •  Ironically, this is what I said (none / 0)

                on Obama's diary this morning:

                That was wonderul and articulate.  Few members of our current Congressional Democratic leadership can elaborate a message like you do.

                Nothing but sincerity there.  Yet someone gave me a 1 rating.

                Visit RemoveRepublicans.com and follow every 2006 Senate race.

                by AnthonySF on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 06:00:15 PM PDT

                [ Parent ]

              •  Just so you know (none / 0)

                the perceptions of the reader have developed from decades of personal and professional combat against stereotypes of young black men and women.

                I'll have to keep watch for use of the word (as an adjective, not a verb) and see if your assertion is correct.

                -7.25, -6.87 You must work - we must all work to make the world worthy of its children. - Pablo Casals

                by peacemom on Sun Oct 02, 2005 at 07:38:38 AM PDT

                [ Parent ]

            •  Thanks for getting it... (none / 1)

              My first low ratings on dkos on this topic.  How interesting.

              Anyway, for the original commenter I did not call your comment racist and I attempted to relay that before I had to leave.

              I have bitten my tongue (fingers) many times on this issue but after seeing this powerful speech that brought me to tears and seeing the first comment use a word that raises red flags for me, I decided to put it out there.  Language, on a blog, is important, and intent can easily be misconstrued.

              Obviously if you call white people articulate all the time then you shoud be offended by my comment.  Most people don't, but this is a particularly englightened crowd <ahem>.  I guess I could have done a search on the word and conducted an analysis of how often it's used in reference to people of color, but I can see that enough people understood where I was coming from.

              -7.25, -6.87 You must work - we must all work to make the world worthy of its children. - Pablo Casals

              by peacemom on Sat Oct 01, 2005 at 01:24:54 PM PDT

              [ Parent ]

          •  listen, (none / 0)

            I really didn't know this would start a firestorm.  What I should have said to you was that I can tell you didn't mean it in an offensive way because of the other adjectives you used.

            Your choice just happened to be the one to put me over the edge on the issue.  It's a loaded word in this case.

            I apologize that my frustration was taken out on your comment and that others think I was calling you racist. I certainly was not.

            -7.25, -6.87 You must work - we must all work to make the world worthy of its children. - Pablo Casals

            by peacemom on Sun Oct 02, 2005 at 07:34:18 AM PDT

            [ Parent ]

        •  I don't understand (4.00 / 5)

          Are you saying that it's an insult because it implies that black/African-American people are otherwise inarticulate?

          I'm not the original poster, but I use that word all the time. I try to be considerate in my language choices, but if I can call George Galloway articulate after he excoriated the Senate, it would seem awfully odd not to be able to use it to compliment Etan Thomas.

          -fred

          by Fred Fnord on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 02:37:33 PM PDT

          [ Parent ]

          •  nobody said that, though (none / 1)

            No one was going around expressing surprise at how articulate Galloway was. It rare to hear a white person even described as articulate , it's pretty much used to reference black men.

            by bigbay on Sat Oct 01, 2005 at 11:13:09 AM PDT

            [ Parent ]

            •  I don't know about 'surprise' (none / 0)

              No one was going around expressing surprise at how articulate Galloway was. It rare to hear a white person even described as articulate , it's pretty much used to reference black men

              I call selective memory. I recall everyone being very impressed by his ability at public speaking, and was saying things like 'Why can the English elected officials actually speak coherently and ours can't?' and so forth.

              As for me, I said that he was 'not the greatest orator in history, but that's hardly the point. He was clear, intelligent, articulate, and merciless. Any one of which is more than I can say for most of the American government, Republican or Democrat.' And then went on about how sad it was that there weren't any Americans brave enough to say any of the stuff that he said. (Can you tell that before I posted that last comment, I did a hard drive search for the word 'articulate'?)

              But then, nobody reads my web site except about ten friends of mine, so I guess it doesn't much matter what I write or don't write. And I try to be sensitive, insofar as a misanthropic bastard can be. I can't think of another way of saying it that doesn't imply other things (eloquent, witty, pithy) or isn't softsoap enough not to mean anything (plus I suspect you'd object even more to 'a surprisingly good speaker' -- why is it surprising? well, to me, ALL good speakers are surprising -- and I would never use a phrase like 'a good speaker' because it's shit.)

              Is this something that I should just give up on, and only compliment white people about?

              -fred

              by Fred Fnord on Sat Oct 01, 2005 at 09:47:45 PM PDT

              [ Parent ]

        •  He didn't say "articulate (4.00 / 4)

          for a black person," so what's your problem?

          by Loquatrix on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 02:37:53 PM PDT

          [ Parent ]

        •  It's rare to find a SPORTS STAR... (4.00 / 2)

          ...who speaks like a poet.

          For that matter, it's rare to find many people at all these days who do.

          It was a deserved compliment, not something with racial overtones. And we will have reached where we want to be in this country when the compliment doesn't trigger that thought.

          America will never again be the land of the free... Until she again becomes the home of the brave.

          by Ducktape on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 03:26:11 PM PDT

          [ Parent ]

        •  This sort (4.00 / 9)

          of political correctness makes me want to rip my own hair out. If someone can say something far better than I could, I consider them articulate.

          It's a skill that I hold in very high regard. It should be celebrated wherever it can be found. Thomas' comment are as concise as they they are insightful. I don't see a wasted word. I don't see what more can be added.

          Why is it OK to say Al Frankin is articulate, but not this guy?

          by JoeWPgh on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 03:29:26 PM PDT

          [ Parent ]

          •  'Articulate' (4.00 / 5)

            Just face it, it's a 'danger flag' word for many African Americans.  Simple fact.  It's long been a code word and/or carried a degree of contempt or damning with faint praise.  It exists in the word, maybe not for all audiences, but for a very important part of the audience.  I'd suggest 'eloquent.'

            by lennywick on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 04:37:32 PM PDT

            [ Parent ]

            •  But it's NOT (4.00 / 2)

              It's not eloquent. If you go by the dictionary definition, it may be, but eloquent has overtones that imply flowery, circumlocutious, overblown, and, say, excessively polysyllabic. There's a reason grandiloquent, elegant, and loquacious are all so close to eloquent.

              His speech was not eloquent, in that sense. It was pithy, down-to-earth, and very much to the point. It was, in its very inelegance, much more effective than some effete orator (c'est moi?) could have managed on the same subject. Drowning someone in lace is very often less effective than slapping them across the face, if the slap is done at the right time, with the right force, and for the right reason. If the slap is done well.

              So. Not eloquent. And given that the only word that really describes what I'm trying to get across is 'pithy' and, leaving aside the fact that the speech would be pithy, not the speaker, a speech can be pithy without being articulate. So we're back to needing a word.

              Hmm. We could repurpose some old word that isn't currently being used. Crepuscular? He was a crepuscular speaker!

              Look, I just did a web search for the phrase 'was articulate'. The first page of results consisted of:

              • One reference to how racist the word 'articulate' was
              • One reference to Islamic holy texts (Adam was articulate, apparently)
              • One joke involving an articulate Marine, no race specified.
              • One article involving a mother, no race specified (but I'd guess white, given the name Jodi)
              • One CNN article involving the Roberts nomination, Roberts was articulate.
              • One article from tribuneindia.com, saying that, too often, Indian men reject women who are too articulate.
              • One letter to the WSJ from someone who wished they were articulate enough to express their disgust at something.
              • One from the American Prospect which claimed that both Bush and Gore were articulate during a debate. (Who knew?)
              • One paragraph about how a Palestinian was articulate in English.
              • And one, count it one, note about a black person (Tupak Shakur) was articulate. In an article that is practically an encomium.

              On the next page, Saddam and Bono were articulate, Bush was NOT articulate (twice), someone wanted a lawyer who was articulate, and a student got prank calls that were articulate. ("I'm having thoughts of pleasure!") A Japanese woman became articulate in English, apparently in a very short time. Someone was worried that only people who are articulate make successful appeals (in child custody cases, I think.) And Olympic swimming superstar Ian Thorpe said that he believed people had labeled him homosexual because he was articulate.

              Incidentally, a different search, for 'is articulate,' throws up a page almost entirely full of arguments on whether articulate is racist or not, mostly all related to one blog entry from Oliver somebody. I like the one on 'redstate.org' where they say, 'Um, well, we like the president a lot, but the last thing we'd call him is articulate.'

              I guess that a word is racist if it is perceived as racist. Inasmuch as that is true, I'm sorry for offending anyone I may have called articulate in the past. But I refuse to avoid the word 'articulate' for people whose races I don't know, including dkos diarists, so if I call you 'articulate' and you're black, please try to take it as a compliment.

              -fred

              by Fred Fnord on Sat Oct 01, 2005 at 10:55:45 PM PDT

              [ Parent ]

              •  To articulate... (none / 0)

                I didn't mean to jump on you -- and you're absolutely right, the words are different in meaning.  But you should be aware of what that word might mean for people, and the reason why people blanched to see it used in this case.  I don't think you mind people being a little over-protective in this case.

                Etan Thomas is an articulate man.  That is without doubt.  But there's trouble in calling him such, in certain instances.  Whenever I want to call someone articulate - when they are, and are deserving, of course - I tend to couch the word in a way to make it clear what my meanings are, such as, "he is an articulate speaker," or "he showed himself more articulate than most speakers are nowadays; it's a lost art..." or "he articulated that better than most..."  That sort of thing.  I try not to leave that word out there and let people speculate on what I might mean by it, whether there are underlying motives or meanings.

                Cheers!

                by lennywick on Sun Oct 02, 2005 at 01:05:06 PM PDT

                [ Parent ]

          •  Me thinks (4.00 / 4)

            You use political correctness to hide the truth behind the veil. I don't have enough fingers or toes to count how many times someone has told me how 'articulate' I was or sounded after a presentation, speech or other pronouncement.

            A comment such as this can seem so benign but when received can be so obviously patronizing and demoralizing; whilst the same sentiment is rarely heard among my white peers (maybe that's a compliment and maybe not. Me thinks the latter). It's akin to - wow - you don't sound like other black people I know!

            Anyhoo, I hate it when folks throw out political correctness like something to chew on and spit out - especially on a topic that they rarely are NOT familiar or have had experience with.

            Obviously, the key is to look at the intent, and also, to see the view from the other side. But that's tricky. So hate it if you must, but that's the wonderful world we live in.

            I am a woman and I support Barack Obama.

            by brown girl in the ring on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 04:38:45 PM PDT

            [ Parent ]

            •  i can understand what you're sayin'.... BUT (none / 1)

              you're amongst friends here.  you should let your armour down a little in these types of situations.

              as a lilly white boy, i used to be relatively insensitive to the everyday racism faced by many black people until this experience on haight street.  

              one of my roommates at the time and still one of my best friends happens to be black.  three of us (two whites and one black)were walking a few blocks from where we lived on haight.  an old fucked up hippy looking dude tried to knock a bag out of my black friend's hands and then started in with the racial epithats.    being young, in our early 20's, we escalated the conflict and chased the dude away (literally), pursuing him for a block and a half.  i actually still regret only chasing that guy and not laying a serious beatdown on that guy....

              we used to semi-trivialize my friend's complaints of racism as he made more money than the rest of us put together.  that experience really woke me up...  and it happened in a bstion of liberalism on haight street in san fran.  the second point has already been stated.  you're amongst friends here.  it is being overly sensitive to interpret comments like this as being racially motivated intentionally or unintentionally...

              by Hounds on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 07:36:07 PM PDT

              [ Parent ]

          •  Not political correctness (none / 1)

            Political correctness is white people arguing with white people over what they think is and isn't right for black people. Now, while I'm white, I'm simply repeating a criticism of the use of the word "articulate" that I've heard from black friends of mine.

            by metal prophet on Sat Oct 01, 2005 at 10:56:44 AM PDT

            [ Parent ]

          •  Franken (none / 1)

            When has anyone ever described Franken as articulate ? It's assumed as a white man that he already is articluate.

            by bigbay on Sat Oct 01, 2005 at 11:15:19 AM PDT

            [ Parent ]

        •  This comment (none / 0)

          is regarding a SPEECH the gentleman gave-articulate refers to how one uses words. It seems entirely appropriate to describe someone as articulate (or inarticulate) when referring to a speech he or she delivered.

          Perhaps this comment is NOT racist overtly or covertly. A racist comment would be something like...Oh, I don't know...how about claiming that aborting all black babies would practically eliminate crime?

          by chicagochristianleft on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 07:12:53 PM PDT

          [ Parent ]

        •  That's alarming logic (4.00 / 6)

          By your logic, any compliment regarding a positive trait paid to any member of any discrete group must be suppressed because it implies a lacking of that trait in other members of the group.  

          "...articulate Etan Thomas" => African Americans are inarticulate.  
          "Hillary Clinton was brilliant" => women are dull.
          "...the multitalented Elton John" => gay men are talentless.
          "Christopher Reeve, a heartwarming speaker" => disabled persons can only inspire apathy.

          While I appreciate what seems to be a noble intent, because your logic would naturally require us to recognize all of the above implications, it goes far beyond what is necessary to equalize the effect of our language.  I find your comment especially disturbing considering the kindspirited intent of the original poster you confronted.

          by BPK on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 10:24:30 PM PDT

          [ Parent ]

        •  PLEASE !!!!! (4.00 / 5)

          For the love of God.

          People come here to read other people's ideas.  Good ideas, spoken articulately is coin of the realm.  It's what draws people to the site.

          How can you be SO lame as to take umbrage?  Honestly?  

          I get a visceral response, like fingernails on a chalkboard, every time I see something this patronizing and condescending.

          I'm going to let you in on a little secret.  Most of the people that come here are pretty much ok with the coloreds.  No hidden agendas.  No forked tongues.  No lookin over our shoulders to see if there's one of "them" around, when we speak.

          We all pretty much accept the fullness of the humanity of all races.  It's called liberalism.  It's why we're all here.  At least, most of us.

          Barbara Jordan = the anti Pelosi

          by Ghost of Frank Zappa on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 10:27:20 PM PDT

          [ Parent ]

          •  liberals and racism (none / 0)

            Liberals are racist just like anyone else. They're usually smart enough to work through it on an intellectual level, however.

            However racism is emotionally programmed into American society in a very deep way. Grow up in a 80% black community and you'll see how white=good in American society.

            by bigbay on Sat Oct 01, 2005 at 11:19:00 AM PDT

            [ Parent ]

          •  you're absolutely right (none / 1)

            there are no racist liberals.  What was I thinking?

            And of what importance is language in a blog?  

            Another visceral response?  Cuz, yeah, I was being patronizing and condescending this time.

            Maybe you need to add to your wholly enlightened exisitence an understanding of the reality that the word has very negative connotations for people of color.  Just a suggestion, k?

            -7.25, -6.87 You must work - we must all work to make the world worthy of its children. - Pablo Casals

            by peacemom on Sat Oct 01, 2005 at 01:48:10 PM PDT

            [ Parent ]

      •  You can see this speech (none / 1)

        on Monday's Democracy Now broadcast. It's at about 40-45 minutes into the show.

        He was amazing. I too was going to write a diary about this last monday, but Diary Gestapo jumps down my throat everytime I write a diary about something that may have been either diaried 500 diaries ago or mentioned in comment in another diary.

        So, I don't do diaries here much anymore.

        Viewing the world through my Kos tinted lenses.

        by The 1n Only Leoni on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 05:03:03 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

    •  Thank You (none / 0)

      Wow!  This young man speaks as he plays - with heart.

      by Lying eyes on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 02:47:14 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  Dave Zirin - "Edge of Sports" (none / 1)

      I got this speech in my email from Dave Zirin. Zirin writes about sports and society from a progressive viewpoint for The Nation. Check it out Zirin's website "Edge of Sports" if you like this kind of mix of sports and society.

      Etan Thomas is old school when it comes to talking about social justice as an athlete. He's definitely not in the mold of "Hey, Republicans buy shoes too" Michael Jordan.

      John McCain

      by joejoejoe on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 04:33:28 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  Simply fucking brilliant. (none / 0)

      -9.63, -7.03 Rage, rage against the Lying of the Right

      by Maryscott OConnor on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 07:40:42 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  •  Etan Thomas (none / 1)

    Yes, I saw that a few days ago. Brilliant speech.

    By the way, your title spells his name incorrectly. It's "Etan", not "Etam".

    by Scoonie on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 11:25:14 AM PDT

  •  As a show of support, (4.00 / 4)

    I say we all add him to our fantasy teams.

    -- war-weary.

    by peacemonger on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 11:29:34 AM PDT

  •  I read the diary title and thought (4.00 / 3)

    hey... there's something about some guy with the same name as the former Syracuse basketball player.  My curiosity got the better of me and, lo and behold, it is the former Syracuse basketballer.  A very cool read.

    On NBAers with a political conscience, I did a diary a few months back on (former) Phoenix Suns benchwarmer Paul Shirley's blog and found his thoughts on the MSM and the Patriot Act (and later found out that he had worked on the Gore campaign).  

    Etan Thomas, Steve Nash and Paul Shirley are three NBAers on our side and not afraid to show it.

    -5.13, -5.13

    by sharkbite on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 11:47:44 AM PDT

  •  Weird (none / 1)

    I just saw this today as well, when I went to an NBA blog to catch up. It was refreshing to see the Republican in the comments slapped down. Also nice was a few posts later, where the blogger linked to a Democracy Now article.

    by grimc on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 11:47:56 AM PDT

  •  WizMD the Wizards fan (none / 1)

    I have been a Wizards fan for 12 years, since they were the Washington Bullets.  I have followed Thomas's basketball career, and admired the fact that he chose to speak his mind through his writing.  But you know what's funny, I had never actually HEARD it before today.

    And you know what?  His voice is stronger than his arms.  I wish him success in all areas of his career this coming year.

    AWESOME

    by wizmd on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 11:48:54 AM PDT

  •  heh (4.00 / 8)

    In his address Thomas spoke like a seasoned beat poet

    Believe it or not, he is a seasoned poet.  He wrote a book of poetry published by Moore Black Press and supposedly does a lot of readings around the D.C. area.

    I think NBA players probably lean left w/r/t pro athletes as a whole.  For example, off the top of my head I can recall several players (Nick Van Exel, Steve Nash, Josh Howard) who were publicly against the Iraq war from the start, and I'm sure there are many many more examples.

    I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy.

    by Ickey shuffle on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 11:49:24 AM PDT

  •  Etan Thomas article (4.00 / 12)

    Here is a good article about Etan from CommonDreams.org.  I actually saw him give a spoken word performance last fall at a bookstore in Northeast DC.  He is a really powerful speaker - his arms size notwithstanding.  

    "I am totally against this war," Thomas says adamantly. "But at the same time, I am completely for the troops. Republicans tried to paint the picture that if you were against the war, you were somehow unpatriotic, and that couldn't be further from the truth. What's truly unpatriotic is misleading an entire nation into war under false pretenses."

    I can honestly say that he is one of my favorite players not only based upon his playstyle but his personal opinions as well.

    by pmc1970 on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 11:59:42 AM PDT

  •  Wow... (4.00 / 4)

    When his basketball career is over, Etan Thomas should go political and run for elected office.  

    I am not a member of any organized political party. I am a Democrat. Will Rogers.

    by tomathawl on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 12:00:41 PM PDT

  •  Spoon-feeding their young (4.00 / 4)

    with a daily dose of inferior education...

    So many injustices, but the poetry of that phrase stood out for me.

    by hazey on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 12:09:19 PM PDT

  •  Dayyy-um! (none / 1)

    This guy is good.

    Bet me anything tough-boy Hannity dropped in the 'hood would be the first to cry.

    by skralyx on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 12:22:19 PM PDT

    •  are you kidding? (none / 0)

      i can hear o'lielly quaking in his boots already.

      "Government, like dress, is the badge of lost innocence; the palaces of kings are built upon the ruins of the bowers of paradise." Thomas Paine, Common Sense

      by Cedwyn on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 01:21:49 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  •  I read that yesterday (none / 0)

    It was awesome, not only in what he said but the style of it as well.  He could as easily be a poet as a basketball player.

    Was audioslave really a good concert?   I always think of them like Wings

    The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.

    by Ianua Ditis on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 12:23:14 PM PDT

    •  Audioslave was awesome. (none / 1)

      They played several Soundgarden and Rage songs -- surprisingly "Killing in the Name."  The whole place erupted in joyous/angry moshing.

      Visit RemoveRepublicans.com and follow every 2006 Senate race.

      by AnthonySF on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 12:29:01 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  Worth seeing? (none / 0)

        They're coming to Miami soon, I'm on the fence as to whether or not to go.  I was a huge fan of both Soundgarden and RATM, and Audioslave has been a little bit disappointing for me.  Are they better live?

        Compromise, conformity, assimilation, submission, ignorance, hypocrisy, brutality, the elite. All of which are American dreams. - RATM

        by Bones on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 03:43:19 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

        •  I would say yes. (none / 1)

          I was prepared to hear, maybe, 1 or 2 Soundgarden songs, and then a vocally sore Chris Cornell.  Not the case.

          Cornell's voice is as clear as ever, and they ripped through "Spoonman," an acoustic "Black Hole Sun," "Testify," "Sleep Now in the Fire," an instrumental "Bulls on Parade" with Morello using his guitar for the vocals (amazing), and then the aforementioned "Killing in the Name."  The show intensified in energy throughout the night.  The capper was "Show Me How to Live," which left my ears ringing and voice hoarse.

          Recommended.

          Visit RemoveRepublicans.com and follow every 2006 Senate race.

          by AnthonySF on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 04:11:17 PM PDT

          [ Parent ]

  •  professional athletes (4.00 / 5)

    the thing i can't believe is all these guys are UNION MEMBERS and are poster children on what collective bargaining can get workers

    yet unions never use them as examples of the power of collective bargaining

    and players unions never educate professional athletes the history of the role that unions did to make their lives great and linking their union to the struggle of other union workers.

    by smartone on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 12:29:50 PM PDT

    •  Not so much with the unions. (none / 0)

      The collective bargining agreement for professional athletes does not resemble the typical union member. It sets a minnimum salary for rookies, which, particularly in basketball due to the relatively small size of a team, everyone makes more.

      It protects them from arbitrary drug policies, but as evidenced by MLB, this may be a disservice, or at least a public relations fiasco. It stipulates pension plan payments, but for most of them, it's kind of moot. They make enough to save for their own retirement.

      And let's not forget the disaster of the NHL players union. Yes, the owners acted on the lockout, but percipitated by the players demands. Certainly not a win for them.

      Daily Kos is the worst form of liberal web-site, except for all the others that have been tried.-Roy Solomon(paraphrasing Winston Churchill)

      by roysol on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 01:55:01 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  •  I'm Impressed (none / 0)

    Sports stars are really coming out against this administration. Dr. Pepper wrote about Carlos Delgado and Steve Nash's antiwar stances a while back.

    However, Thomas' speech really grabs you by the throat. I clicked "Recommend" for you, Anthony, 'cause people really should read/hear the speech.

    Class consciousness is back in style at www.dailypepper.com.

    by pepper on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 12:31:57 PM PDT

  •  Give Etan some love (4.00 / 3)

    Buy his book.  

    by mattwdc on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 12:37:47 PM PDT

  •  yes! (none / 1)

    I am inspired.  Truly.

    by rockmoonwater on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 12:39:53 PM PDT

  •  Man. (4.00 / 3)

    What a contrast to the words of Donna Brazile who said this regarding Bush's post-Katrina nationally-televised speech:

      "On Thursday night, after watching him [Bush] speak from the heart, I could not have been prouder of the president and the plan he outlined to empower those who lost everything and to rebuild the Gulf Coast."

    The right wing hates Pooh because he reminds children to "think, think, think."

    by dicta on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 12:48:59 PM PDT

  •  My soul needed that... (none / 1)

    After running errands at lunch and enduring Rush and Neal Bortz spewing what they spew everytime I hear them on the radio...eh...I let them get to me today.

    But this made me feel much much better.

    Thank You!

    WTF is happening? -Me

    by All My Neighbors are NeoCons on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 12:49:07 PM PDT

  •  Great speech (none / 0)

    I see politics in his future.

    by sbardell on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 12:56:34 PM PDT

  •  Etan Thomas is.... (4.00 / 2)

    ....one of my favorite athletes, for both what he does on and off the court. I'm a big Wizards fan and I love how tough Thomas is in the middle. He'll never be a top scorer like Antwan Jameison or Gilbert Arenas, but he's a good rebounder and shot blocker. I love the hair, too. And he's also probably one of the brightest pro athletes out there and he's done a lot of good things in the DC area in addition to his political activism.

    by metal prophet on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 12:56:45 PM PDT

  •  Crystalizes the real damage done by NCLB (4.00 / 5)

    and standardized testing:
    I'd tell them no child shall be left behind, then take more money out of their schools, tell them to show and prove themselves on standardized exams testing their knowledge on things that they haven't been taught and then I'd call them inferior.

    Any policy maker who thinks kids don't pay attention to standardized test scores is a fool.  How many times does a kid need to be told he is inferior before he internalizes it?  Ultimately, it takes away their will to excel, to keep trying.  Helps them lower their own expectations so they will be satisfied with low wage work or abusive employers.  Its truly evil in that its intent is to subjegate, not measure and improve.

    Excuse the cynicism, please.

    ;]

    by lapin on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 01:05:23 PM PDT

  •  nice metaphor: (none / 0)

    "have scare tactics run through them like a laxative"

    The whole thing was good but I found that part a really powerful metaphor.

    They'll probably just call him a dumb jock.

    If you can't stand the heat, don't play with matches.

    by DawnG on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 01:17:52 PM PDT

    •  I saw a commercial for Boomer Esiason (none / 1)

      where he said (apropos of Barry Bonds telling Congress to do its job and stop grandstanding about steroids) something like : every week I have to tell another athlete to just shut up and play.  

      Without remarking on the irony of a former athlete turned commentator telling other well-spoken athletes to shut up, I'm surprised we haven't heard something like this about Thomas.  The world of sports-talk radio is not as overwhelmingly right-wing as political talk, but it does tend to side with 'conservatives' for the most part.

      I remember when the false reports that a Newsweek article about Koran desecration at Gitmo caused a riot in Afghanistan came out, the radio guys in NY spent a segment trashing Newsweek, without ever mentioning that local authorities said Newseek had little to do with it...

      The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.

      by Ianua Ditis on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 02:07:15 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  That's exactly what it feels like (none / 0)

      The man can express himself.  Wow.

      War is not an adventure. It is a disease. It is like typhus. - Antoine De Saint-Exupery

      by Margot on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 05:51:28 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  •  i'm sending this to all my kids' (none / 1)

    friends at college.  it will make the rounds.  thanks for the video link, too.

    by stagemom on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 01:32:07 PM PDT

  •  It's apparent he isn't dumb (none / 0)

    It takes balls to come out against a war when you are in athletics.  Somebody else said it as well, but basketball players are more likely to be left.  I would guess it's the nature of the overall body of players.  It's often looked at as a poor sport.  Football players would be very unlikely.  You have to live in a place with space and fields to play football and baseball.  Some of those places are rural, others suburban.

    "Treat them with humanity. Let them have no reason to complain of our copying the brutal example of the British army."

    by otto on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 01:34:14 PM PDT

  •  Look out for the Swiftboating (none / 0)

    He'll be labelled some kind of NBA "thug" or something.

    Damn, I'm sorry to be such a nasty wet blanket. I'll go buy his book, that was a great speech.

    McCain is a Chode.

    by dnamj on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 01:35:35 PM PDT

  •  Nice! (none / 1)

    I was wondering if you meant Evan Thomas...

    It's unusual to see a celebrity or pro athlete whose politics is spoken so from the heart and with such authenticity.  I can think of so much empty suits and empty rhetoric we've heard from celebs on both sides.

    This is great!  Thanks for posting!

    by Dmitri in San Diego on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 01:45:54 PM PDT

  •  I know his brother (none / 0)

    They both went to my high school. Haven't talked with him in years, but used to be good friends. They should both go into politics.

    "Far better it is to dare mighty things..."

    by politicsistheater on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 01:49:30 PM PDT

  •  I'm an avid SU fan (none / 0)

    Have been since 1982.  Etan was one of my favorite players.  He grew so much as a player & a person while he was here.  As a skinny freshman I think he set a record for "quickest foul-out" in a game - about 7 minutes.  By the time he was a senior he was a dominant college center.  His GPA was always around 3.6 or more.  He became very involved with kids from the disadvantaged neighborhoods of Syracuse.  He spent a lot of time with them - encouraged reading, sponsored essay contests etc...  He's always been a solid citizen & left a lasting impression on many young people here in Syracuse.  I was not surprised at all by this.  I was happy to learn he hasn't changed.

    Vision without action is a daydream. Action without vision is a nightmare!

    by 1040SU on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 01:56:08 PM PDT

  •  Man, is he articulate! (4.00 / 2)

    This guy should make his money in BBall then run for office; or at least work as a speechwriter!

    Damn.  What powerful words.  Thank you.

    "There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seem invincible but in the end, they always fall -- think of it, ALWAYS." - Gandhi

    by hopesprings on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 03:27:43 PM PDT

  •  Proud (none / 0)

    to call him a fellow Syracuse University alum!

    -------------------------------------------------------
    Take your protein pills and put your helmet on

    by SFOrange on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 03:30:25 PM PDT

  •  I was there. Where were you? (none / 0)

    'Nuff Said.

    Mundus vult decipi, ergo decipiatur: "The world wants to be deceived, so let it be deceived."

    by SignalSuzie on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 03:48:46 PM PDT

  •  That was (none / 1)

    an absolutely great speech!

    All aboard the O train!

    by xyz on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 03:57:57 PM PDT

  •  Indeed, Etan Thomas is terrific (4.00 / 5)

    I'm from upstate New York and, naturally, have followed Syracuse Orange(men) basketball for sometime.  I thought for sure they were Final Four material in 2000, but lost to eventual champs Michigan State in the Sweet Sixteen.  But enough about that.

    As a senior in college, I interned with the Washington Wizards in the Community Relations department.  Thomas was playing his first full season with the Wizards at that time, and was by far the player I wanted to meet the most -- even though Jordan was playing for the Wiz at that time.  

    Anyway, after the first preseason game against the Sixers, I escorted Etan to an autograph session.  I was given specific instructions not to allow photography or any extended chatter with Thomas.  However, the minute I tried to enforce those instructions, Etan pushed me aside, telling me "it's cool," definitely a far cry from some of the other players on the team.  

    I'm not surprised to hear Etan Thomas speak so eloquently against the conservatives of this country.  As someone who has followed and admired his career since he was in college, I always knew why I appreciate and respected him so much.  His bold forthcoming on politics are icing on the cake.

    I'm proud to have worked for an organization that has put such trust in this player (NBA fans will know about the Wiz's matching offer last offseason).  I'm very happy to see a professional athlete take such a stand, and hope it precipitates many more.

    by dsgitlin on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 04:02:51 PM PDT

  •  dang... (none / 1)

    i was already to pounce on another stupid corporate sports blog.  Removing foot from mouth even before I say anything.  awesome post!

    by drummer55 on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 04:33:03 PM PDT

  •  as a long time SU sports fan, (none / 0)

    who has seen more than a few great ballgames in the Dome over the past 25 years, this is a great find! Etan was fun to watch! one of the best defensive college centers during his era! he may never amount to much compared with the current crop of NBA centers, but he sure was fun to watch in the Dome! great find!

    winkler's home page, home webboard

    by winkler on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 05:08:42 PM PDT

  •  Where can I go vote (none / 1)

    for Etan Thomas?

    ...the White House will be adorned by a downright moron...H.L. Mencken

    by bibble on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 05:28:12 PM PDT

  •  Leader (none / 1)

    This is the kind of person people would happily follow. This is the kind of person with the kind of charisma, not to mention brains, many of us crave in a leader.

    I hope Feingold can find a spot for him in his second term administration. :)

    by azale on Fri Sep 30, 2005 at 06:11:17 PM PDT