The Boston Bruins met with Obama today in celebration of their Stanley Cup victory last June. Goalie (and playoff MVP) Tim Thomas skipped the event, stating that he does not support the direction in which this country is going, given the growth in size of federal government.

 

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/hockey/boston-bruins-goalie-tim-thomas-skips-white-house-reception-president-obama-political-differences-article-1.1010650

 

This is not meant to be a political thread. I know that's against the rules. All I'm asking is: do you believe Thomas was selfish and out of line to skip a traditional & nonpartisan event, or do you think this is a basic exercise in individual rights, and there's no problem with him not showing up? Opinions in the sports world seem to be split.

He isn't the first, James Harrison of the Steelers declined twice I believe. I wouldn't go either. Why respect a person/institution that doesn't respect the citizens it is supposed to serve? IMHO, anyway.

Good for him, and I wish more would do that, heck if I would go, no way I want to go see someone who has no respect for me or the people of this country..

It is disprectful to the office and the country to not attend.

It's a personal choice, and I respect him not necessarily for doing it for his specific reasons (as I don't know his actual reasons as I personally haven't talked to him [nor ever will]). I respect him because he stands by his convictions regardless of what his peers and/or the media (aka the greater whole) have to say. It's easier to follow than it is to lead (even if it means walking alone).

It is disprectful to the office and the country to not attend.

 

I agree the office and just about any other POTUS over my last 45 years I would say I would go, but this one, I don't care, I feel he is disrespectful to the US Citizens..

It is disprectful to the office and the country to not attend.

 

I disagree, the office (gov't as a whole) hasn't respected the citizens in a long time. They are there to protect us and by my estimation, based on what I know they allow corporations to do, how they use our military, how they spend our tax dollars... they have no respect for us. Respect should be earned, not given and as such it can be eroded when one behaves in a manner that deserves no respect.

It is disprectful to the office and the country to not attend.

 

Yeah, I agree. Wow

I disagree, the office (gov't as a whole) hasn't respected the citizens in a long time. They are there to protect us and by my estimation, based on what I know they allow corporations to do, how they use our military, how they spend our tax dollars... they have no respect for us. Respect should be earned, not given and as such it can be eroded when one behaves in a manner that deserves no respect.

 

The government didn't just take office by force or via royal blood lines. We voted them in. Quite the paradox that they get elected but no one likes the job they're doing.

I disagree, the office (gov't as a whole) hasn't respected the citizens in a long time. They are there to protect us and by my estimation, based on what I know they allow corporations to do, how they use our military, how they spend our tax dollars... they have no respect for us. Respect should be earned, not given and as such it can be eroded when one behaves in a manner that deserves no respect.

 

I agree with this...

 

Does the current office represent you, and your values? something that has so aggressively stood against all that I believe in can not ever represent me...

and it obviously does not represent him..

 

last time I checked we lived in a free nation.. one where you could express your views.. and that is what he did.. good for him..

I agree the office and just about any other POTUS over my last 45 years I would say I would go, but this one, I don't care, I feel he is disrespectful to the US Citizens..

 

It's not like George Bush was any better, under that man's watch the Patriot Act was passed. Talk about pissing all over your civil liberties.

last time I checked we lived in a free nation.. one where you could express your views.. and that is what he did.. good for him..

 

^^THIS

 

Our President is not our King. We are allowed to dislike him and we are allowed to not want to meet with him. It is not disrespectful to not want to go to the White House. He did the most American thing he could do in this case and expressed his views freely. It was in my opinion more respectful to America for him to not feel obligated to meet with the President. We are not a country tht fears our leaders to the point where an invitation from them is not optional.

It is disprectful to the office and the country to not attend.

 

I totally agree.

I'm glad he gave the white house a big eff u!

 

 

They don't deserve our respect, not one shred.

It is disprectful to the office and the country to not attend.

 

Disrespectful how? The President isn't some royal who needs a plush wet kiss planted on his a** whenever he beckons...

 

As for the country? How is the country disrespected by this?

Last I checked, individuals still maintain the right to attend or not attend any event, period. When we get to a point where someone MUST attend anything given by the government we've returned to a very very sad time in history where the will of a man was beholden to another.

 

I don't give a **** who the president is - he has the right and privilege to decline the visit, period.

Who gives a crap either way. Some guys knock a puck around the ice to make money for an owner and a league and in the process get invited to the White Hut to see captain zero and someone declines. Big deal. I wouldn't go either. I have no interest in being in that man's presence. fugg Obama. He's an usurper who is not a natural born citizen as defined by Vattel and confirmed in Minor V. Happersett. He doesn't have a right to be president and I don't have to "respect" him.

The only people who are upset about his decision to not attended are people who

 

a) Already are not Tim Thomas fans.

b) Love Obama.

c) Hate liberty.

d) The federal government.

e) (The only one that holds merit) people who are disappointed that he may have 'slighted' his team/teammates

It is his choice not to attend and I completely agree with it. It is not disrespectful to the country to do so. It might be disrespectful to the current administration, but I remember a famous man once saying, "Being a patriot is supporting your country always, and your government when it deserves it."

It is disprectful to the office and the country to not attend.

 

See, I see it as disrespectful to the office to waste time dealing with simple entertainments rather than real business. Too many parties, not enough work. THe president isn't a king, he's a guy with a job.

Geeezzzzz...........even hockey players are PO'd.... too.

Way to go Tim.....+1.......speak your mind.

I think he was well within his right to decide not to go. Individual rights is what this country is built on and what it means to be American!!!

 

I applaud him!

Good for him for standing on his principles. Why should he have to meet anyone he doesn't want?

If he really had any balls he'd a gone in and told Obama himself that he wasn't happy lol.

I have mixed feelings on whether or not he disrespected the president. We cannot expect that there will always be someone in the White House with whom we agree, but he also has the right to freely express himself. On two other points:

 

1) By refusing to meet with the president, does he just add to the divisiveness that is already a huge problem in this country? Does he detract from the spirit of working with those who hold opposing views, attempting to do what is best for the country? Probably not. My understanding is that he posted on facebook that he believes both political parties are responsible for the mess this country is in.

 

2) By refusing to go with his team, does he disrespect his teammates? We all have had times in our lives, as part of a team (family, sports, work, military, etc.), when we have had to put aside personal feelings for the good of the team. By doing this, he drew attention to himself, rather than to the accomplishments of the team. The point of the white house meeting was to celebrate a team accomplishment. On this account, I would have to say he was wrong.

 

As an aside, he was one of only two Americans on the team.

 

 

It's not like George Bush was any better, under that man's watch the Patriot Act was passed. Talk about pissing all over your civil liberties.

 

Glad you said this. I couldn't agree more. W did more to hurt our civil liberties than Obama has. Luckily W was white...

Glad you said this. I couldn't agree more. W did more to hurt our civil liberties than Obama has. Luckily W was white...

 

And a Republican.

Glad you said this. I couldn't agree more. W did more to hurt our civil liberties than Obama has. Luckily W was white...

 

Racist crap. No place for that in my country. Despicable.

If he really had any balls he'd a gone in and told Obama himself that he wasn't happy lol.

 

Now I would have LOVED to see that

 

 

Racist crap. No place for that in my country. Despicable.

 

That wasn't racist on my part. I'm saying if Obama was white people would have a lot less problems with him. I think Bush was a much worse president personally.