Tim Thomas's decision to skip the Boston Bruins' trip to the White House because of his political beliefs represents the best and worst of the United States of America.
We live in a free society where that freedom allows us to make our own decisions based on our core values and belief system. Many Americans have died on foreign soil to uphold our right to freely express ourselves.
This is the greatest country in the history of mankind because our political system is rooted in civil debate, which leads to compromise -- the bedrock of American society.
Thomas, a Flint native, in good conscience just couldn't go to the White House because he feels the federal government has made a total mess of everything.
Whether you agree with Thomas or not, it's his right to make that decision.
But he might face public backlash and the ire of his teammates since this was a ceremonial visit to the White House, honoring the Bruins for winning the Stanley Cup. This wasn't a political event or the endorsement of any particular party or piece of legislation.
I've been to the White House to cover the Red Wings' visit in 1998, and it was an upbeat affair with the entire Michigan delegation of Congress in attendance.
The East Room of the White House was filled and buzzing in anticipation of seeing the Wings honored by the President of the United States. It was a typical and somewhat cheesy ceremony with President Clinton mispronouncing some Wings players' names and reading a speech that confirmed his knowledge of hockey was limited at best.
Scotty Bowman spoke for the team and along with Steve Yzerman presented the President Clinton with a Red Wings jersey. After a few photos, it was over, but it was fun.
Afterward the Wings met with the media and were all giddy about the day's events, primarily meeting the President. A fair number of the Red Wings were not even American citizens, but that didn't seem matter. They respected the office of President and the tradition of being recognized.
Thomas made the Bruins' visit political, and it didn't need to be. He put his team in an awkward spot because they were left addressing a politically motivated act that they had nothing to do with.
Perhaps if Thomas could have shelved his partisanship for one day, he could have used this opportunity to express his concerns to the President directly. Open a dialogue instead of hiding behind a written statement.
Call me old-fashioned, but I still believe that what makes America great is respect and tolerance for people that we disagree with -- especially the President of the United States.
