A Wisconsin state senator who has introduced a bill to require the national anthem be played before sporting events at venues in the state that receive public funding says the bill is a preemptive measure to prevent someone like Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban from unilaterally declaring it will not be played.
“We don’t want what happened with the Dallas Mavericks to find its way here to the stay of Wisconsin,” state Sen. Patrick Testin, R-Stevens Point, told Newsmax TV’s “Greg Kelly Reports” on Tuesday.
“[This] sends a clear message that we respect and honor our flag. And this is very similar to a state statute already on the books that we require all public schools, K through 12, to either have a flag displayed in the classroom, or on the grounds, and each day must be started with either the ‘Pledge of Allegiance’ or the national anthem.”
Testin’s bill follows the firestorm that followed the publicity that came after it was reported Cuban had halted the playing of the “Star-Spangled Banner” before Mavericks games to start the NBA season because “many” felt it did not represent them.
He relented when the NBA required teams to play the song.
Testin quoted President Bill Clinton from his 1993 inaugural address when he said “there is nothing wrong with America that cannot be cured by what is right with America.”
“And I still believe that holds true to this day,” Testin said. “And we have lost sight of that. But we have to remind ourselves that despite our differences we have one common denominator – we are all Americans.”
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Source: Newmax
