Young University law professor
and an authority on religious
rights, reached the same con-
clusion.
In this case, the NBA could
have easily accommodated Mr.
Abdul-Rauf by allowing him to
do what he had quietly done all
season, Professor Gedicks said.
"All they had to do was allow
Abdul-Rauf to stay in the lock-
er room. No one would have
been prejudiced, and it wouldn't
have cost the league a thing."
Debate on the matter explod-
ed last week after the media re-
ported Mr. Abdul-Rauf had
declined to stand for the national
anthem before NBA games this
season.
His position violated a league
rule requiring players to stand
A view "odious"
to many.
— Hershel Fink
"in a dignified posture" during
the anthem. The league sus-
pended Mr. Abdul-Rauf, citing
a standard clause in his contract
requiring him to abide by NBA
rules.
Late last week, Mr. Abdul-
Rauf announced he would stand
for the anthem in the future but
would silently pray for oppressed
people while he did so. The sus-
pension was lifted, but the con-
troversy continued.
Milton Klein, department
commander of the Michigan
Jewish War Veterans, had little
use for Mr. Abdul-Raufs stand.
"He lives in this country and
earns money in this country and
derives all the benefits from par-
ticipating as a basketball star,
so he should have a certain
amount of respect and just stand
up there and keep his mouth
shut," Mr. Klein said.
ABC sports commentator
Dick Schaap was also perplexed
by Mr. Abdul-Raufs protest. On
the other hand, he believes the
national anthem has lost its use-
fulness at sporting events.
"Playing the 'Star-Spangled
Banner' is ridiculous," he said.
"Nobody sings anymore and peo-
ple start cheering halfway
through the chorus."
But Professor Gedicks said
the debate really is about soci-
ety's level of tolerance for reli-
gious minorities.
"Certainly, I don't have to tell
Jews how difficult it must be in
places where they are not a re-
ligious majority to explain why
they need certain holidays off or
certain accommodations to make
kosher food available," Profes-
sor Gedicks said. "Here we are
200 years after the signing of the
Constitution and we still don't
get it." ❑
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