Tim Thomas, American Hero...

As a father of three kids - two of whom are home-school students - I have a vested interest in exposing them to unique examples of American courage.  Sometimes the courage shows up in the form of a soldier doing remarkable things for his country.  Sometimes it is a common citizen fighting an eminent domain taking of her property.  And sometimes it takes place on a big stage where millions of Americans get to analyze and comment on the actions of another.

Enter Tim Thomas, the goalie for the NHL's Boston Bruins.

In case you missed it, The Boston Bruins visited President Obama at the White House a few days ago where he honored the team for winning the 2010-11 Stanley Cup.  Not attending was Mr. Thomas who said,

"I believe the Federal government has grown out of control, threating the Rights, Liberties and Property of the People.  This is being done at the Executive, Legislative and Judicial level.  This is in direct opposition to the Constitution and the Founding Fathers vision for the Federal Government.  Because I believe this, today I excercised my right as a Free Citizen, and did not visit the White House.  This was not about politics or party, as in my opinion both parties are responsible for the situation we are in as a country.  This was about a choice I had to make as an INDIVIDUAL."

Of course, liberals and other intellectually-challenged Americans who know little and care even less about what Mr. Thomas is referring to are now engaged in Facebook, Twitter and other public formats to point out how he is going against "tradition" and is "disrepecting" the President.  Others claim that since he makes $5 million per year he "owes" his employer his spot in a White House photo. 

George Diaz of the Orlando Sentinel argued that no one is seizing his property or violating his rights so he should just go to the White House and stop being a hypocrite.  I guess Mr. Diaz has never heard about progressive income taxation....

I would like to ask Thomas's critics the following: 

In the name of "tradition" should Americans have continued to subject their lives to the rule of Kings?  Should black Americans, in the name of the Jim Crow "tradition" gone along with segregation?  Should women, in the name of "tradition" stayed in the kitchen?

Yeah, yeah, I know going to the White House with your teammates does not compare to Jim Crow laws or discrimination against women.  BUT, going along with ANYTHING you do not believe in just because of tradition is a violation of the principle of liberty - a principle that Mr. Thomas should have been applauded for having the guts to excercise.

As for disrepecting the President.  Does the President respect us?  Do any of you see the arrogance of this man as he tells us how government can use our money better than us and how "all Americans know" that the rich don't pay enough in taxes and that all of us should be forced to buy health care or face a fine and/or jail? 

Mr. Thomas, in the tradition of Thomas Paine and Thomas Jefferson simply did what more Americans need to do.  He stood up for freedom in an unpopular way in order to help educate the rest of us that a photo with the President means NOTHING when our President is championing the fight to rid this nation of all that we were meant to be.