Houston Rockets star NBA basketball player James Harden received a heavy backlash on Twitter after the Rockets’ Twitter account posted a picture of him wearing a “thin blue line” flag mask. The “thin blue line” design refers to pro-police messaging or “Blue Lives Matter.” Pro-police messages are seen as a counter-message to Black Lives Matter by some of the Twitter-sphere. Others see the thin blue line as a show of support for police officers in a time when they certainly need it.
To Mask Or Not To Mask That Is The Question
Harden wore the somehow-controversial face shield upon reporting to the “bubble” in Orlando with the Rockets. The “bubble” is a concept the NBA is attempting where most teams and most players attempt to finish out the current basketball season in one place, without leaving, to prevent contracting and spreading the virus.
Harden’s effort to comply with CDC and NBA guidelines should have been the focus rather than his choice in a face mask. Several other NBA players have refused to participate in the bubble due to health concerns. Other players arrived at the bubble and complained of bad food and accommodations. Harden, as usual, did no complaining or anything diva-esque and got attacked over a fashion statement.
Tweet First, Ask Questions Last
Either way the pendulum swings on public opinion of pro or anti-police, James Harden got the brunt end of the anti-police stick. Blue check-mark accounts on Twitter wasted no time tearing into the superstar basketball player over his choice of mask. Harden was labeled as an uncle tom, coon, sellout, boot-licker, and other derogatory terms. All because of a face shield to prevent the virus.
When Harden finally had a chance to get in front of the camera after being attacked on Twitter while he slept like a normal human being, he responded to the critics. Harden said that the face mask simply “looked cool” was not a political statement of any sort. That should have been the end of it. But, of course, it wasn’t. “Journalists” over at places like Yahoo News continued to attack the Rockets all-star for his choice in face mask.
Journalism Died Of The Virus
Yellow journalists and random Twitter-ers essentially stated that James Harden should have known better to wear the mask, considering the current climate of Black Lives Matter having broad support in the NBA. The reality, not the ivory-tower, rose-tinted version of reality, says much different. Most people don’t know much about politics at all. They don’t have time to read every news story and keep up with the latest trends. James Harden isn’t even really on social media. How would he know what a Thin Blue Line flag really is?
Journalists used to have the job of informing the public of information that they don’t know. But now, it seems like Twitter (and social media in general) has changed the job of journalists into propagandists. And that’s why more and more people are becoming disillusioned by the mainstream media and reaching out to honest and reliable alternative sources.
Fashion Faux-Pas Pass
It would be great to support James Harden for wearing apparel in support of police officers, but that is not really what happened here. Yes, the apparel was designed to show support for police, but that’s not why Harden wore it. He purchased it for the same reason a guy wears a Yankee hat that doesn’t know the home plate from first base. He thinks it looks cool and likes the way it looks with his outfit. Anyone saying anything other than that needs to stop it.
SOURCES:
James Harden’s Blue Lives Matter Mask Has NBA Twitter Furious (Update) – Outkick
James Harden explains why he wore Blue Lives Matter mask
Source — NBA, union agree to list of social messages that can be put on jerseys
LeBron James, Anthony Davis won’t wear social justice message on jerseys | Fox News
James Harden Says Blue Lives Matter Mask Wasn’t Political, ‘It Covered My Beard’
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