Delgado came public with the fact he won’t stand on the dug out steps for God Bless America. "I never stay outside for `God Bless America,'" Delgado said. "I actually don't think people have noticed it. I don't (stand) because I don't believe it's right, I don't believe in the war."
-- Common Dreams (also NYT)
This reminds me of another story where a woman basketball player also protested the war. One heartening part of this case is that Delgado is getting support even from members of the team that are rather pro-war. It helps that he is after all on the Toronto Blue Jays, is a star player, and has some history as someone who took a stand. He and other Latino players and entertainers protested the bombing in Vieques, Puerto Rico. Delgado also does his part in helping the community back home by serving as a baseball mentor.
It reminds us that there are many baseball players who do their part to do more than play a boy's game. On the NY Mets, for instance, Al Leiter and John Franco both do a lot to help their communities. This supplies something while the team's fans grit their teeth watching their current performance. Seriously, what is particularly noteworthy about Delgado's dissent was the quiet nature of it. Few outside of the team were aware of his actions until he made them public. Delgado did it out of personal conviction. I respect that -- sometimes we have to do things if only for ourselves, our own moral values. We need to be able to look ourselves in the mirror in the morning.
Protesting a lousy war surely is one way to be able to do that.