I view Thomas' decision in the same light as when Sean Penn goes to Venezuela to see Chavez, both are retards, except Thomas is probably worse because he is putting himself above his team. Thomas is dumb enough to think a rich hockey player expressing his political view has any affect and Sean Penn is dumb enough to think a wealthy actor expressing his political view has any affect. If Thomas is political, he should do things on his own time, not at the expense of his team.