I think she has the right to do this, even some vets are supporting her right. NEWBURGH, N.Y. -- A college basketball player who turns away from the U.S. flag during the national anthem was jeered by flag-waving students at a road game, even while she was on the bench. Toni Smith, a senior at Manhattanville College, was booed at Mount St. Mary at a game Thursday night. Smith is protesting "that the government's priorities are not on bettering the quality of life for all of its people, but rather on expanding its own power.'' She has turned away from the flag all season. Before Thursday's game, the Mount St. Mary student government handed out small flags before the game. More than 500 people filled the small gym, and jeered Smith at every opportunity. At the end of the game Thursday night's game between Manhattanville and Mount St. Mary's, the crowd sang "God Bless America.'' When Manhattanville played at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy on Feb. 11, more than 300 flag-waving midshipmen greeted Smith with chants of "USA'' and "Leave our country.'' When Smith picked up two fouls in the first three minutes and was benched, the crowd chanted, "We want Toni,'' according to The Journal News. "For some time now, the inequalities that are embedded into the American system have bothered me. As they are becoming progressively worse and it is clear that the government's priorities are not on bettering the quality of life for all of its people, but rather on expanding its own power, I cannot, in good conscience, salute the flag,'' Smith said in a statement released Thursday. Manhattanville President Richard Berman said he told Smith "what she's doing is courageous and difficult.'' A Vietnam veteran came onto the court Sunday and held an American flag in front of Smith after she again refused to face the flag during the national anthem. "She disgraced herself and she disgraced the flag,'' said Jerry Kiley, 56, of Rockland County, N.Y., who was ejected from the arena after he walked onto the court during the first break in play. Kiley approached Smith as she lined up while another player prepared to shoot free throws. He was escorted out of the gym by school security and local police. There were no further protests in Smith's final home game of the regular season, a 63-53 victory over Stevens Tech. As she has done all season, Smith turned 90 degrees away from the flag as the anthem was played prior to tipoff. Six of her teammates stood at attention with their hands on their chests, while three other teammates stood with their heads bowed and their arms at their sides. Smith declined to be interviewed after the game. The sociology major previously released a 250-word statement outlining the reasons for her protest, citing "the inequalities that are embedded into the American system'' and "the war America will soon be entering.'' "She wasn't political until she came to Manhattanville, but she's always had a sense of justice, and she's always been concerned with people who are discriminated against, and with the injustices in this country and in the world,'' said Smith's mother Naomi, a school administrator in Manhattan, where her daughter was raised along with two older siblings. "Basketball has always been her passion, but she also reads the newspapers, and her professors have encouraged people to think for themselves,'' Smith's mother said. Smith's protests have drawn national attention to the small liberal arts school in the suburbs north of New York, a school of 1,400 students less than a mile away from the public university where the New York Knicks formerly practiced. School president Richard Berman has been supportive of Smith's right to express her opinion, regardless of whether he or anyone else agrees or disagrees with her views Let the comments begin........
This kind of thing always strikes me as an attention-getting stunt. Sure she has a right to disagree about any current policy, but when you turn your back on the flag, <b>you are turning your back on every good thing that flag stands for as well.</b> Thus it is a short-sighted gesture.
What courage. I know I don't have the balls to do that. She has a point too. Good to see people thinking for themselves.
What an ineffective protest. 99% of us will tune her out the minute she turns her back on the flag. Her real message is drowned out by her offensiveness.
The flag stands for freedom, not government. how often do you hear, "I love my country but I can't stand my government"? The Flag represents the US of A, not George Bush. So turning your back on the flag is turning your back on the country, which seems to be an ok fad these days. Also, it makes me sad to go to a sporting event, hear the national anthem play, and people are looking off, bored or not caring. Where is the respect? If WWIII came about, I wouldn't be afraid of all the deaths it would bring but of all the cowards that would show.
The 50 stars represent 50 state governments and the 13 stripes represent the original colonies so it's pretty obvious the flag stands for government, among other things.
A blast from the past. I remember when I was in college during the Vietnam War several members of the basketball team refused to recite and look at the flag. Most noticeable was a starter and the best white guy on the team who actually turned 180 degrees away from the flag during the PLedge of Allegiance. BTW why do we try to mix patriotism and sports at all with the Pledge? It isn't done at the opera or at movies or other public events. Is stuff like this done in other countries?
Actually, the article says she only turns 90 degrees, not 180. Maybe turning halfway around was her way of only turning her back on the bad things?
Sure, she has the right to do it. And I would exercise my right to boo the hell out of her if I was at one of these games.
Kiley called in on the O'Reilly radio show Monday to explain his story. I think it was the first time I've ever agreed with anything that came out of the host's mouth! This is one confused child.
Courage?? Courage is fighting for the rights of this country and what the flag stands for. If you dont like whats happening in our goverment, work to change it............that`s courage
Of course... and when you hug your child you are also approving of every misdeed they ever committed. Nice try, timing, to twist words. The world is more complex than you want to believe. There are no blanket gestures which erase past misdeeds. There is nothing wrong with affirming support and confidence in spite of some mis-givings... both large and small.
Hey I want some attention!!!! I'm a leftist...Hmm...how can I, a female basketball playing college student at some obscure college ever make a difference and get my name in the paper? I want to keep a stern face and let everyone know how serious I am...I want to show how little I know about things...Hmm...I am woman hear me roar! All of the protesters will love me! Sadly, she has been effective in getting her name in the paper and talkd about on every show there is on talk radio. This, and she, is a non-story. You just know the bad guys, and let's remember that there are bad guys here, are loving the dissention they see here.
You just know the bad guys, and let's remember that there are bad guys here, are loving the dissention they see here. So are the good guys, because it demonstrates our freedom. But yeah, I guess we should not protest anymore, because that just shows the bad guys are winning. Exactly, if you don't like it here get out. Or, if you don't like people using their first amendment rights, you can get out of here.
I say let 'em all protest away. They are excercising their constipational rights and making their views known and looking stupid all the while. Fine with me.
