Yeah, the bad guys love seeing people embrace the freedoms they've been blessed with. If they love anything about this, it's the clampdown on any and everything that the administration has installed.
Well, her career shooting percentage is .273, so hopefully she's a better war protestor than basketball player
It seems like the tradition here in America that ought to be appreciated is to honor her expressiveness with honoring her expression. What's sacred is the <b>right</b> of expression not the content thereof.
I'd like to see her live in a country without power. And then ask how much better that life is and how much equity she can find.
Good for her. I don't agree with her, but I applaud her doing something she believes in, especially when it's not easy to do so. Maybe some of you should go to another country and see what happens to people that disagree with the government. Maybe then you'll respect her right to do this more...or maybe you'll simply think we're doing things wrong over here.
Toni Smith is not the one making this an issue. It's the freaking media. She's been turning her back to the flag all season long. Who the **** cares what this podunk university women's basketball player does? I saw her press conference on ESPNEWS. She said she has gotten e-mails from veterans who support her stand. When asked if she loves living in the United States, she did not give a clear yes or no but rather said there are good things and bad things. The scroll at the bottom said she is protesting US policy and a possible war in Iraq, so at the end a reporter asked her how Saddam would feel if he heard about her stand. She said Saddam isn't watching this press conference, then her team started cheering. End of conference.
If anyone ever doubted the power of one, I think this is a great lesson. This is ONE girl. All she is doing is altering the direction she faces for 2 minutes -- and she's got the whole nation talking. She's not filling Times Square with anti-war chants, she's not blocking access to an abortion clinic, she's not barricading herself in a building, she's not boycotting immoral companies (all popular methods of mass protest in America) -- all she's doing is turning around. And suddenly she's the most dangerous person in America. If people can be so seriously rattled by this inobtrusive personal statement, then how secure can they honestly be in their beliefs?
Here's her player profile. Are we sure she's not French? WNBA material? http://www.mville.edu/athletics/sports/wbask/02-03_season/02-03_roster/Toni_Smith.htm
Cut her some slack. She probably saw Fred Durst or Brad Pitt wearing a shirt saying "War is Bad" or something. Toni Smith, third from left, turns her back on the American flag during the playing of the national anthem before a basketball game between Smith's team, the Manhattenville Valiants and Stevens Tech from New Jersey, at Manhattanville College in Purchase, NY., Sunday, Feb. 23, 2003. Smith, a forward guard for her team is protesting the impending war with Iraq. (AP Photo/Stuart Ramson)
Manhattanville's Toni Smith, right, is approached on court by Jerry Kiley, obscured, during a basketball against Stevens Tech at the Manhattanville College campus in Purchase, N.Y., Sunday, Feb. 23, 2003. Kiley was objecting to Smith's actions before the game where she turned her back on the American flag during the playing of the national anthem as a protest of the impending war with Iraq.
Well said. Something along the lines of: "I may not agree with what you have to say, but I'll die defending your right to say it." — Voltaire
I think you are overstating her effect. I don't hear anybody saying her actions are "dangerous", just offensive, ignorant, and ineffective. In my opinion, she is turning her back on the right to turn her back to our flag. She is a silly young girl.
Be confused if you wish. The United States government is more responsible for spreading freedom and self-determination than any other government or institution that has ever existed on the face of this Earth. The flag represents America, not our current government officials and their decisions. She is trying to get attention by being offensive, and she has that right, but she is still just a silly little girl who won't help change one person's mind about this issue.
Really? I think everyone in this thread was doing a pretty good job of that before I came along. In my opinion, she is turning her back on the right to turn her back to our flag. Um ... I agree with RM95 here.
She's preaching her political views in a basketball forum. (hello pot, this is kettle). Perhaps they should have a 'hangout scrum' after the game so the players can debate these issues and they can leave the game time for basketball.
I agree with you. And part of that freedom that we enjoy and we want others to enjoy includes respecting the right of someone protesting a potential war by turning their back on the flag.
