Player's protest draws anger- Facing away from the flag

San Fran Chron ^ | Tuesday, February 25, 2003 | Gwen Knapp

[KneelBeforeZod]

I wonder how Toni Smith's critics feel about Muhammad Ali. They jeer her at Manhattanville women's basketball games when the senior guard turns sideways, her face looking away from the American flag during the national anthem. Do they adore the Ali of today, and would they have hated him in the '60s, when he refused to serve in Vietnam?

[KneelBeforeZod]

[KneelBeforeZod]

Statement from Richard A. Berman President, Manhattanville College

“Prior to each game throughout the 2002-03 season, Toni Smith, a senior forward on Manhattanville College’s women’s basketball team, has chosen to turn away from the American flag during the playing of the Star Spangled Banner."

“While Ms. Smith is expressing her personal views and not necessarily those of the college, the first amendment guarantees her right to do so. This is particularly true at Manhattanville College, where our mission is to ‘educate ethically and socially responsible leaders for the global community.’ Manhattanville asks only that all views be expressed – and received – with respect and dignity."

"It is irrelevant whether I, or anyone else, agree or disagree with Ms. Smith’s position. Her right of expression is fundamental and we support her.”

For more information:

Media:
Barbara Brooks
914-323-5352

Public:
Community Line
914-323-5172

http://www.mville.edu/

[Pan_Yans Wife]

"Rocker had no idea that buffoonery would damage his baseball career."

That's the whole point, he is a buffoon, why compare him to Ali, or this young girl?

[sinkspur]

If I were the coach, she would protest during the National Anthem from the locker room. When it was over, she could then come up and join the team.

She has a right to protest; she does not have a right to embarrass the team.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Nah, I wouldn't make her sit in the locker room, that would draw too much attention to her protest. The war will be over so quickly, and so decisively, that she won't be protesting for long, and no one will remember it, really. Later, she will grow up, I hope.

[noutopia]

She needs to read history,she probably does'nt know who fought for the right for her to protest in this way.

[BOBWADE]

To sit in silence would be protesting, to show contempt is unamerican. She is a dipstick and should be tossed from the team. She has the right to free speech but not the right to represent the school. This school is gutless. She could be tossed for any other action that would harm the image of her school. This should not be accepted.

[Texas_Jarhead]

Why doesn't she have respect for others and stay in the damn locker-room until after the Anthem? Because she isn't doing it for herself, she is doing it for everyone else.

[sinkspur]

Nah, I wouldn't make her sit in the locker room, that would draw too much attention to her protest.

She's drawing attention to herself now. And this is not about the war.

She's not happy about America's "priorities." America's priority is in giving little bitches like her the right to spit in our faces by turning her back on the flag.

Her dad should have slapped the hell out of her while she was under his roof. In lieu of that, he ought to make sure she supports her education herself.

[Travis McGee]

She has the right to protest, and we have the right to call her a Saddamite appeasenick who is unwittinglny helping Hussein to torture and murder thousands of more Iraqis for every month that her ilk help him to stay in power.

She is no better than a vocal supporter of Adolf Hitler.

[BOBWADE]

You are correct, she is doing it for others. Her display is an obvious show of contempt and is designed to inflict emotional distress on those around her who love this country. What a gutless turd, I wonder if she would feel this way if her mamma was in the WTC on 9/11?

[Richard Kimball]

I wonder how Toni Smith's critics feel about Muhammad Ali.

I thought Ali was more hype than quality fighter. His nonsensical ramblings were hyped by Howard Cosell until people actually thought he was intelligent. He scrambled his brains because he'd blown all his money and had to climb back into the ring with Larry Holmes. I saw the second Leon Spinks fight in person, and it was a lame fight. Joe Frazier and Ken Norton both cleaned Ali's clock, and Foreman would have if there had been a real ref who had made him fight the first part of the fight, and hadn't let Dundee loosen the top ropes so much that Ali could put his whole upper body out of the ring. Dundee also cut Ali's glove to get him more time against Liston in the first fight, and I don't know of any serious boxing fan who doesn't think the second fight was fixed. Ali. What a hero.

This is a snotty little twit who's seeking her 30 seconds of fame.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Who do you think is going to notice or care, six months from now, if she still doesn't face the flag? She is just one ignorant student, out of many others. The only reason why this received attention is because of the veteran that marched across the gymnasium, bearing his own flag, to confront her, caught on tape. I think the veteran was right, btw, but... she is just one of the misguided. I say, don't give her anymore attention than her ignorance warrants.

[Calvin Locke]

I didn't find it in the article, but does any one know what her major is?

[goodnesswins]

Gee....wonder if there is TITLE IX in Iraq....little twerp.....who someday may regret her actions. But, then, she'll probably blame them on someone else.

[bannie]

"She is no better than a vocal supporter of Adolf Hitler."

I see Hanoi Jane. Janie was such an average-looking girl and such a poor actress that, as the daughter of a famous person, she was desparate to get attention somehow. Had she not "made a name for herself" this way, today she would now be no more famous than one of Frank Sinatra daugters.

Whadda' name she made!!

[Travis McGee]

She should have her citizenship revoked. Parachute her into Cuba, and refuse her reentry to the USA. Let her live in her socialist utopia.

[Consort]

"The government's priorities," she wrote, "are not on bettering the quality of life for all of its people, but rather on expanding its own power."

¿Which party is responsible for the government getting so big?

[nopardons]

Her major is sociology and her mother ( there have been BO mention of a " father " ) is some sort of school administrator. This ignorant little girl, wants America to keep giving money to the " poor " and " homeless "...instead of proyecting us. She has mouthed off about far more, than is in this thread.

[Blue Scourge]

"The government's priorities," she wrote, "are not on bettering the quality of life for all of its people, but rather on expanding its own power."

Guys and Gals, I have seen the evil of my ways, how dare we(US) embark on our wars of conquest and try to force freedom and human dignity on the barbarian hordes...now if you guys don't mind I'm going back to my Commune.....*sarcasm over*

This girl is just trying to be different, I salute the Vietnam Vet for what he did. You can be certain that if I were in that stadium my reaction would have been similar. She is just as ungrateful as the French in my book.