Fans boo as Smith again turns away from flag

AP ^ | 2/22/03 | Unknown

[ChuckHam]

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.''

[Callahan]

I didn't know left-wing morons played basketball.

[Cultural Jihad]

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.''

One thing is for sure: we won't be holding our breaths waiting for her to move elsewhere.

[Damagro]

This poor child is so repressed with her full paid scholarship and all the trappings that go with it. My heart bleeds

[ganesha]

"For some time now, the inequalities that are embedded into the American system have bothered me.

Since inequality bothers her so much, maybe she will give up her full ride athletic scholarship and pay for her education by working at McDonalds.

[GeekDejure]

Good for you,Toe Knee . . . at least you have the courage to stick with it as you visually express your thoughts regarding the way that America has sped up its trip toward politically implimented anti-Constitutional disaster !!!

And I thank God Almighty that you are merely turning your back to our flag in protest . . . rather than murdering innocent infidels . . . like the Moon Goddess Isis religiously obsessed Islamic idiots have been viciously doing !!!

.

[Damagro]

She's really going to feel stupid when she has kids and starts paying taxes....on second thought...she may not have a clue even after that...

---

Not likely to have any kids

[MarkM]

Ok Toni Smith, you think you are too good for the US, then name a better country, and move there.

[FryingPan101]

You recall when Bill Clinton, at a State of the Union speech, called a welfare queen seated in the balcony by the un-lovely and not-so-gracious FLOTUS, "an American Hero."

Pigs. All.

[Little Bill]

U.S. Merchant Marine Academy on Feb. 11, more than 300 flag-waving midshipmen greeted Smith with chants of "USA" and "Leave our country."

If that was Maine Maritime years ago, when I was a kid, Tar and Feathers.

[ladylib]

Don't support the schools financially.

[537 Votes]

Manhattanville President Richard Berman said he told Smith "what she's doing is courageous and difficult.''

I too believe that the government is expanding its power into places it should not go. For example, in subsidizing certain colleges and universities, even those that are supposedly 'private.' I support a complete pullout of US support and funding of the corrupt Manhattanville indoctorinal regime.

[MizSterious]

If she believes in what she says that strongly, why not go to Iraq and be a "human shield?" In fact, I cordially invite most of Hollywood to put their lives where their (big fat) mouths are.

[Lancey Howard]

Manhattanville President Richard Berman said he told Smith "what she's doing is courageous and difficult.''

It is truly amazing, the cowardly scumbags that can become college presidents.

What this young idiot Toni Smith is doing is marketing herself. She is a vain, contemptuous self-promoter who probably grew up in a home where she didn't get enough attention. So now she spews meaningless claptrap like, "For some time now, the inequalities that are embedded into the American system have bothered me", and makes a spectacle of herself at sporting events.

And this Manhattanville President Richard Berman doesn't have the backbone to call her on her stupidity and selfishness. And just as bad, her parents are obviously still not paying attention. Puke.

[leadpenny]

I don't know which is worse, her doing this or the college president praising her for her actions. She's as wrong as rain but I would defend her right to do it.

[Nik Naym]

The little brain washed commie in training said

"...the government's priorities are not on bettering the quality of life for all of its people..."

Look at that statement for a moment.

First of all, it is NOT the government's job to "better the quality of life " for anybody. It is up to individuals to better their OWN lives. The govt. needs to stay out of the way of that.

Second, she has the gall to refer to us as the government's people. Stupid little twit, we DO NOT belong to the government, it's the other way around.

It is painfully clear from this one statement of hers that she has never been taught much in the way of facts, at least as they pertain to the history or Constitution of this country. She is clearly ignorant.

Nik

[LiteKeeper]

read later

[A_perfect_lady]

Manhattanville President Richard Berman said he told Smith "what she's doing is courageous and difficult.''

Oh, sure. In a free country it's very courageous to give the flag the cold shoulder. Think of the terrifying and heinous repercussions she faces! Dirty looks, disapproval... maybe even dislike!!! Oh, how, how can she bear it???

[Ken H]

Manhattanville Presidnt Richard Berman said he told Smith, "What she's doing is courageous and difficult."

What would Berman say if the stated reason for her action was to protest Roe v. Wade, or to encourage gun ownership?

[MHGinTN]

I like the way you did that. There's no doubt she's acting courageously ... but some of the courageous tank drivers up on Mutla Ridge went overboard also, and died in their vehicles, unnecessarily. Courage? Yes, but without using some common sense, her courage is misguided.

[Chi-townChief]

Manhattanville President Richard Berman said he told Smith "what she's doing is courageous and difficult.''

... forgetting to add "and asinine."