American Flag/Anti War protest in Upstate NY Div 3 college

[mike4949]

Yesterday during a Manhattanville College womens basketball game, a Vietnam Vet ran on the court protesting Manhattansvilles foward; Toni Smith who during the National Anthem turned her back to The American Flag. Smith explain that she did it as a protest to The US policies and The Bush Administration push hard for this war against Iraq.

My stand is; I do not agree with Smith's actions, but I agree as an American she has that right. I don't agree, but it's her right like it would be ours.

What are your takes on this?

 

[JackG]

hmmm interesting.

About the whole war situation:

I feel We only know what they(govmt) want us to know.
Our opinions are based on information that is presented to us.
Which in my opinion is filtered.
What are the members of the UN really talking about behind closed
doors. I think its how much money will be split up after the war.
Maybe Germany and France are not happy with the ammt of money
that was offered to them. - eh!

 

[mike4949]

Good point there Jack😉

As you may know, I'm not big into politics despite I live in the Mecca of Politics(DC). This war situation is kind of confusing.

 

[Amante]

In the "perfect world" (which, by the way, there is no such thing), we would not even have the word WAR in our vocabulary. As a veteran of the Gulf War as well as Bosnia, I will say that I put in my fair share of "fighting" for diplomacy and freedom. If we were to just sit back and watch the actions of evil around the world, then we would have been speaking German or Japanese in the 1940's when either Germany or Japan conquered the United States and the world!! By no means is this any disrespect towards German or Japanese members of CLUBFREESTYLE, but if I remember correctly, there was this guy named,....ummm,......Hitler, that's right, that started this move called,.....ummmm, genocide and the Holocoust??? Imagine we didn't go to war because "war is bad, war is no good." Most of us wouldn't even be on this board, or let alone be alive!! So whats the difference between a Hitler, a Bin Laden, or a Hussein? Nothing!! Evil is evil, is evil. Up, down, inside out, or backwards. EVIL!! Certain UN members claim that we do not have the "smokin' gun" against Iraq. White House Press Secretery Ari Fleisher said it best when he said, "if we wait for the gun to be smoking, then it will be too late".

Freedom doesn't come for free. It is paid for with human sacrifice, blood, and whoever has the stronger drive to overcome. It's ashame that that is the only way, but it is reality. Mike is absolutely right when he says that Toni Smith has the right to express her opinion. Indeed she does. I just think she went about it the wrong way. As an American, Toni Smith also has another right. To get her mothaf***in' a$$ on a plane and go play basketball for Iraq or Al Queda if she wants to also!! Have her write us and let us know how she's doing in a few months. Sadaam Huseein,.....isn't he that dictator in Iraq, who he or his son ordered beatings and executions on soccer players if they lost??? Maybe Toni Smith should switch from basketball and play some soccer. Just a thought! GOD BLESS OUR VETS and GOD BLESS THE U.S.A!!!

 

[mike4949]

That's the thing, all you guys are right!! That's what makes the US a great country. We can speak how we feel thanks to all the armed people who fought for our freedom. She has the right to vent about the way The US do business, but we also have the right to critize her for the way she is handling the situation.

 

[ColombianHarry]

AMEN

 

[toni]

well said

amante i think that has got to be the most intelligent thing i have heard on any board concerning iraq :yeey


as for toni smith if i was in her school i wouldnt be to happy and i would use my right to protest on her!!!

when u turn ur back on the flag u turn ur back on the thousands of people who have FOUGHT AND DIED in the name of freedom fo this country...from 1776 to today...and that is the most disrespectful thing any AMERICAN can do...so i agree let her go to iraq and play since she sympathizes with them so damn much :mad

 

[Dayer]

I agree with Amante 100%. Well Said!

 

[Enigma]

amante i think that has got to be the most intelligent thing i have heard on any board concerning iraq :yeey

I agree 100% Not only that but inspiring as well. 🙂

-antonio

 

[LaBettyBoop]

As humans there are a lot of things that we disagree on everyday of our lives. Freedom of speech. She has the right to feel the way she does. Maybe this is her only way to express her anger towards the government. What seems right to her, didn't seem right to a lot of people. But what is "right"? To each is own! Like the saying goes, "you're damned if you do, you're damned if you don't." Sad but true.

Amante I agree with you, however, like I said above, "you're damned if you do, you're damned if you don't". You expressed yourself very well. 😉

 

[Amante]

Glad to see that there are more people out there who feel the way I do as opposed to Toni Smith.

I was watching the O'Reilly Factor last night, and he and a lawyer came up with a fair solution in regard to Ms. Smiths feelings. If she chooses not to respect the flag, she indeed, as an American, has that right. However, it should not be done in a public forum and the issue should be more of a private one. Keep in mind that the college in which she attends, is PRIVATE, and can impose rules and guidelines to their specifications. If I was hipocritical, I would say MANDATE that she rise and face the flag during cerimonies. Then she would have NO choice but to either rise or face punishment. BUT,....I do not feel she has to. She should not be suspended from the school or from basketball. Instead, during the National Anthem, she should remain in the locker room until opening ceremonies are complete. In that case, she relays her point without impossing disrespect towards 100's of thousands who fell to give her that very right, as well as the millions of other freedom loving Americans.