Bumble Bee Tuna

I think Feather and co.'s arguments were soundly refuted by Rufus' short initial response:

What of the rights of the people who "paid to see the game!!!11!!" who disagree with the political statement of saluting the flag?

-B

Philosoft

I have no idea what it took you, as an athlete, to prepare for a competition. Most athletes require different levels of pre-game motivation. I have the ability to gain focus pretty much at will. Certainly, my college teammates all had different preparation strategies. Some of them were downright silly during pre-game - they had nervous energy and that's how they dealt with it. We respected that because we trusted our teammates to bring themselves into focus when it mattered. Only when it was clear that a certain behavior was causing a focus problem during practice or competition would anyone complain.

Your pre-emptive judgement is seriously misguided. If this young lady can engage in her protest and still perform at her highest level, no one is going to complain. If her play starts suffering, someone will say something, have no doubt.

VonEvilstein

This all sounds so bloody weird to a European. The only time it is appropriate, in my opinion, to start a sports game with national flags and anthems, is when national teams are playing.
The idea of this happening before every game would give me a very uncomfortable feeling... it's just too close to nationalism for my liking.

Invader Tak

I'm an alumna of Manhattanville College (graduated in 1993) and I am shocked that there is anybody who goes there who cares enough to protest *anything*.

It was the least politically aware college I have been to.

I used to call it "Apathy U."

Ensign Steve

Quick question: In the photo, is she holding the hand of the player in front of her?

Shadowy Man

And further... apparently one must partake in this activity or one is not respecting the team, the school, or the audience. Anyone not partaking in the activity is apparently mentally unfit to play the game.

But patriotism is voluntary of course.

Feather

That's nice, BBTuna. It's too bad I never actually stated nor even implied that the protester in question didn't actually have the right to do so.

I swear some of the people on this thread are worse than Xtian fundies for deliberate manipulation of statements to make their point.

Why don't y'all make strawmen with somebody else for oncet, eh?

Shadowy Man

Hey, I can put up strawmen anywhere I want!! If you don't like it, you can just find another thread to post in!!

Bumble Bee Tuna

I think if you try real hard and read the sentence that I wrote as a follow-up to the quote you will understand why it is not a strawman of your position (as the quote alone would have been) but instead a clarfication of the quote to apply to your argument. I can dream.

-B

Majestyk

Does she have the right to protest? Yes.

Do I have to like her method of protesting? No.

Does she have the right to play basketball on the school team while, refusing to participate in customary pre-game ceremonies? No.

Do I think we should initiate a full-scale military campaign in Iraq in order to remove its current despotic leadership and allow for a democratic government to take its place? Yes.

Why is this a topic for Secular Activism? I don't know.