(no subject)

[lithera]

Toni Smith turned her back on the American flag while the anthem was being played at her college basketball games. Here is her statement as to why. It is well said and she's found words to describe how I feel. Good for her.

The Red Wings walked all over the Maple Leafs last night. 7-2 is pretty ugly.

I keep having this feeling that I was going to do something important and now I can't remember what it was. I hate that. Rar.

.... What else...? I'm still stuck in Vlad Taltos land after having finished reading Issola. That didn't end like I thought it would at all.

Comments

[fireballof3.livejournal.com]

The thing I DON'T like about her statement is that she claims a position of intellectual and / or moral superiority to others with it.

"If you read beyond the headlines"
"If you were a REAL patriot"
"if you did this, you'd see like I do"
and statements like that - implying that those who do not agree with her are blinded to the "truth" that is out there.

That pisses me off. I don't mind her stating what she does and does not believe in. She is against war w/ Iraq and against the govt's current path of expanding control (which she sees as tied to war w/ Iraq). Her views are her views, and that's fine.
Just next time she should have a PR person write her statements so she doesn't come off as haughty and feeling that she's superior.

[pullthestars.livejournal.com]

hmm. I didn't quite read it that way.

Besides, whether or not people agree with me is irrelevant. It is my right as an American to stand for my beliefs the way others have done against me. Being patriotic cannot simply be an empty slogan. Patriotrism can be shown in many ways, but those who choose to do so by saluting the flag should recognize that the American flag stands for individuality and freedom. Therefore, any true patriot must acknowledge and respect my right to be different.

it is a bit of a slam ('you're not being a true patriot when you tell me I can't say what I feel is right'), but a wholly appropriate one.

IMHO, of course :)

Re:

[fireballof3.livejournal.com]

It was just the sentence before your cut that got me.

"If anyone looked deeper than the headlines they would find that my arguments are true."

It's a haughty presumption.

[pullthestars.livejournal.com]

yeah, yeah, it is. I'm glad she's out there making a statement, though.

Re:

[fireballof3.livejournal.com]

I understand her statement.

I appreciate it.

But she could been a little better in how it was worded.

Re:

[lithera.livejournal.com]

It is a bit, however, it does feel like a lot people in the country are taking what the media feeds them without looking at it twice. We live in a world where the media hypes up fear and wants us to be afraid. If we're afraid we'll look to them for more information to comfort us. It makes me sick. The news in other places is so much different.

Re:

[fireballof3.livejournal.com]

The media needs an overhaul.

When the revolution comes, they will be the first against the wall.

The Media - my 2cents

[trilliumgrl.livejournal.com]

If you talk to media people, they will often say they same thing. Part of the blame though is not at their feet, but at the feet of a public that clamors for those sound bits, that wants something simple and easy to digest. There's enough blame to go around.

Re: The Media - my 2cents

[fireballof3.livejournal.com]

And yet, the Wall Street Journal still has AMAZING circulation.

They just need a TV equivalent of it.

Re:

[lithera.livejournal.com]

I can understand that.

[thezzyzx.livejournal.com]

Her high school coach is a friend of mine from NYC. He's quite proud of her

Re:

[lithera.livejournal.com]

I would be too.

[silentclarity.livejournal.com]

I feel pretty confident in saying I'm at least as well informed as this lady, and probably at least as intelligent. I certainly read beyond the headlines (hell, I outright research them) and I disagree with her.

I agree with Mike - it's her right to hold an opinion and I respect that. But to imply that people who disagree with her are just eating what the media spoonfeeds them is absurd.

JD