Message sent: Berry turns away from flag during anthem

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By EDDIE PELLS

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — For the past week, they’ve played the national anthem one time a night at the U.S. Olympic track and field trials.

On Saturday, the song happened to start while outspoken activist Gwen Berry was standing on the podium after receiving her bronze medal in the hammer throw.

While the music played, Berry placed her left hand on her hip and shuffled her feet. She took a quarter turn, so she was facing the stands, not the flag. Toward the end, she plucked up her black T-shirt with the words “Activist Athlete” emblazoned on the front, and draped it over her head.

“I feel like it was a set-up, and they did it on purpose,” Berry said of the timing of the anthem. “I was pissed, to be honest.”



Gwendolyn Berry, left, looks away as DeAnna Price and Brooke Andersen stand for the national anthem after the finals of the women's hammer throw at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials Saturday, June 26, 2021, in Eugene, Ore. Price won, Andersen was second and Berry finished third. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)


Read more: https://apnews.com/article/2020-tokyo-olympics-olympic-games-sports-2e9911837edab52ac4ddd8a5d02a714e

[BradAllison]

1. Don't they always play the anthem when the athletes stand on the medal podium? n/m

[HUAJIAO]

2. Not at the US Olympic trials. Just before the beginning of each daily or evening session.

--according to the article.

[Lochloosa]

3. From the ariticle...they don't play it for every podium appearance. Just once a night.

She found it to be no matter of coincidence that she was front and center during the anthem. Unlike the Olympics, they don’t play anthems to accompany medals ceremonies at the trials. But the hammer throwers received their awards just before the start of the evening session, which has been kicking off all week with a video rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” played on the scoreboard.

USA Track and Field spokeswoman Susan Hazzard said “the national anthem was scheduled to play at 5:20 p.m. today. We didn’t wait until the athletes were on the podium for the hammer throw awards. The national anthem is played every day according to a previously published schedule.” On Saturday, the music started at 5:25.

And so, while winner DeAnna Price and second-place finisher Brooke Andersen stood still on the podium with their hands over the hearts and stared straight ahead at the American and Oregon flags, Berry fidgeted and paced on the third step. Then turned away. And finally grabbed her T-shirt.

“They said they were going to play it before we walked out, then they played it when we were out there,” Berry said. “But I don’t really want to talk about the anthem because that’s not important. The anthem doesn’t speak for me. It never has.”

[oldsoftie]

11. So the timing had nothing to do with her

5 minutes either way is hardly a definitive "slight"

[ForgoTheConsequence]

5. Disrespectful?

Give me a break.

[twodogsbarking]

6. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

I'm with you on this one.

[spike jones]

7. The third verse.

No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

[milestogo]

8. What country is that from?

I've never seen or heard it in my life.

[CrispyQ]

9. From Wikipedia.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Star-Spangled_Banner

Lyrics

O say can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there;
O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner, O long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country, should leave us no more?
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave,
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

O thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war's desolation.
Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the Heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: 'In God is our trust.'
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave![52]


Eighteen years after Key's death, and in indignation over the start of the American Civil War, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.[53] added a fifth stanza to the song in 1861, which appeared in songbooks of the era.[54]

When our land is illumined with Liberty's smile,
If a foe from within strike a blow at her glory,
Down, down with the traitor that dares to defile
The flag of her stars and the page of her story!
By the millions unchained, who our birthright have gained,
We will keep her bright blazon forever unstained!
And the Star-Spangled Banner in triumph shall wave
While the land of the free is the home of the brave.

[mountain grammy]

12. That would be America

with liberty and justice for all, not from the Star Spangled Banner but the "pledge" but also a lie.

It's just a promise after all, not reality.

[quaint]

15. In what country did you attend elementary school?

This thread

[paleotn]

13. Acts of protest are protected by our Constitution....

and she's perfectly within her rights. Sorry, but despite Donnie Covid's failed fascist coup, Americans aren't required to do "Sieg Heil!" THAT would be very unamerican.

[JI7]

14. Why was it disrespectful ?

[AZLD4Candidate]

21. I'll let this man speak for me about this

Last edited Sun Jun 27, 2021, 02:24 PM - Edit history (1)

[llashram]

30. well I appreciate some of the truth

spoken by Carlin. But if one tries to be just American and wants to live as just American but can't because of something as superficial as skin colour. Then one must have pride in oneself to survive in the face of hate because of who they are and what they represent to hateful racist Amerkkkans. 1619-present, white racists still hating and trump juiced them up on steroids to hate even more. I wish I could be just American and not a POC who must declare skin colour as a positive against white racist hate instead of NOT having to worry AT ALL ABOUT IT.

[AZLD4Candidate]

32. My wife's a foreigner from China and I'm Jewish

[llashram]

40. ok

I'm half German, 1/4 Spanish, 1/4 African-American. Besides being mixed race, under the Amerikkkan apartheid racial classification system what do racists call me besides mixed breed? My knowledge based on experience. Let's start with the 'classic'. Coon. Crow--specifically aimed at black women. Jungle bunny. Jigaboo. Monkey. Nigger. Pickaninny. Porch monkey. Sambo, another 'classic' from Amerikkkan racists. Tar baby. Spook. Boy. There are many more. If we go to Asian derogatory terms, there are many. Surprisingly there are quite a few for white people of all ethnicities. Jewish not so many. Wikipedia has 29 pages of ethnic slurs. Many many of them currently used to describe POC.

This young woman Gwen Berry said it all. While many European ethnicities are represented by our flag. Sadly many POC are accepted more readily by the white purity police who must maintain racial supremacy against African-Americans specifically. Yet even among those accepted not many other ethnicities are in American cities are getting a knee to the neck till they die. Getting shot for being in the right neighbourhood with the wrong colour. Having their vote right being assailed based on colour. Italians had problems assimilating. Irish had problems assimilating. Yet they did not have planes firebomb their neighbourhoods while the racists slaughtered men, women, children and old people all in the name of maintaining ethnic/racial supremacy based on skin colour.

Gwen Berry sent the right message. The national anthem or red, white and blue does not include nor represent her/our colour unequivocably without stipulation or a bleach job of the skin as it does other ethnicities.

I'm sad at the hate in this country based on something as inconsequential and superficial as skin colour.

[AZLD4Candidate]

47. How many racial slurs have been created for my wife?

How many anti-Jewish ones have been created for me?

My marriage was illegal in 37 states until 1967.

My knowledge is also based on experience. Kike, Heb, Yid, Yammybopper, Christkiller, fake Jew (the Black Hebrew Israelites call me that), Jewboy, Do it through a sheet, murderer (because of Israel). . .the list goes on. Jewish synagogues have been vandalized and attacked constantly. Here's just a small list

How about my wife: Rice Burner, Gook, Chink, LBRPFM, Swamp Rat, Fish-head, Ride paddy, Communist, ete

How about my mother, as a Mohawk? Savage. Prairie N-bomb, Squaw, fake Native (said to her and me by Hopis at the Native American Student Center at NAU when I was going for my Master's Degree)

In China, I was called "ghost鬼佬," "white barbarian,白野蛮人" "American dog美国小狗," "foreign trash洋垃圾," "foreign devil洋鬼子," hairy foreign devil 红毛鬼子," "white skin pig白皮猪," and my wife has been called a "banana香蕉人” or "race tratior汉奸" for marrying me.

I am still failing to see your point. The Chinese were banned from immigrating starting in 1881 with the chinese exclusion act. All Asians were added after the 1924 Asia Act. The SS St. Louis, filled with Jewish refugees escaping the Nazis was denied entrance into the country. "Speak Chinese and spread disease."

I am not going to get into this "I'm more oppressed than you" competition. It serves no actual purpose.

And for our continued treatment of my wife's people, Here's a massacre of Chinese people in Los Angeles. And from news broadcast, it seems most of the anti-Asian attackers are black.

Again, what's your point?

[llashram]

58. ok

yet, today you won't be stopped for being just an African-American. I understand you must justify that you and your wife have to deal with ignorance and hate in Amerikkka. Welcome to the 'club'. May you nor your wife be unarmed, stopped while driving for your skin colour, harassed and then shot and killed because of your skin colour, type of car you are driving, being uppity to your 'superiors. Accused but never tried and then end up in the street with a knee on your neck till you suffocate and die because your brain is denied life-giving oxygen. That is the key point. Since you asked.

Have fun parsing and I know your pain, you continue to deny mine. You need need to know that the ignorance that has been shown by African-Americans toward Asian-Americans recently is shameful. I know that ignorance is on the same level as African-Americans not wanting to be vaccinated against Covid. Some remember Tuskegee syphilis experiments and don't trust them. Others believe the FG and all the lies spawned by his fevered, hateful racist brain. But while that will end, African-Americans will continue to be murdered in the streets, jail and elsewhere by those who 'protect and serve' white supremacy.

I am still proud of ms. Gwen Berry in being an activist for human dignity and racial harmony. The truth hurts, I know. Hurts many people. Yet...

Those are some of my points and I will take my leave of you. You and your wife, enjoy your life. You win. I'm done .

[AZLD4Candidate]

65. I get stopped by Border Patrol all the time.

I've been pulled into secondary all the time because of my wife because of getting pulled over each time I came back to visit family. She's moving here with a green card. I expect the same treatment from CBP and the Border Patrol.

Naturalized American citizens have been detained and arrested by ICE.

I am not denying your pain. Sorry for what happens to you. Overseas at my home in Wuxi, I get the same treatment based solely on my nationality because of a homogeneous .

My mother gets pulled over all the time because she is full blooded Native American and looks Hispanic.

To reply to your smug, I am also done because I will not play "my pain and oppression is worse than yours" with you. Everyone has a target when it comes to taking down the white power structure.

Attacking me with aloof comments does nothing. I'm running for political office to try to change this and put controls on these people, starting with the police as the state and local level. I am finishing my conversation with you by asking "what are you doing?"

[llashram]

67. keep running

you might win. And change things....well. And don't get me wrong, I don't need your sorry. My pain is mine alone. Not looking for any type...pity. I have endured and shall continue to do so.

[AZLD4Candidate]

68. Yes, they do. And thanks, I will.

Again, what are you doing, except attacking an ally online?

[llashram]

69. no attack

setting the record straight. Ally.

[SidneyR]

52. Just know that you do have allies

we're usually useless and too late to be of much help. But we do care, for what that's worth.

[llashram]

59. we truly

are all in this together, for good or ill.

[cyndensco]

22. I applaud her action and COMPLETELY relate to her statement:

"The anthem doesn’t speak for me. It never has.”

[obamanut2012]

23. How was it disrespectful?

A piece of cloth is not a sentient being, not matter how nationalists make believe it is.

[llashram]

26. tell that to

Tommie Smith and John Carlos...I remember that one and applauded loudly. Was in Vietnam and watching my back against the VC and the Amerkkkan Confederates. The nerve to judge when every Amerikkan racist/Confederate2.0 wants her dead because of the colour of her skin!!!

[llashram]

43. ok

and Confederates with their bars and stars draped on their hooch walls. Yee-hah Reality is what I deal with.

[left-of-center2012]

50. My brothers and I don't need to bring it up.

It's something we did, serve our country.
We find no need to keep talking about it 40 years later.

There was a guy in his twenties panhandling, shown on the local news, holding a sign that read "Vietnam vet".
Had a guy in a non-DU forum say he was a 'Vietnam vet' for serving with the army in West Germany in 1960.

Too many fake vets wearing "Vietnam vet" caps bought at the local 7/11 and parading around in 'stolen valor'.

[llashram]

60. I will keep talking about it

till cancer from AO kills me. Otherwise, your point about "the fakes" understood and experienced. The vet in Germany was a Vietnam Era vet. I know a few and they don't try to grow a pair by lying about their military service. Glad you and your brothers are still walking this earth.

You and your brothers have your experience, I have mine. All from the same conflict/war/incursion. Peace.

I was RA. I wanted to serve my country as an American. Others there thought I wasn't a good enough American. Permanent tan you know.

[left-of-center2012]

61. My two brothers were career army - I enlisted for three years

People who go around bragging of their Vietnam days remind me of a boy I saw in the grocery store who was loudly proclaiming
"I'm a cowboy !"

"Others there thought I wasn't a good enough American. Permanent tan you know."

Some may have thought that. That was not the general attitude,
It's been 40 years. Time to move on.

[llashram]

62. again

Last edited Mon Jun 28, 2021, 05:21 PM - Edit history (1)

your experience, not mine. I suggest you do the same. Move on and stop trying to assert your will and attitude. It won't work. All my life...I will continue to talk about my experiences in those jungles. I'm not bragging, just fact. General attitude? Well, you continue on living your life...I will do the same. You can't shame me.

I am angry that I have to bite the bullet for people who could give a damn less. Thousands on the 6th of January proved that is still the MO as well as others who know nothing of me. And I do understand you trying to protect the image of our country. Too late Jan 6th showed the whole world what is rumbling this very day beneath the thin veneer of democracy sane people are trying to hold on to. Distraction...'splaining...diversion...worthless tools against the truth.

Moving on...sir

on edit: Here is what I will brag about. 6 generations of my family served in the military. I grew up in the Army. My father was with Patton's Red Ball Express, at Chosin Reservoir-Korea, my father and I served in Vietnam at the same time. I brag and brag and brag, cause I am proud that in spite of it all, we served from 9th-10th Calvary-24th-25th Infantry days in the Southwest Campaigns. Not real proud of that, but was a fact of life and I had to accept the circumstances and "move on". Spanish American War. WW1 all the way to my service. All of us career. I pursued other options after the Army. I was not a career soldier

[oldsoftie]

10. Gee, they played the National Anthem at the US Olympic trials.

I'm surprised EVERYONE wasnt offended.


Grandstanding silliness

[obamanut2012]

24. They NEVER play it when athletes are on the podium

Ever. Her beliefs are well known. It was a setup, and the USOC are the grandstanders and liars.

[llashram]

27. there are so many

not involved in the pain of racism caused by Amerkkan racists/trumpers and then want to judge the protests by African-americans when and where it can be in the face of those who hate based on the colour and culture of others, African-american skin colour and culture specifically. When will racism end? Never, but the fight for human dignity no matter the skin colour must continue. I applaud the bravery and commitment of this young woman.

[DinahMoeHum]

16. I say this was just a rehearsal on her part. . .

The real test of the IOC's dumbfuck "Rule 50" will take place in Tokyo during the Games.

If she even wins a medal, that is.

[relayerbob]

17. This was not helpful

Clearly not a protest, just lack of situational awareness and respect. Not impressed

[obamanut2012]

25. lolz

[llashram]

28. so, you are not impressed

no big thing, I am with her and her awareness of time and place... BRAVO!!!

[relayerbob]

33. This is an actual protest

She just made activists look bad.

[llashram]

37. only because you say so

she said it all and that's active protest when it's the truth, which I say it is...

[Blasphemer]

18. We shall soon find out how far we've come since 1968... nt

[llashram]

29. really

ask George Floyd, Tamir Rice, Sandra Bland, Breonna Taylor, Trayvon Martin et al how far we've come...occupants in Tulsa 1921 aeroplane firebombing of their neighbourhood. The slaughter on the ground of men, women, children. Rosewood. How far have we come?

[iluvtennis]

19. She has the right to protest, just like any other American. n/t

[llashram]

20. bravo

they want to push the bullshit, she said hell no!

[sarisataka]

31. She absolutely has the right to protest

And I in no way condemn her actions.

My question is why is she trying to go to the Olympics as a member of the US team? She will be representing and competing for the country the flag and anthem represents.

Her efforts to raise awareness of social issues is admirable however IMO turning down a spot to represent that flag after qualifying would be a greater statement.

[UnderThisLaw]

34. Do you think it could be

because the Olympics rarely if ever allow athletes to compete unattached to a national team?

[sarisataka]

39. That would be the point

She would be making a personal sacrifice for her statement.

[UnderThisLaw]

46. My comment was a direct answer

to the question in your post, and there’s no reason why she can’t compete and also make a political statement

[Ford_Prefect]

35. Tommie Smith and John Carlos were right in 1968 and Berry is today.

The US and IOC committees are far more politicized than 1968. Multinational Corporate sponsors have seen to that along with various tyrants, potentates, Arab Royals, espiocrats, and several flavors of religious zealots.

The language of the anthem is wrong. There is no debate on that. Berry and all the other knee takers have a real issue that's being buried in favor of the pretense that we live in a Wonder Bread world.

[left-of-center2012]

41. Yep

Got that right

[LanternWaste]

44. Cool bumper sticker, bruh.

[twodogsbarking]

42. Some folks seem to think we should all just get in line

and drink the Kool Aid. They don't like it if you say that though.

[left-of-center2012]

45. There's a time and a place for everything - this was neither

[ForgoTheConsequence]

55. Let us know when that time is!

I'm sure POC are patiently waiting for your green light...

[EndlessWire]

49. It took me the whole thread

to figure out what was going on. One of those days...I disagree with her. I think that she's a little sensitive to any playing of the National Anthem. I think that the timing was accidental. And, she is being rude to her two other teammates. There is no evidence of any solidarity there. So, I guess it's all for her.

I agree with the comment upthread that asked why she was bothering to attend the Olympic Games. Why bother? There is an Olympic flag that she will have to show respect to, a flag that encompasses many nations that have abysmal human rights policies. That's not the Olympic Spirit. Oh, she only wants to show disrespect to the AMERICAN flag. And, she feels that somehow they did it on purpose??

Come here, Honey. You can show respect to the Gay Pride Flag. Maybe that will make you feel better:



The Olympic spirit is meant to show a better way, a unity among nations. It is mythical, to be sure, but I'd give up a LOT to be able to march in The Parade of Nations along with any color teammate I might have. To be forever labeled an Olympian...an Olympic athlete, good enough at something to compete at a world level. Ahhh, the dreams...when I come back, there are so many things I want to try!

I wish her well.

[keithbvadu2]

51. How repubs 'respect' the National Anthem and flag...

As others stood at attention for the national anthem, President Donald Trump was fidgeting, pointing, and pretending to conduct a band

https://thehill.com/homenews/house/481255-swalwell-calls-out-trump-for-video-of-him-during-national-anthem

[Ms. Toad]

53. The extent to which we premise participation in society on flag worship and blind "patriotism"

comes close to making me physically ill.

About 2 decades ago there was a Republican (of course) move to bring the pledge of allegiance back into the schools as a daily event. Simultaneous with that nearly every public meeting implemented the pledge as the opening to every meeting. At the time I was a writer for the local paper - and assigned almost exclusively to cover local public meetings (about one a week). That meant I had to choose between mentally, if not vocally and physically, participating in the pledge becuase - as a reporter - it was not an option to just walk in late for every meeting. And it was not my place to make myself (and my beliefs) the story.

I chose to stand, respectfully, hands at my side - and to recite something else so my mind was not reciting it by rote because it is really hard not to think along with it.

As far as I know, only one person noticed (the Treasurer of a local school board asked me about it).

I have always make it a point to either arrive late at sporting events, or to go to the bathroom, or be actively engaged in buying game snacks during the star spangled banner.

But I resent that I have to - and I have a physical reaction each time the need comes up and I have to wrestle with participating in/endorsing sentiments that violate my conscience versus "making a scene."

I feel sorry for Berry who had few options to avoid participating in a display she finds offensive, without making her the center of the story. It doesn't seem to me as if the timing was directed at her - but she does appear to have expected not to have to take a stand at this particular time.

[summer_in_TX]

56. Kaepernick taking a knee was a perfect protest, I thought.

It drew attention to the problem, and symbolically seemed like a prayer that our country would one day live up to its ideals of liberty and equality for all. I joined in those prayers.

I hope she finds a way of expressing her protest that will draw allies and not repel them. From the comments above, I'd guess some who were completely okay with Kaepernick's protests were having more trouble relating to her way of doing so. My initial reaction was not as comfortable with her actions as with his and I didn't feel drawn to spiritually support her protest.

Not that I had to be, I guess. But I felt a fellow-feeling for Kaepernick that probably many of us did and was helpful to his cause.

[mac2766]

57. Freedom of Speech.

https://www.uscourts.gov/about-federal-courts/educational-resources/about-educational-outreach/activity-resources/what-does

I thought the entire listing of what Freedom of Speech does and does not include was worth posting, but I excluded much of it and included the link to it above.

Freedom of speech includes the right:
Not to speak (specifically, the right not to salute the flag).
West Virginia Board of Education v. Barnette, 319 U.S. 624 (1943).

To engage in symbolic speech, (e.g., burning the flag in protest).
Texas v. Johnson, 491 U.S. 397 (1989); United States v. Eichman, 496 U.S. 310 (1990).

Also, in regard to a number of posts above... Any person who has served their country in the armed services - no matter the branch - deserves the right to call themselves a military veteran. It is my opinion though, coming from a person who has served, but has never seen combat, that a military veteran who has been placed in harms way during military combat does deserve the distinction of being a combat veteran. It's my opinion that there really should be a distinction.

I'm not certain how an article that is clearly related to freedom of speech got so off topic to include military service, but it did. In my country, everyone deserves the right to speak. Even if that speech is in the form of turning 90 degrees away from the direction of an American flag during the playing of the national anthem. Just my opinion.

[Calista241]

63. She has the right to protest, but i found it in poor taste.

She came in 3rd place in the event. She did make the Olympic team, but she made the ceremony about her, rather than her competitors that actually won the event.

Deanna Price won the event, and became the 1st American woman (and 2nd woman ever) to throw the hammer 80+ meters. Price should be the story of this event, and not 3rd place Gwen being angry about how the anthem ruined her day.

[AZLD4Candidate]

66. If a protest isn't in poor taste and don't cause an emotional reaction, protestors wasted their time

[Calista241]

70. Look at Price's face. This is one of the best days of her life, her best performance ever

and she's a bona-fide medal favorite at the Olympics. And all anyone can talk about is Berry, who's essentially throwing a tantrum down there in 3rd place.

[GoneOffShore]

64. Good for her. And time to get rid of playing the 'anthem' at sporting events,

unless there's another country involved.

It's nonsense, plain and simple.

[mac2766]

71. Nonsense indeed....

It's a sporting event and NOT a recruiting event.