By Paul Bean
Monday January 9, the Milton boys basketball team defeated Northfield 63-29 at Northfield. But Northfield residents are buzzing less about the outcome and more about a photo taken while the National Anthem was played.
The photo shows most members of the Milton team kneeling during the national anthem. This is not the first time the Milton team has knelt during the national anthem. However it garnered significant attention on Northfield social media. Amateur and professional athletes kneeling during the national anthem became commonplace during the heyday of the BLM movement following the 2020 death of George Floyd.
“These kids have no idea what they are doing,” says Kaylan Sweet, who took the photo. “Although they have every right to do what they did, it is due to the men and women who died for that right.”
Sweet, a Northfield resident and parent of one of the Northfield Basketball players, took this photo Monday Night and posted the photo to Facebook with the caption “Win or lose. This team has zero respect for the National Anthem. SHAME on you Milton VT.”
The post gained a lot of traction eventually attracting attention from parents, players, and community members from both Northfield and Milton.
A Facebook comment from a Milton Community member explains the students are kneeling for the national anthem “to call attention to the issues of racial inequality and police brutality.” The comment adds, “Have respect for people’s children, adults like this show what type of person they are!!”
This is not the first instance the Milton Basketball team has been involved in racial controversy. According to a County Courier report, In a home game against BFA Fairfax in February 2023, allegations of racial abuse emerged immediately following the game during a “storm the court” moment:
“In the few seconds it took to clear the BFA students off the floor, some could be seen speaking to MHS players. Some of the players from Milton, which has multiple student-athletes of color, quickly went to head coach Mert Sells and pointed toward the BFA students.” A statement from Milton Town School District Superintendent Amy Rex said: “In the chaos that ensued, it was reported that the n-word was used toward one or more of our students.”
Press reports show that members of the Milton basketball team have been kneeling during the national Anthem for at least two seasons.
“They picked the wrong place and the wrong time- and in most people’s opinion a cause that doesn’t exist. What we have is an ignorance problem, not a racial issue,” says sweet. “And their coach, who may be the only person in the photo who might have experienced real racism in his life, is standing there with his hand on his heart.”
Sweets’ Facebook post was shared 40 times and commented on nearly 500 times, however she says it’s been posted and shared way more by screen shots and reposts. Given all the attention she felt the need to make her page private because of all the people that were attacking not only her private page, but also her public page for her Business in Northfield. She however, will not be taking the post down.
“If you are brave enough to publicly protest, you better be prepared for the public scrutiny – I’ve been through it myself.” In the comments of Sweet’s post is a slew of mudslinging between parents, students, and members of both Northfield and Milton community members.
“I am tired of people thinking because I own and run a successful business that I am not allowed to have or share my opinion without people coming for my business,” says Sweet. “I think it’s time for people to stop being scared and stand up for what they believe in, after all we all bleed American.”
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Categories: Race and Division, Sports
Indoctrinated brains.
The greatest weapon is not a gun or a cannon.
It is the control of information.
To control the worlds information is to manipulate all the minds that consume it.
So many just consume the information they are presented without any thought, analysis or suspicion that they are being manipulated. This is the case with the impressionable youth of the Milton basketball team.
Nah, this is a beautiful example of our youth making a thoughtful choice to express support for their teammate who was called a racial slur by Northfield.
These disrespectful little fools need a little time with Uncle Sam, then maybe they’ll
stand and show a little respect for those who fought and died for all the privileges these POS have !!
Sweet … A true patriot
I agree completely, just like the politicians in Montpelier the school boards are progressive fools.
It’s honestly hard to fault the kids. If you were force-fed for 40+ hours a week like a goose in a Pyrenees foie-gras farm, you’d probably do the same.
The parents, however, should not escape scrutiny. They are all as dumb as a bag of hammers (with the notable exception of the fine parents of #25 & #14.)
Maybe the basketball team should take a trip to the VA hospital in WRJ.
Love it ! Of course the coaches, school board members, teachers, principal and parents, should also make the trip. Oh and they shoould also engage them in meaningful conversation, not just a meet, and greet .
The profound ignorance — and utter failing of Vermont’s education system are displayed by this fiasco. It is a gift, for Vermonters to view the hate and lies being seeded in the name of “equity and justice. The precise opposite is the case.
These kids are being conditioned to hate themselves and their own history and culture. As Malcolm X wrote, “You can’t hate the root without hating the tree.” Instead of seeking improved aspirations, they are trained to destroy and hate.
There is hope in the willingness of brave community members to counter their hateful racism:
“That some leader dangerous to the basic institutions of American society would arise, Lincoln thought inevitable. Safeguarding these institutions would require a public sufficiently united, sufficiently attached to freedom, and sufficiently wise, “to successfully frustrate his designs.” Today it would also require a public sufficiently resistant to incessant criticisms and condemnations of their society for failing to achieve cosmic justice.”
Thomas Sowell, A Theory of Cosmic Justice
Looking closely at the photo:
2 students REMAIN standing and someone who I think may be the coach (far left of the picture) has his hand over his heart as a sign of respect for the National Anthem.
Moreover look closely at the students who are kneeling. The female at the far left appears to be checking her fingernail(s) and, by my count, at least 3 students are looking at each other! If this is a protest, it certainly is “unique”.
Better they fix what they perceive are wrongs rather then alienate those that are offended by people that are still in school that have not yet learned enough to survive without parents money. Get educated kids, there are more ideas to investigate instead of one that may be WRONG.
That’s pathetic. Proud coach stood with his hand on his heart and two players also stood. If I were coach, I would have forfeited the game and continued to forfeit games until they stopped or I were fired. What has Vermont become?
Vermont politicians and the school board are lead by progressive do gooders that always push the wrong message . There isn’t an issue but they’ll find one even if they have to make one up.
Milton has gone woke. Thanks to don turncoat and his police chief who does nothing to enforce any laws he deems unnecessary.
Giving these young boys the benefit of the doubt, they are probably well-intentioned but unknowledgable, intellectually incurious and unappreciate of all they have because of their good fortune to be living in America.
Suggestion: All high school graduates or those reaching the age of 18 should be required to serve their country for 2 years. With pay. It can be military, non-military, working at a hospital or clinic, volunteering with the fire or police dept., working at the local VA facility, working for FEMA, reading to the blind, serving at a local soup kitchen, building homes with Habitat for Humanity, cleaning up rivers and parks, or any combination of the above that contributes to the betterment of the country, community and one’s fellow citizens.
I believe this might instill pride in and respect for our country.
That is an excellent idea, one I have had for half a century. a short stint in community service at a young age will definitely create a better person and a better world.
I know there was a requirement for BUHS students to do a large amount of community service before they could graduate HS. Don’t know if that is still true.
Milton HS requires 30 hrs of Community Service which has to be approved. The kids then need to provide documentation and turn in either a written /oral presentation regarding the experience and what they learned. This is a Graduation requirement and the kids have all 4 years at MHS to complete it👍
Had no idea there was still kneeling going on, wow.
POS
They shouldn’t be made to salute. They should be made to stand.
Absolutely ! The first amendment does not cover people disrespecting the flag or promoting dangerous ideas like marxism.
I sure hope that the local VFW and the American Legion write these boys names down so they can refuse their request for any request for scholarships from them.
What makes you assume local vfw and American legion agree with your views?
Perhaps the clever way to deal with the “taking a knee” thing is to deliberately misinterpret it and publicly acknowledge it as kneeling in prayer. After the National Anthem, it would be nice if the announcer or someone from the crowd would just “profoundly thank the athletes who had the courage to publicly kneel in prayer to God”. That would keep them standing next time. It might get a fan thrown out but can you think of a better form of non-violent civil protest against this moonbat foolishness?
21st century stuffing of the phone booth.
Maybe the young men should learn the history of Norwich University’s history and the cadets that gave all for our country. Do this stunt on their home court!
My youngest veteran deployed out of Norwich to Iraq.
We followed the buses all the way to Burlington. As we passed an elementary school the teachers and all the students were outside watching the slow procession and I was just crying and I heard one child say to a teacher why is she crying. That teacher told the child that I was sad because my child was going off to war and that maybe it was the last time she will see her child.
Guessing no one was kneeling. Nice tribute for those who place themselves in harms way so others can kneel.
Let’s keep spreading the one sided opinions of a mother of a kid on the opposing team who clearly has no regard for the safety of children who have received harassment and threats from her post
Such an outstanding citizen sticking up for the flag. Way to go.
May you have the life you deserve.
-a proud mother of the opposing team of “disrespectful children”
One of those boys kneeling is my grandson, I stand for the national anthem hand on my heart.calling him disrespectful means you know nothing about him.he is very respectful,gets great grades and has a heart of gold. it’s his choice to kneel and by no means does he do it out of disrespect, just because everyone says you have to stand or your a bad person shows just how controlling this world is becoming.people need to worry about themselves and stop spreading hate
You are mistaken Kay Rocque. I had two sons who answered the call and they both went to Iraq and Afghanistan. They went to protect you and yours and it is clearly disrespectful to kneel for the National Anthem, enough said
You’re absolutely right, Kay. I don’t blame the kids. It’s the parents’ fault entirely for raising such ignorant, disrespectful children.
There is no way you can call that a respectful kid.
I understand that it is not his fault that he has been brainwashed by the educational system, which teaches the equivalent of marxist liberation theology from the perspective of oppressors and the oppressed. This form of pedegogy originated with the Brazilian, Marxist educator Paulo Freire and his writing Pedegogy of the Oppressed. It is the job of parents and relatives to inform young people of what kneeling really represents. So, I encourage you to educate yourself. I have a presentation which tracts the history and objective of critical social justice, which I am happy to share with you. You can contact me via my website site transparencymatters.info. My website has many resources that are free of charge to everyone.he is literally kneeling in support of destroying the free market system and to support equity-based socialism. My daughter graduated highschool not long ago and the teachers referred to this as opening the minds and hearts of children.
Me thinks she doth protest too much…………
Nice kid but following the head lemming over the cliff means naught.
Last time I checked, there was no age limit on freedom of speech.
Are these young men thinking for themselves or following a herd, beehive mind mentality? How is it justified to teach children to hate themselves because they were born white? Or defer or doubt their own interests or goals based on their skin color or gender? Anyone justifying oppressing or abusing children in the name of equity are sick, degenerate, and depraved. Children are no longer allowed to be children – that alone is beyond the pale and high past time to put a full stop to it!
Lots of freedom to hate going on here.
Free to kneel, but ignorant of the true ramifications of their cause no doubt.
How sad that these students were never taught to stand tall, with their hand over their heart – not only during our National Anthem, but also whenever the American flag passes through, as in a parade – or while standing before our American flag during the Pledge of Allegiance.
It appears that their education in this department has (for all but two of them) fallen through the cracks. Respect for our American flag, our country and for all of those who fought for and/or died for our country was taught by parents, grandparents, schools, and other organizations when I was a child.
This lack-of-respect toward our flag and our country should have been corrected the very first time it happened. To read that this has been happening for two (or more) seasons proves how far our schools and/or parenting skills) have fallen.
I hope that every parent, school and concerned citizen takes note of this photo. These students may be misguided, but they are young enough to learn right from wrong.
Protecting children while they’re learning how to navigate this hateful world, protecting children being threatened by language that should be used on NOONE, protecting kids who choose safety and their futures over nationalism! Those were all choices that could have been made, but instead the article is centered around how this poor indoctrinated (to use her and her compatriots words) lady had to make her page on fb private because of the amount of people who DID choose protecting children. So sad.
Misguided youth – they know not what they do – because they apparently are no longer taught by parents and/or schools to respect our flag, our country and those who fought and died for the freedoms we Americans have.
Every American should stand tall, hand over heart, whenever the American flag is in front of us, whether through a parade or while reciting the Pledge of Allegiance – or during the singing of our National Anthem.
Perhaps these wayward children should not engage in any more games. These children have no idea about right and wrong.
If they were all to enlist in the armed forces after graduation maybe they would learn not to disrespect the National Anthem.
Vermont is lacking 53 state police officers.
Nurses nationwide consistently report that hospital nurse staffing levels are inadequate to provide safe and effective care.
Didn’t know if there might be a correlation with what’s taking place on this basketball team in Milton. Could these be the future protesters at Harvard screaming, “from the river to the sea”?
Re: “Nurses nationwide consistently report that hospital nurse staffing levels are inadequate to provide safe and effective care.”
Nationwide this may be reported. But in Vermont?
08/31/2017 – 06:00
Vermont Business Magazine “A new report conducted by Medicare Health Plans shows the per capita number of nurses and physicians in America. Vermont ranked among the best states for health care professionals. The report suggests that Vermont’s health care professionals are among the least over-worked in the nation.”
And on June 23rd last year, Vermont’s per capita nurse population was reported to be eighth highest out of 50 States in the country.
https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/workforce/nurses-per-capita-ranked-by-state.html
Things are not always as they seem… or as someone says they are.
Of course, what this has to do with a local, misled, adolescent tantrum, promulgated by a woke school culture, I’m not certain. These kids are clearly misinformed. But then again, it appears many of us are. It just depends on the subject matter.
While I absolutely agree it is disrespectful not to stand for the national anthem (after all, I did spend 13 years in the armed forces-Go ARMY), I firmly believe that however wrong I may see their actions, they absolutely have the right to express themselves regardless of how much they understand. They are allowed to make less than stellar decisions. They may be pawns of their teachers or parents or whatever else folks want to call them, but they are American citizens who have the right to Free Speech. I will defend their right to kneel or say whatever they like. Within the limits of current laws.
When you force someone to violate their beliefs, regardless of how misbegotten they are, how are you different from a tyrant? Let them do this, let them experience the consequences and let them learn what it is to stand for your belief against the majority.
Then take the opportunity to show them a different story. Like visit the VA hospital. Like listen to someone who has experienced racism and how they lived it. Like talk to refugees from communist countries. That is how we help them. It isn’t pretty and it takes a long time, and it gets you no “likes” on VDC. But it is the right way to walk them through this learning experience. Just my humble opinion. And likely not very popular, but they have the Right to Freedom of Speech and Expression.
How can we, readers of VDC, give them the direction and information and understanding they so desperately need? I sincerely ask all of you….because,
Divided We Fall…..
A perfect example of the indoctrination going on in the educational system.
It was their indoctrinated choice, now they can live with the ramifications !!!
Coach Sells and two of his players who opted to stand are to be commended for not allowing themselves to be thrown in with the ” herd mentality ” of the kneelers.
I believe that the students are kneeling to call attention to their own players being called the n-word on the basketball court. It’s not an act of ignorance or disrespect, it’s publicly saying that the racism their own team has experienced is not ok. Supporting your teammates despite the personal cost of being trolled by angry adults quoting Shakespeare/Lincoln etc. to make themselves sound smarter IS patriotic. Do them the courtesy of showing a little respect yourselves instead of nationalizing a very real, very local issue.
The information in this article and in publications from multiple media sources in the past regarding the event that transpired at a bfa home game vs. Milton are faculty flawed. The offenders were neither bfa students nor parents of bfa students. Since the media was quick to call out racist fairfax and the super banned fans from many games after the so called racist incident, maybe there should have been some transparency in noting the skin colors of the offenders but there wasn’t and there won’t be. They’re too bent on pushing a narrative that America and white vermont are largely racist and all residents must admit their born color privileges. This is b.s. Ibram X. Kendi “anti-racism”, marxist garbage that the vermont principal’s association and vermont school board association eat right up. Someone from the media should ask the fwsu superintendent if he feels the frenzy of media reports, both local and national, surrounding that specific event were accurate portrayals of what actually occurred at that game.
you need to study///the project for a new american century///a lot of information///some times things are not revealed///
This ship has sailed. The data doesn’t support their cause. Blacks are a small percentage of population committing a disproportionate amount of crime. There is no measurable brutality only measurable criminal behavior. Look at the smash and grab/looting videos; notice anything? Enough with this crap. If blacks want to be treated better and they want to end racism, stop the large amount of your population from behaving badly.
It seems the jokes about Miltonites are accurate, they really are that dumb.
“No profanity, explicit racist or sexually demeaning language, or personal criticism/mocking of other commenters allowed.” Looks like this rule lasted a week.
The comment was not directed at an individual, identified commenter, but rather at a group of unnamed people. Therefore not ‘personal’. Thank you to everyone, you included, who are trying to keep difficult, frank public discussion at a high level. Keep it up!
So it’s not a racist comment because he wrote something racist about a group of people? (Please tell me more about the smashing and grabbing) Don’t be obtuse Guy, he clearly named blacks If you want to change the rules, fine you make them. I’m just not surprised that you moved the goalposts.
Interesting how in these troubled times just stating a fact about a minority group is labeled as racist. It is a fact blacks are black. It is a fact blacks excel at basketball. It is a fact blacks have their own music genre. It is a fact that blacks commit disproportionately high crime rate. How has it become that stating an unpleasant fact is labeled racist?. How do we solve our problems if we are not able to state the truth?
Below is a link to Thomas Sowells’ essay about the Southern black culture originating from the white cracker culture of Ireland.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/01639620902854761
As a former coach now retired, I often asked myself what would I do if one or more of my players performed this disrespectful gesture…I would resign immediately and state publicly that I will not be associated with any political posturing that embarrasses my school and the values that we have proudly stood for through all the years. If nothing more, I would bring attention to the twisted Woke nonsense and indoctrination that is pervading our schools…I do not for one minute want to be associated with this subversion…sure, it would stir a hornet’s nest, but at least we would be championing American values and demonstrating that there is still a present strong resistance who are in the right and want to be distanced from unpatriotic political intrusion used to exploit the civic purity of high school sports programs and its athletes…
Freedom is not FREE! Do not let anyone kid you.
“Taking a Knee”
Written by Ted Nugent
Take a little trip to Valley Forge in January. Hold a musket ball in your
fingers and imagine it piercing your flesh and breaking a bone or two.
There won’t be a doctor or trainer to assist you until after the battle, so
just wait your turn. Take your cleats and socks off to get a real
experience.
Then, take a knee on the beach in Normandy where man after American man
stormed the beach, even as the one in front of him was shot to pieces, the
very sea stained with American blood. The only blockers most had were the
dead bodies in front of them, riddled with bullets from enemy fire.
Take a knee in the sweat soaked jungles of Vietnam. From Khe Sanh to
Saigon, anywhere will do. Americans died in all those jungles. There was no
playbook that told them what was next, but they knew what flag they
represented. When they came home, they were protested as well, and spit on
for reasons only cowards know.
Take another knee in the blood drenched sands of Fallujah in 110 degree
heat. Wear your Kevlar helmet and battle dress. Your number won’t be
printed on it unless your number is up! You’ll need to stay hydrated but
there won’t be anyone to squirt Gatorade into your mouth. You’re on your
own.
There are a lot of places to take a knee where Americans have given their
lives all over the world. When you use the banner under which they fought
as a source for your displeasure, you dishonor the memories of those who
bled for the very freedoms you have. That’s what the red stripes mean. It
represents the blood of those who spilled a sea of it defending your
liberty.
While you’re on your knee, pray for those that came before you, not on a
manicured lawn striped and printed with numbers to announce every inch of
ground taken, but on nameless hills and bloodied beaches and sweltering
forests and bitter cold mountains, every inch marked by an American life
lost serving that flag you protest.
No cheerleaders, no announcers, no coaches, no fans, just American men and
women, delivering the real fight against those who chose to harm us,
blazing a path so you would have the right to “take a knee.” You haven’t
any inkling of what it took to get you where you are, but your “protest” is
duly noted. Not only is it disgraceful to a nation of real heroes, it
serves the purpose of pointing to your ingratitude for those who chose to
defend you under that banner that will still wave long after your jersey is
retired.
If you really feel the need to take a knee, come with me to church on
Sunday and we’ll both kneel before Almighty God. We’ll thank Him for
preserving this country for as long as He has We’ll beg forgiveness for our
ingratitude for all He has provided us. We’ll appeal to Him for
understanding and wisdom. We’ll pray for liberty and justice for all,
because He is the one who provides those things. But there will be no
protest. There will only be gratitude for His provision and a plea for His
continued grace and mercy on the land of the free and the home of the
brave. It goes like this, GOD BLESS AMERICA
Nicely done
Semper Fi