To whom it may concern:

The invisible discipline which has been administered to Deirdre Chatman by the Atheletic Department at the University of Virginia is cause for me to be ashamed of my alma mater.

Every time the Star-Spangled banner plays at a sporting event Americans are reminded of the reasons we should be proud of our country. However, we are also aware of the sacrifice and hardship Americans must also endure during times of uncertainty and political division. Unfortunately, this is just such a time.

Ms. Chatman's decision to peaceably protest the unthinking patriotism manifest in the showing of our American flag and the playing of the Star-Spangled banner was brave, principled, and--most importantly -- an act of thoughtful patriotism. Furthemore, Ms. Chatman's action is a form of protected speech, and I am angry and saddened by the obvious signs that institutional pressure was placed upon Ms. Chatman for expressing her discontent with the eternally thoughtless obeisance paid to these symbols of the United States. These symbols would be empty if not for the truly patriotic actions and words of people like Ms. Chatman.

The University of Virginia's Atheletics department should be ashamed for silencing Ms. Chatman, especially given the context in which she decided to "speak." I understand Ms. Chatman's precarious position and do not blame her for acting in what she may believe to be her best interest. However, I am upset with the machine-like and inhuman predictability of the University of Virginia's Athletics department's soulless shows of patriotism, and its defense of such with invisible institutional pressure.

Sincerely,

Johnnie Wilcox (electronic mail, March 5, 2003)