Amend the law
by jousterusa
11/08/2007, 1:40 AM # Rate this topic Delete Favorites Reply Putting your hand over your heart has certainly not been standard practice in my lifetime of attending a vast number of events where the anthem is sung. And I am someone who sometimes sings the anthem when I'm alone, because I like it. I consider myself a very patriotic person, and I always vote, and always pledge allegiance with my hand over my heart, but I cannot ever recall being in a group of people where it was a regular practice, or even a spontaneous one, even at official meetings and national conventions, to do so during the anthem.. The citation from the US Code was useful, though, as I think it does need to be amended. Patriotism should not be compelled by law in any way, but a certain etiquette may be suggested. It should be our election and choice, as it is mine, to put our hands over our hearts during the pledge, and it should not be thought good manners to do so during the anthem. I think we ought to find some video of the Republican National Convention and see how many folks had their hands over their hearts during the anthem. I feel badly for Obama and will give him some more money. Report abuse

I agree that such a gesture shouldn't be legislated, but it has been my experience that most of the time, people do tend to place hand on heart during the anthem. Maybe its regional. I am originally from Iowa. But watch a NASCAR race sometime, or at least the moments leading up to one. They don't say the pledge, but they do the anthem before each race, and the majority do. ALL the military do. I don't know protocol. But its not a bad thing, regardless. If BHO was trying to endear himself to the people he was with at the time, and I believe that was the point of his being there at all, he should have done as the Romans did. Being obstinant won't win him any points. As we are finding out.

He wants to be CoC.....it is SOP for military......

One of the greatest virtues of this country is the fact that the "Commander in Chief" of the armed forces does not have to come from the military nor subscribe to their indoctrinations or psychological reengineering disciplines. The brass only seem to grow a pair and speak the truth once they have retired from the military or Boeing/Raytheon/Northrup/Spawa­r, etc...

Personally I find all public displays of psuedo-patriotism to be disengenuous, unnecessary and jingoistic but thats just me. Playing the anthem at sporting events is absurd as is pledging allegiance to the flag. Its all way too militaristic for my tastes. It does not surprise me that the military has a code dealing with the etiquette of listening to the marching song, it is a marching song is it not?

Woolley,

Why is it absurd to pledge allegiance to the flag? The flag is a symbol of the country that allows people like you to be outspoken and wrong at the same time without serious repercussions. Whether you realize it or not, YOU DO appreciate that.

IF you have any, what do you, or what would you have others do to show true patriotism? Some people want to show their appreciation for this country and for the freedoms it provides. How should they go about it? If everything we know to do is insincere or ritualistic, please, tell me.

And why is it absurd for the Anthem (also a symbol of our country, and not so much a marching song) to be played at sporting events? The drivers I referred to earlier should get down on their knees everyday and THANK GOD FOR THEIR COUNTRY that allows them to drive fast cars one day a week and be so well compensated for something so ridiculous!!!

We do these things because we are grateful. We have all seen and heard what it could be like--what it is like in other places. Despite the way I show it, my patriotism is genuine.

If yours isn't, there are other places to live. Find one.

Because its lame. Its like saying every day to your parents that they are the bestest parents in the whole wide world. Its like bending on your knees and looking at the floor and saying to imaginary beings that you worship their very existence even if you have no clue if they exist or not. Why is it necessary to do anything in public to show any feeling whatsoever about your country? I see no need in it at all. I don't think other countries force folks at soccer matches to listen to this stuff or cricket matches. Why must we suffer so all by ourselves? Sorry but I have never, ever liked public displays of patriotism, smacks of mass hypnosis to me.

I agree. Why can't it be patriotic to just be a good citizen and vote and get involved in your community/schools or give to charity? There are a lot of ways to show or feel gratitude for the freedoms of this country that don't involve mass or public displays of "piety."
It's the difference between praying in private and getting up on stage to preach at some mega-church. Is the former person any less "spiritual?"

in my mind is a picture of people in mass demonstrations saluting a leader or singing a song or saying something en masse like a bunch of sheep being led to slaughter or be slaughtered. I remember going to see The Boss in 1980 at the LA Sports Arena. Every one of us 18,000 folks sang every single word of some of the songs along with Bruce. At one point, he just pointed the mike at us and we sang Sherry Darling. It was scary. He could have told us all to do anything and we would have done it. I get the same feeling with anthems and pledges.

mrsfuz5:

It seems to me that when some tasteless pop singer literally butchers the national anthem before a ball game and the half-drunken crowd starts screaming their empty heads off when she tries to hit a high note --- that doesn't exist in the music --- three bars before the end, they are not showing a love for their country. They are just sheep following a cheap fad while disgracing their country's anthem. I don't know anything about NASCAR, but I'm sure it is just the same,if not worse. People who want to watch a bunch of stinking, noisy cars run around in circles while secretly wanting to see a wreck are not likely to be the sharpest knives in the drawyer.

The singing of the national anthem should be reserved for serious events where people are really thinking about their country and its affairs. And it should be sung by singers who know the melody and sing it with dignity. It is not a vehicle for the self-expression of drunks.

SOP for the military is to SALUTE during the Anthem.

"Because it's lame."

It's not lame. It's making a public display of your feeling of love and obligation to your country and it's people to make it the best place to live in the world.

"Why is it necessary to do anything in public to show any feeling whatsoever about your country?"

Because it shows pride in your country. It proves to others that you are not ashamed of your country in spite of any errors its people or leaders have made. I gives heart to the veterans of wars who fought and had family and friends die to preserve your right to be a self-center little twit.

"Why must we suffer so all by ourselves? Sorry but I have never, ever liked public displays of patriotism, smacks of mass hypnosis to me."

As a member of the United States Navy, I was required to stand at attention and salute the flag of France(or whatever country we happened to be in) when they played their national anthem over loudspeakers throughout the entire town of Cannes. We do not suffer all by ourselves. All civilized countries require their citizens to pledge allegiance of one sort or another.

It's not mass hypnosis, it's pride, it's love of country, it's love of your fellow Americans. If you feel none of these and are absorbed in your own little world with no thought of other Americans.

LEAVE.

It's not piety, its appreciation. It's looking beyond your tiny self-involved little world and realizing the sacrifice that so many have made to let you have such a good life now.

Clark Kent (very telling name)

When some tasteless pop singer butchers the Anthem, they aren't sheep, they're disrespectful idiots. They know exactly what they are doing, and are doing it for attention. And if you'll remember, most of Roseanne's feedback was from the irate, disgusted and disappointed. And just for information, those who sing at the races wouldn't pull that. Not under current management. Granted, some of them are just not excellent singers. But they suck honestly, not because they try to.

Lastly, its not your place, or anyone else's to tell me when or where I can display appreciation for my country. If I want to Pledge or sing the Anthem in my front yard before every meal, I will. That is my right as an AMERICAN. That's like saying you can't pray unless your within Church walls. That is absurd! Even if it weren't absurd, what makes you qualified to dictate when or where I can do anything. I assure you, you wouldn't like it if I or anyone else did that to you. Nor would you tolerate it. You wouldn't have to because of all freedoms that apparently simply bore you. What is a "serious event" anyway? I don't attend a lot of funerals and I'm not a member of congress. Are you suggesting that if I don't have a "serious" place to do it, that I shouldn't? What is your problem? Is it the ritualism? If we were talking religion, I would agree. Wouldn't you rather people "over" do it, than forget patriotism completely? I just don't see the problem. If you don't want to say the Pledge, don't. But don't be surprised if the rest of us question your loyalties.

if the military member is in civilian atire he salutes with his hand over his heart.

mrsfoz5:

Lastly, its not your place, or anyone else's to tell me when or where I can display appreciation for my country. If I want to Pledge or sing the Anthem in my front yard before every meal, I will. That is my right as an AMERICAN. That's like saying you can't pray unless your within Church walls. That is absurd! Even if it weren't absurd, what makes you qualified to dictate when or where I can do anything. I assure you, you wouldn't like it if I or anyone else did that to you. Nor would you tolerate it. You wouldn't have to because of all freedoms that apparently simply bore you. What is a "serious event" anyway? I don't attend a lot of funerals and I'm not a member of congress. Are you suggesting that if I don't have a "serious" place to do it, that I shouldn't? What is your problem? Is it the ritualism? If we were talking religion, I would agree. Wouldn't you rather people "over" do it, than forget patriotism completely? I just don't see the problem. If you don't want to say the Pledge, don't. But don't be surprised if the rest of us question your loyalties.

Quick, call the irony police! If it's isn't his place to tell people where or how to display their fervent love of country, where did it become your place to do so?

Seriously, this is America, and we don't actually have requirements for how to acceptably show one's love of country, or flag, or anthem. We don't even have loyalty oaths. That is all to the good. Sing with your hand over your heart if it makes you happy. Or, don't. I don't.

Additionally, "Obama sang the National Anthem the wrong way" is about the most ridiculous complaint about a candidate I've heard, especially in a field of candidates that includes such an astounding variety of wackadoos, ne'er-do-wells, and a few ne'er-do-anythings (I'm looking at you, Fred). Seriously. Find a policy issue to complain about. Find something substantive to object to. This jingoistic hunt for a mysterious lack of patriotism is just plane silly.

Lastly, a word on pride, be it national pride, home team pride, or family pride. It's a sin, and a deadly one at that. Along with wrath, pride has become the national pass-time. Put it down. It's addictive and destructive to happiness. The moment we begin excoriating each other for not indulging in enough of a deadly sin we have gone WAY too far. When we examine a candidate with a fine toothed comb to make sure he has enough pride, we are looking to make certain he has the same vice we do. It's a mistake.