# Barack and the National Anthem- how do you feel? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 3, 2007, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-and-the-national-anthem-how-do-you-feel/425118 "2007-11-03T17:38:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Kitchen\_Wench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f08c70/32.png) [@Kitchen\_Wench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kitchen_Wench)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2007, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-and-the-national-anthem-how-do-you-feel/425118/1 "2007-11-03T17:38:40Z")
If this has already been covered, please give me a link to the thread… I searched the Dope for this topic and couldn’t find any discussion. Apparently Mr. Obama failed to put his hand on his heart while the National Anthem was being played. I was emailed a still photo of this and immediately thought the photo was taken right before the song started… then I went to snopes and found the [video](http://snopes.com/politics/obama/anthem.asp). First words out of my mouth? “Oh no.” I don’t mind him not wearing the lapel pin, but this is unacceptable. Geez, we’re all taught in elementary school that one should place his right hand over his heart during the anthem. How do you feel about this? ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2007, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-and-the-national-anthem-how-do-you-feel/425118/2 "2007-11-03T17:40:58Z")
I for one am glad that every single substantive problem in the United States has been solved so we can concentrate on meaningless nonsense like this. Who. The. Fuck. Cares? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2007, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-and-the-national-anthem-how-do-you-feel/425118/3 "2007-11-03T17:52:39Z")
Let’s do a pan and scan of the whole crowd, then publicly deride by name everyone who didn’t put their hands over their hearts. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2007, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-and-the-national-anthem-how-do-you-feel/425118/4 "2007-11-03T17:56:42Z")
I will say though, that it doesn’t seem politically smart of Obama. I can only guess that he was distracted. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2007, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-and-the-national-anthem-how-do-you-feel/425118/5 "2007-11-03T17:58:51Z")
We did the whole hand on heart during the national anthem thing, but then again, that was during grade school. I don’t think it’s necessary to do so. I would like to take to task those who applaud after the anthem is played. That’s wrong. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2007, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-and-the-national-anthem-how-do-you-feel/425118/6 "2007-11-03T18:12:57Z")
First the flag pin, now this. It’s like this man has no respect at all for empty symbols of patriotism. Clearly, Obama is a terrorist. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2007, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-and-the-national-anthem-how-do-you-feel/425118/7 "2007-11-03T18:15:14Z")
[QUOTE=KneadToKnow] Clearly, Obama is a terrorist. [/QUOTE] Or as the right wing smear machine will say, Clearly, Osama (oops, we meant Obama) is a terrorist! ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2007, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-and-the-national-anthem-how-do-you-feel/425118/8 "2007-11-03T18:16:12Z")
[QUOTE=Kitchen Wench] I don’t mind him not wearing the lapel pin, but this is unacceptable. Geez, we’re all taught in elementary school that one should place his right hand over his heart during the anthem. [/QUOTE] Then you were taught incorrectly. Standing quietly and respectfully is correct for the national anthem. Hand over your heart is required. ---
**Author:** ![askeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2007, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-and-the-national-anthem-how-do-you-feel/425118/9 "2007-11-03T18:17:36Z")
I don’t care one way or the other but it doesn’t seem like the most politically savvy move. ---
**Author:** ![askeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2007, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-and-the-national-anthem-how-do-you-feel/425118/10 "2007-11-03T18:18:42Z")
[QUOTE=amarinth] Then you were taught incorrectly. Standing quietly and respectfully is correct for the national anthem. Hand over your heart is required. [/QUOTE] I’m thinking you need one more edit… ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2007, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-and-the-national-anthem-how-do-you-feel/425118/11 "2007-11-03T18:19:28Z")
[QUOTE=Dewey Finn] I would like to take to task those who applaud after the anthem is played. That’s wrong. [/QUOTE] Hijack: I did not know that. The only places I hear the anthem performed live is at ball games. My impression was that the crowd was applauding the singer. It doesn’t seem that wrong to me, especially if the singer is some local high-schooler(s). ---
**Author:** ![KlondikeGeoff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3e96dc/32.png) [@KlondikeGeoff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KlondikeGeoff)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2007, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-and-the-national-anthem-how-do-you-feel/425118/12 "2007-11-03T18:28:56Z")
[QUOTE=Larry Borgia] Who. The. Fuck. Cares? [/QUOTE] I for one do. When in uniform, we always saluted. When out, those who still love our country show a modicum of respect by standing erect and holding the hand over our heart. I am saddened by any disrespect to the flag, to our national anthem, and disregard of those symbols of respect. This pertains to Sen Obama and everybody else, regardless of their politics. Sorry, but I’m an old geezer who was in both WWII and the Korean War, so have old-fashioned ideas about what is right and what is not. It isn’t all that difficult to show the proper respect. If you don’t care, well, that shows a part of your character, which might be considered when evaluating a political candidate for any office.. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2007, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-and-the-national-anthem-how-do-you-feel/425118/13 "2007-11-03T18:34:00Z")
Couldn’t care less. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2007, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-and-the-national-anthem-how-do-you-feel/425118/14 "2007-11-03T18:36:41Z")
[QUOTE=Larry Borgia] Hijack: I did not know that. The only places I hear the anthem performed live is at ball games. My impression was that the crowd was applauding the singer. It doesn’t seem that wrong to me, especially if the singer is some local high-schooler(s). [/QUOTE] The reason I heard that you shouldn’t applaud at the national anthem is that the performance is not meant as entertainment but to honor the country and the flag, although some websites disagree. I think one site made the analogy to the performance of music during a religious service, where the music is also not meant as entertainment and applause is also inappropriate. ---
**Author:** ![askeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2007, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-and-the-national-anthem-how-do-you-feel/425118/15 "2007-11-03T18:37:18Z")
[QUOTE=KlondikeGeoff] ISorry, but I’m an old geezer who was in both WWII and the Korean War, [/QUOTE] So you’re like 80 years old? That must be a record for the Dope. I served in a war too and my belief was that soldiers are supposed to exist so people can choose to salute the flag or not. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2007, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-and-the-national-anthem-how-do-you-feel/425118/16 "2007-11-03T18:38:20Z")
[QUOTE=KlondikeGeoff] I for one do. When in uniform, we always saluted. When out, those who still love our country show a modicum of respect by standing erect and holding the hand over our heart. I am saddened by any disrespect to the flag, to our national anthem, and disregard of those symbols of respect. This pertains to Sen Obama and everybody else, regardless of their politics. Sorry, but I’m an old geezer who was in both WWII and the Korean War, so have old-fashioned ideas about what is right and what is not. It isn’t all that difficult to show the proper respect. If you don’t care, well, that shows a part of your character, which might be considered when evaluating a political candidate for any office.. [/QUOTE] Fair enough. But here’s the deal. Obama is running for office. Surely he is aware of the fuss something like this could cause. Don’t you think that even if he really thought “I hate America and will surrender to Bin Laden at the earliest opportunity” he would still go through the motions of feigning patriotism in order to successfully complete his evil plan? Thus doesn’t it make more sense that this was a momentary lapse rather than a deliberate display of disrespect? Whatever you think of Obama as a possible president, he seems to have this country’s best interests at heart. I don’t see how that changes because he forgot himself at some event. I don’t see why a momentary lapse of proper etiquette is even worth comment. ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2007, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-and-the-national-anthem-how-do-you-feel/425118/17 "2007-11-03T18:41:12Z")
Bush likes to play soldier (except when it comes to service in a war zone) and salutes the military and that is even more improper than no hand over the heart bullshit. Like **Larry Borgia** said: Who. The. Fuck. Cares? ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2007, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-and-the-national-anthem-how-do-you-feel/425118/18 "2007-11-03T18:41:39Z")
[QUOTE=Kitchen Wench] I don’t mind him not wearing the lapel pin, but this is unacceptable. Geez, we’re all taught in elementary school that one should place his right hand over his heart during the anthem. How do you feel about this? [/QUOTE] Bush invading Iraq is completely unacceptable. Barack not doing this is mildly careless. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2007, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-and-the-national-anthem-how-do-you-feel/425118/19 "2007-11-03T18:43:50Z")
I wonder what would happen to a presidential candidate if did the pledge the original way, with a Roman salute. Oh yeah- **his name rhymes with Osama! His middle name is Hussein, which is the same as the guy who caused 911!** ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2007, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-and-the-national-anthem-how-do-you-feel/425118/20 "2007-11-03T18:45:18Z")
Talk about a phony issue. What kind of patriotically correct bullshit is this? Says who, you’re supposed to put your hand over your heart? Who gives a fuck? Half the time I don’t even bother to satnd up. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-and-the-national-anthem-how-do-you-feel/425118.md?page=2)