# How far would you resist participation in a political gesture you don't agree with? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 10, 2021, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-would-you-resist-participation-in-a-political-gesture-you-dont-agree-with/946184 "2021-07-10T21:23:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2021, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-would-you-resist-participation-in-a-political-gesture-you-dont-agree-with/946184/41 "2021-07-15T19:55:37Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > [https://indianexpress.com/article/india/not-just-india-national-anthems-are-a-touchy-subject-in-many-other-asian-countries-too-4916795/](https://indianexpress.com/article/india/not-just-india-national-anthems-are-a-touchy-subject-in-many-other-asian-countries-too-4916795/) Huh. That’s interesting; thanks for the info. I’m glad to have my knowledge expanded. Doesn’t say anything about Canada or anyplace in Africa, though; and discusses this as being a mostly a recent phenomenon, controversial, and “a lot less common”; which doesn’t match to me with “it used to be nearly universal.” From the article: > It is not unusual for nations of the world to value their national anthems and hold the tune and words sacred, and to follow a traditional code of conduct when it’s played, usually of standing, to show respect and patriotism. To enforce this conduct with legal or criminal consequences, however, is a lot less common. Yet, it has become glaringly noticeable in some notable Asian regimes in the recent years. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2021, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-would-you-resist-participation-in-a-political-gesture-you-dont-agree-with/946184/42 "2021-07-15T20:07:50Z")
I think that it’s pretty rare as well. I was curious myself so that was what I found with a short Google search. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2021, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-would-you-resist-participation-in-a-political-gesture-you-dont-agree-with/946184/43 "2021-07-16T11:12:30Z")
I’m reminded of a scene in Gandhi where the titular Mahatma, in the midst of a controversial assembly, starts singing God Save the King, and the British representatives who are theoretically there to stop him from engaging in rebellion find themselves compelled to rise from their chairs and salute. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2021, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-would-you-resist-participation-in-a-political-gesture-you-dont-agree-with/946184/44 "2021-07-16T12:04:31Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > It used to be nearly universal in Asia and Africa. Certainly not South Africa, in the last 45 years. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanubv.2/32/3260_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUBv.2)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2021, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-would-you-resist-participation-in-a-political-gesture-you-dont-agree-with/946184/45 "2021-07-16T12:47:36Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > Me too, my company is Japanese owned and is global. They avoid all politics and encourge diversity. Love it here. > > But they do kind of push United Way every year, which for various reasons I do not support. No punishment for not giving but it kind of sucks every year to explain to your manager why they will not get a 100% contribution from their group. This is my situation exactly(except my company is not Japanese). The (many) emails they send to solicit contributions all say “voluntary” but they keep track of you and demand a reply even if you do not contribute. Over the years I’ve somewhat grudgingly given a small amount but this year I donated my time instead. So, in answer to the OP, I vote “partially comply”. I’m not in a financial position to risk my job so the cause would have to be really objectionable for me to all out refuse. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2021, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-would-you-resist-participation-in-a-political-gesture-you-dont-agree-with/946184/46 "2021-07-17T01:11:30Z")
> [@Mavis\_Topholese](#): > > I’ve seen a lot of movies in Canada and the only time the national anthem has been played is a reel shown at the start of the program at the drive-in movies, and people are parking, getting concessions, and otherwise not paying a lot of attention. Never experienced it in a theater. I recall it being played on occasion when I was a kid in the 70s, but not any time after that. ---
**Author:** ![Franklymydear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a6a055/32.png) [@Franklymydear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Franklymydear)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2021, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-would-you-resist-participation-in-a-political-gesture-you-dont-agree-with/946184/47 "2021-07-17T01:29:57Z")
I am of the opinion that one should not discuss religion or politics in mixed company. As management has changed over the years, i have been asked to staff a right wing Christian food drive and the LGBT diversity booth. i denied both. I am 100% am opposed to breast cancer. But i will not wear a pink ribbon. All are welcome in my house, but i’m not putting a sign in my yard about it. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2021, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-would-you-resist-participation-in-a-political-gesture-you-dont-agree-with/946184/48 "2021-07-17T01:37:09Z")
I can afford to quit my job. I’d tell my boss that I’d never comply with that. Unless the participation was of an extremely mild form, the same would be true even for positions I agree with. But it would never get to that, because if all my colleagues were in opposition to me on some important stance, I’d have left the workplace long ago. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-would-you-resist-participation-in-a-political-gesture-you-dont-agree-with/946184.md?page=2)