While I agree with you, I’m the kind of person who tries to avoid confrontation. I’ve been that way my entire life. Getting into an argument with someone where I know I won’t change their mind and they’re never going to change mine, seems pointless and a waste of time. I’d rather spend that time doing something useful.
When it comes to the pledge or the Anthem, I’m probably doing what everyone else around me is doing. Yes, that makes me a sheeple, but its all meaningless anyway, and to me personally not worth making waves about. As far as what anyone else decides to do that’s their business and not my concern, although if they continue to talk during the anthem I would consider it a bit rude.
The one bit of musical civil disobedience I did engage in was back in 1989 at the National Boy Scout Jamboree closing, someone (it might have been Lee Greenwood himself) was singing God Bless the USA on stage, and at the line “stand up next to me” our leaders were gesturing for all of us to stand up, while me and a few of my friends stayed firmly seated, because we recognized it as god awful pablum.
What’s the distinction?
Title 36, section 301(b)(1)(C), of the United States Code:
“During a rendition of the national anthem…when the flag is displayed…[persons other than those in the military] present should face the flag and stand at attention with their right hand over the heart, and men not in uniform, if applicable, should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart.”
(36 USC 301(b)(2) pretty much says, “If there is no flag present, do the same thing, but face the music when doing so.”
4 USC 4 says to do the same thing during the Pledge of Allegiance.)
Note the use of the word “should” as opposed to “must.” I wonder how many people think that holding the hand over the heart is a requirement. (Probably the same ones that think that if a flag ever touches the ground, you are required to burn or bury it.) I also wonder how many of them don’t realize that your heart is in the center of your chest, and not under your left breast.
As to what do I do? If it’s somewhere where you are more or less expected to put your hand over your heart - case in point: when the President is laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier - then I put my right hand over my heart; otherwise, I stand with my hands joined behind my back.
This is my normal routine during the National Anthem:
In reality, I just stand and take my hat off if I have one and count the seconds until that stupidity is over. I have no idea why sporting events insist on it. I also won’t recite the Pledge of Allegiance. Pageantry Patriotism isn’t my thing.
Not only that…if you pay attention to various clips going back decades…there’s all kinds of different people doing different things. Of course the Pres and his closest do it but looking around and others arnt
I mean of course the Secret Service arnt!! Understandably.
I used to have some reverence for the anthem, always standing (no hand over heart, though) and sometimes even getting a little misty. Today, I would still stand, mostly out of respect for our veterans, but inside I’ll be thinking of just about anything else.
The last time I said the pledge of allegiance (5th grade?) was indeed the last time I will ever speak those words. In what circumstances, other than at schools, is it usually said?
My son wanted to shoot clay pigeons. There’s a Sprtsman’s Club near me that has an area devoted to clays, so I applied for membership.
I had to attend a meeting to apply. They played the national anthem on cassette and everyone stood. Then the head of the club led everyone in the pledge of allegiance.
It was hard not to laugh, but I got through it. Fifty bucks. We went twice. He hit more clays than I did, and he was 12.
That is funny, but in a cringy way.