# It's the National Anthem! Show some respect! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 27, 2003, 9:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-national-anthem-show-some-respect/151209 "2003-01-27T09:20:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 9:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-national-anthem-show-some-respect/151209/1 "2003-01-27T09:20:59Z")
Friend gave this rant today during the Super Bowl, and asked me to post it. So here it is. “If I were an NFL coach, I would tell every fucking player that when the national anthem is being performed, they should stand still with their hands on their hearts and looking at the flag. It takes ONE MINUTE for that song to be sung…well, two minutes if they’re a show-off…BUT THAT’S IT! You can stand still for that long and show some fucking respect! Don’t let me see you banging your fists together and getting your game face on! Did you forget everything about patriotism as soon as 9/11 was a year in the past?!” ---
**Author:** ![I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_can_t_believe_that_s_butter)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-national-anthem-show-some-respect/151209/2 "2003-01-27T09:24:27Z")
I agree, assuming all the players are American. In any case, standing still should be called for. ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-national-anthem-show-some-respect/151209/3 "2003-01-27T10:34:21Z")
Even if the players aren’t American, it’s just good to stand still and be respectful. Flutterby, a Canadian who stands still for other countries anthems. ---
**Author:** ![Kaje](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f04885/32.png) [@Kaje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaje)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-national-anthem-show-some-respect/151209/4 "2003-01-27T10:43:56Z")
(got knocked off while trying to post this earlier… let’s try again…) i thought i’d shaken my sdmb addiction years ago, yet here i am at [5:45] posting… I don’t have any problem with a coach enforcing this sort of rule… I do think it’s silly in general to judge someone’s patriotism by whether or not they stand still for the national anthem. Maybe we should pay a little more attention to the actions that actually make a difference instead of the superficial ones (that said, I suppose players making this gesture in the country’s most widely watched evening of television could legimitately be considered an important matter of national pride, which is probably worth reinforcing). I like that you made mention of the reduction in overt acts of patriotism since the fervor that followed 9/11… however I found all of these acts to be amusing at best… entirely counterfeit at worst, and had no potential to serve a long-term positive role. In retrospect (or not) all they did was allow a government to take some questionable actions, leading up to our current global predicament… but that’s another story altogether… Like I said, in this case given that you’re saying the coaches should have enforced it and the significance of the particular citizens involved (as one who thought Charles Barkley’s ‘i’m not a role model’ bullshit was just that) I think this rebuke is justified. I don’t, however, think it can be broadly applied to the rest of the populace (not that you did in this post) ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-national-anthem-show-some-respect/151209/5 "2003-01-27T10:45:18Z")
I’m not overly patriotic, but I agree with the rant. A little decorum won’t kill you. It’s always great fun to watch international sports matches and see how well the players know their own national anthems during the inevitable camera pan. Some sing enthusiastically, a few just stand there stupidly, and most sort of mumble and try not to look like complete idiots. AFAIK, Americans are the only ones who put their hands on their hearts, though. Anyone know of any other cases? ---
**Author:** ![Kaje](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f04885/32.png) [@Kaje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaje)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-national-anthem-show-some-respect/151209/6 "2003-01-27T10:56:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jr8 \* > \*\*AFAIK, Americans are the only ones who put their hands on their hearts, though. Anyone know of any other cases? \*\* we’re also the only ones (that i know of) who say a pledge of allegiance… it seems entirely natural to most of us but just try explaining it to a european ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-national-anthem-show-some-respect/151209/7 "2003-01-27T11:06:36Z")
Most Europeans I know have no trouble comprehending American jingoistic rituals. It fits in nicely with their general worldview of Americans. ---
**Author:** ![Kaje](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f04885/32.png) [@Kaje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaje)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-national-anthem-show-some-respect/151209/8 "2003-01-27T11:09:38Z")
good point ---
**Author:** ![flodnak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/838e76/32.png) [@flodnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flodnak)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-national-anthem-show-some-respect/151209/9 "2003-01-27T11:30:05Z")
I’m with **Flutterby**. When a national anthem is played, it doesn’t matter if it’s your country or not, you stand quietly and show some respect. It’s just good manners. ---
**Author:** ![cadolphin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c37758/32.png) [@cadolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cadolphin)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-national-anthem-show-some-respect/151209/10 "2003-01-27T11:38:24Z")
Ditto. I don’t care what country…It’s just good manners. ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-national-anthem-show-some-respect/151209/11 "2003-01-27T11:45:37Z")
I’m down with the “doesn’t matter if you move” crowd. Some people just can’t stand still, so they twitch a bit. Personally, if I were going to go on television and let a bunch of really big ad aggressive guys run into, through, and over me. I’d be a bit twitchy too. ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-national-anthem-show-some-respect/151209/12 "2003-01-27T12:00:38Z")
If you think standing still is hard to do, you should see (or rather, hear) what happens Every time The Irish National Anthem is played at a sporting occasion. Normally, It starts off well, and the sound of a large crowd singing it is incredible (especially at All Ireland finals day when there is 80,000 people singing it), but one thing spoils it for me. I’ve played the anthem at every big stadium in Ireland and every backwater pitch that can hold a county final (and a few that can’t) and it happened at every place, AFAICR. The Anthem runs for about 1 minute 30 seconds. What happens is this. The crowd starts cheering before the end. The second last line builds up with a big crescendo, before the final line (“Seo libh chanaigh Amhrainn na bFiann”) however, this line is now drowned out by people shouting and screaming. Its not like its too hard to wait the extra 4 seconds until the anthem is finished. The cheering and shouting gets earlier and earlier every year. Soon, the Anthem will be “YARRHHHHHHAARRR ‘Mon Ireland!” WHOOOOOOOOOOOOO!! The Lad’s!!” and that’s it. Its not much, but If you’re out at an event supporting your country, the least you could do is honour its Anthem. ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-national-anthem-show-some-respect/151209/13 "2003-01-27T12:17:23Z")
I don’t mind twitching and some shifting and whatnot. Not even I can stand completely still. What I mean is the stretching, the scratching of armpits etc… I’ve seen hockey players (the goalie) half stretching while the anthem is playing and making sure his gear is on right. Shouldn’t it be on right _before he is on the ice???_ If you have to shift back and forth on your feet or twitch or whatever a little that’s cool. But at least make a semblence of paying attention rather then looking like you are checking if you put the deoderant on today. ---
**Author:** ![FisherQueen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/58f4c7/32.png) [@FisherQueen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FisherQueen)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-national-anthem-show-some-respect/151209/14 "2003-01-27T12:39:28Z")
I noticed that many of the players were standing respectfully still, their hands on their hearts, while “God Bless America” was played before the national anthem. Maybe the poor lads just got confused. Too many blows to the head and all. You don’t expect them to know which song their national anthem actually is, do you? ---
**Author:** ![everton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@everton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/everton)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-national-anthem-show-some-respect/151209/15 "2003-01-27T12:54:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jr8 \* > \*\*AFAIK, Americans are the only ones who put their hands on their hearts, though. Anyone know of any other cases? \*\* I vaguely recall the Brazilians doing it at the last World Cup. Don’t quote me though - I tend to use national anthems for that last pre-kick-off beer run. ---
**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:** [January 27, 2003, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-national-anthem-show-some-respect/151209/16 "2003-01-27T13:10:37Z")
I totally disagree with the OP. What kind of fascist, jingoistic bullshit is that? A coach would have no legal authority to do that in the first place. They’re not in the army and they’re not in fucking school. You can’t coerce patriotism, and patriotism is no virtue anyway. Personally, I don’t even stand up for the anthem at ball games, it’s not a ritual that I care to participate in. Why do we have to play the anthem at sporting events anyway? What purpose does it serve? And, as if that’s not bad enough, now we have to endure the execrable “God Bless America,” which combines mindless jingoism with mindless religion. I mean, think about it. Are we supposed to believe that God has some special, exclusive love for America? What a load of crap. ---
**Author:** ![everton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@everton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/everton)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-national-anthem-show-some-respect/151209/17 "2003-01-27T13:23:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Diogenes the Cynic \* > \*\*Why do we have to play the anthem at sporting events anyway? \*\* They only play national anthems at _international_ games over here, but since the Bucs claimed to have been crowned World Champions yesterday it seems we were all included whether we liked it or not. ---
**Author:** ![Zoff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/6de8d8/32.png) [@Zoff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoff)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-national-anthem-show-some-respect/151209/18 "2003-01-27T13:24:01Z")
I’m of the opinion there’s no real need for a national anthem befor a game. But since it’s played I think people should generally try to be as respectful as possible for the national anthem. I do understand some shifting about to stay warmed up. It might seem like a little thing, but especially for a hockey goalie he’s really just trying to stay loose. > [@](#): > > A coach would have no legal authority to do that in the first place. A coach is perfectly free to say “Show some respect” just as he’s free to say “If you throw one more fucking interception I’ll bench your ass.” What on earth would make you think telling somebody to calm down isn’t legal? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-national-anthem-show-some-respect/151209/19 "2003-01-27T13:25:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by TwistofFate \* > \*\*What happens is this. > > The crowd starts cheering before the end.\*\* In my hometown, we cheered at the end. I think I was seven or eight years old before I realized the last three words of the national anthem were “let’s go Steelers!” Americans should consider themselves lucky. I’ve been present for colors ceremonies and an Arlington Cemetery wreath-laying ceremony involving Argentine military personnel. I believe the Argentine national anthem clocks in at about fifteen minutes. ---
**Author:** ![Kaje](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f04885/32.png) [@Kaje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaje)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-national-anthem-show-some-respect/151209/20 "2003-01-27T13:29:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Diogenes the Cynic \* > \*\*A coach would have no legal authority to do that in the first place. \*\* I really don’t know the details as to the demands a coach in the pros can legally place on his players, but it seems like they’ve been able to make or break players based on character issues in the past… If you don’t want your player acting a certain way or being involved in certain things even if they aren’t illegal haven’t the higherups in the organization given you the permission to do something about it? If they haven’t, I would certainly assume THEY can do something about it. I think the nature of a pro sports player is symbolic and one of representation in the minds of a lot of people, and I can’t imagine there would be a reason why a coach or other more authoritative member of a team couldn’t make a social or political decision to require his players to respect the national anthem I realize this could get tricky as it might spill into employees of any company, but I do think there is an appreciable, objective difference (and it isn’t just the salary)… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-national-anthem-show-some-respect/151209.md?page=2)