# 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:** 8\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2003, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-national-anthem-show-some-respect/151209/61 "2003-01-28T11:21:13Z")
If people don’t wish to stand for the anthem, thats ok. Its as valid a statement as standing and singing. But what if you sat down and started singing “The Camptown Races” at full voice during the anthem? Is that a valid statement or just being a jerk? If someone who dosent want to observe a ritual thats fine. My truck is with teh people who start to observe the anthem, but cant even last the 1 minute and 20 seconds it takes to finish. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2003, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-national-anthem-show-some-respect/151209/62 "2003-01-28T12:01:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by mhendo \* > **I always think it’s funny when lliberty-loving Americans start telling other people what they should be doing during the national anthem.** Why? Is the idea of sharing your opinion with another person contradictory to the idea of loving liberty? Does loving liberty mean that you never tell anyone your feelings on anything? It’s not like we were advocating imprisoning them. ---
**Author:** ![Rider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/dc4da7/32.png) [@Rider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rider)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2003, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-national-anthem-show-some-respect/151209/63 "2003-01-28T14:12:01Z")
Whom does nationalism serve other than governments who need to send their boys off to war from time to time with no good reason? Singing the national anthem merely perpetuates this brainwashing of the masses. Also, the American national anthem is a pretty dire tune. As I recall it is a rehashed old British Army drinking song. The Russian National Anthem, recently reinstated after being dropped after the fall of the USSR…now there’s a rousing tune. ---
**Author:** ![Yong\_Lee\_Fampee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ba8739/32.png) [@Yong\_Lee\_Fampee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yong_Lee_Fampee)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-national-anthem-show-some-respect/151209/64 "2003-01-30T06:27:01Z")
Does anyone remember when Roseanne barr grabbed her balls during the National Anthem? It was during a baseball game, and it was probobly the highlight of the evening. ---
**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 30, 2003, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-national-anthem-show-some-respect/151209/65 "2003-01-30T08:14:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Rider \* > \*\* The Russian National Anthem, recently reinstated after being dropped after the fall of the USSR…now there’s a rousing tune. \*\* Abso-friggin-lutely – best national anthem (music-wise) ever. I used to have my computer at work play it when I logged on in the morning (during that brief period I had an office to myself), as it put me in a more productive mood. Sure, the lyrics were the usual dull “we are Russian, we are strong, blah blah blah” stuff that national anthems typically contain, but by golly, it’s a great tune. ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-national-anthem-show-some-respect/151209/66 "2003-01-30T15:16:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Rider \* > Also, the American national anthem is a pretty dire tune. As I recall it is a rehashed old British Army drinking song. Not army drinking song, but a ditty called **To Anacreon in Heaven** sung by the members of the [Anacreontic Sociey](http://www.bcpl.net/~etowner/anacron2.html). ---
**Author:** ![GrizzRich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7ba0ec/32.png) [@GrizzRich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrizzRich)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-national-anthem-show-some-respect/151209/67 "2003-01-31T14:56:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by mhendo \* > \*\*“Oh please…” what?? > > I’ve never derided people for standing during the anthem; you can do whatever you like. I didn’t ridicule your rituals, but simply offered an explanation for why i don’t do it. > > It’s flag-and-anthem fundamentalists like you, telling everyone else what is “the right thing to do,” who give me the shits. You manage to use “respect” or “respectful” three times, but never say exactly for what or whom you are showing respect. > > When i sit quietly while the anthem is being played, in what way am i showing a lack of respect for you and your right to stand and sing with your hand over your heart? > > I happen to believe that giving money to the homeless on the street when you have some spare coins is “the right thing to do.” But i don’t look at everyone who walks by them and pass judgement on those people for not giving. People have their own reasons - important or trivial, it doesn’t matter - for doing or not doing things, and i’m not that interested in whether everyone else does things the same way as me or not. \*\* Before you make any snap-judgements about me, let’s get a few things clear… -I’ve never derided people for NOT standing during the anthem; you can do whatever you like. I didn’t ridicule your non-ritual, but simply offered an explanation for why I DO it. (that looks familiar because I copied it right from your post and changed a few words. Your statement is a valid argument that works just as well for me.) -About respect. I DID say for what I’m standing in respect. For a flag being raised or lowered; and for the anthems of other countries. If you want a deeper reason, then it’s this: People fought and died for the beliefs that those flags and anthems represent. For them, I show that kind of respect. I could go on an on, but that would be too taxing on us all! -And others (you included). I accused NO ONE of having a lack of respect if they elect to sit through the National Anthem. That I stand at attention, remove my hat, face the flag, hand over heart, sing the National Anthem, etc. That’s the way that “I” do it. I never once stated that others should do as I; nor that I hold anyone in less regard if they elect not to. So, friend-fellow Doper, I hold you in high regard for having the ability to clearly state your ideas and the bravery to stand by them. If I’m a “flag-and-anthem-fundamentalist”, then so be it. And a dang proud one, too. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-national-anthem-show-some-respect/151209/68 "2003-01-31T17:03:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Yong Lee Fampee \* > \*\*Does anyone remember when Roseanne barr grabbed her balls during the National Anthem? It was during a baseball game, and it was probobly the highlight of the evening. \*\* Her **WHAT?!?** I know Rosanne has a reputation for, uhh, _transcending_ any image of demure femininity, but I hadn’t heard that she had carried it to the point of surgical enhancement. BTW, it was at a San Diego Padres game, and it resulted in her being the most hated woman in America that week. And the pop-star-performance of the National Anthem never recovered _its_ image until Whitney Houston at the Super Bowl. Which, JFTR, made me gag. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-national-anthem-show-some-respect/151209.md?page=3)