Jimi Hendrix - Woodstock.
Now that’s the way the anthem should be played!
As for the rants, the solution is obvious:
a. Cook it yourself
b. Go back to Russia, you commie! 
That’s right; the song is To Anacreon in Heaven. It’s meant to be sung over a mug of warm ale and a well-done steak.
Now THAT’S something I can stand for. 
I like my steak well done too. I find it helps to add ‘no pink at all’. Then nothing is open to interpretation. Even ‘burn it’ could imply charred on the outside, but pink in the middle.
Our national anthem is not just a song about a flag. It’s a song about determination, hope, pride and glory. Fort McHenry was getting the shit bombed out of it by Britain’s naval forces. Motars and bombshells were exploding all over the fort. It was pouring down rain. Armistead and his men defended that fort with everything they had–which wasn’t much. He would be damned before he would surrender that night. Early in the morning, the British ships withdrew and it was a decisive victory for the US.
Armistead ordered the Great Garrison Flag raised. It was, as its name implies, a big-ass flag. When Key saw it–from miles away, mind you–he knew Fort McHenry had held strong and come out victorious. He was so moved by what he saw he was inspired to write a poem about it.
To call the above oversimplified would be quite an understatement. My point wasn’t a history lesson on the War of 1812 and the Battle of Baltimore. It was to illustrate–albeit poorly–how it is a gross misunderstanding to posit that the song is just singing the praises of a flag.
Disclaimer: You’ll never, ever catch me flying our flag on my lawn or, worse, on my car. I think it’s tacky and pointless to do so in your own country. I will rise for our national anthem when the situation calls for it, and probably be moved to tears by the time the last stanza comes around.
Well, it’s not just because I don’t like the song, as I’ve explained. I have beliefs behind it, even if they may seem overly militant.
As far as the Arlington/Argentina scenario, I’m pretty sure I would have stood, too - I wouldn’t be at a military function, even as a civilian, and expect to not follow some basic protocol (not to mention the possibility of creating an international incident). Of course, I can’t imagine putting myself in a situation where I was a civilian at a military function in the first place, so it’s not something I worry about much.
Because it can’t get my food order right and it wants me to stand and sing along with its crappy theme song.
The history you quote is true, I’m sure, just as I’m sure “She Said She Said” is about a conversation John Lennon had with Peter Fonda while on acid, but in both cases the lyrics don’t do much to clue you in. It sounds like it’s just about a flag, which is maybe why so many people interpret it that way.
I understood that part, which is another reason I despise the song on purely musical grounds: it’s corny. I’ve never grasped the whole “pride in country” thing anyway; I had nothing to do with where I was born, and I sure as hell didn’t help found the nation or anything.
I hope this isn’t coming out as an attack; I certainly wouldn’t mock you were I to observe you crying during the last stanza of the song. I’m just asking for the same respect.
Well, I was joking. Although fitting my reasons for not standing on a sign might be a mite problematic.
Rysler: Thanks for the support.
I have no problem with your National Anthem policy. As for your steak solution, though: come on, I’m not a savage, for Chrissake.
Oops - that last sentence was a response to Beware of Doug’s post. I meant to put my thanks to Rysler after it.
Have you heard Marvin Gaye’s version? It gives me goosebumps every time I hear it, and I’m not even United Statesian.
Well, you’re certanly entitled to your beliefs, 'tis true. However, I fall into the camp that nodding to American culture on matters like this is generally worthwhile. It promotes community spirit and social cohesion, and avoids having strangers yell at you at the ball park.
This country is wonderfully tolerant of diverse viewpoints and beliefs, and I don’t find it so hard to expect that this tolerance be repaid by occasional deference to majority held custom.
Where the line is for you, you have to decide. But I think you’re wrong here, and my time in Argentina has convinced me that you’re misguided on the beef issue as well.
It could have happened. I brought my folks to Arlington Cemetery to see the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and they just happened to have the ceremony while we were there.
I find it somewhat odd that any nation needs to assert its own nationhood unless there is some particularly testing moment of national crisis, such as , say war, or attacks like 9/11.
Why national anthem at baseball matches, or any sporting event ?
In the UK we do have these anthems when international events are concerned, the anthems of both nations are played as a mark of respect from the supporters of one nation to another, but it seems odd to me that in the plain old domestic season, where 2 teams of the same nationality are playing, eg Arsenal vs Manchester United, there is any real value in the national anthem being played, its not like there is any national pride at stake.
As for the national anthem in schools, well that seems very strange, maybe once a year perhaps but is smacks of the disquieting sort of nationalism that one sees at the extreme ends of the political spectrum.
Is the US so fearful for its national identity that its citizens need to hear it at the opening of a large envelope ?
(not directed at you Kimstu)
This is what bothers me most. Why should anyone else give a shit what another is doing? Ugh, people need to start minding their own fucking business. What would happen if a non-native American chose not to stand? I shudder at the thought.
As for the OP, I completely agree and respect his stance. However, I don’t think I’d have the balls to do what he did. Arguably he’s representing this country’s ideals mores than the ones who do stand.
I have saluted the commissioned officers and flags of a dozen or more different countries, and stood for the national anthems of half a dozen at least.
A certain level of appropriate ceremony should be shown in certain circumstances, regardless of a person’s personal or political feelings.
casdave, it is true that the anthem and pledge are used more often in America than most countries. This is a pretty ingrained aspect of American culture and custom.
casdave, I agree with you. I’m not sure why we’re so big on reminding ourselves that we’re American and damn proud of it. I’ve always chalked it up to the fact that we’re a relatively young country that gained its independence after a somewhat short time of being British colonies. We fought for independence, and then fought to remain independent. Americans had every right to be proud. For better or worse, pride’s been an American way of life ever since.
No, I haven’t heard that. I’ll have to check that out. And somebody mentioned Jimi Hendrix’s version. Add that to my list too.
Regardless of a person’s personal or political feelings, their beliefs should not be forced upon those who feel differently.
I was thinking of Tony also. Maybe they don’t have any crap steaks, and the chef doesn’t want to ruin one.
As for the anthem, a country whose anthem is set to a drinking song rocks. 
It might interest you to know that Isaac Asimov, no reactionary he, memorized all four verse to use against people calling him a Commie. If I were overseas and someone played an anthem, I’d stand by the way.
Is God Save the Queen still played after movies in Great Britain?
Where did I say they should be?
The obligation is on woodstockbirdybird to behave correctly, and a small part of this is standing at the appropriate time. If he fails to do so, I’m within my rights to disagree with those of you patting him on his back and telling him that he’s wrong, and my reasons for believing so.
If woodstockbirdybird has such faith in his convictions, than my disagreement really shouldn’t matter much to him, now should it?
It really goes no farther than that.
Right here:
It’s none of your buisness, “regardless of [your] personal or political feelings”
No obligiation exists.
Oh, I’m sorry. By “forced” I thought you meant what that term generally means in English - namely, making somebody do something against their will. I at no time advocated that.
You seem to be using the term in a more novel fashion, to mean avoiding offending someone. But if that were the case, wouldn’t the OP have to stand every time? Otherwise, wouldn’t he be “forcing” his beliefs on the rest of us?
The right he has to sit the anthem out extends to me as well, to question that belief. Freedom of speech has to be two-way, you know.
We don’t have baseball matches, you silly foreigner.
The anthem is not routinely played in schools.
Dunno why you’re so fearful for your national identity that the custom of Americans singing the national anthem appears threatening - but your objections are just not well done.
I will say for the record that if we had to select new music for an anthem, we could do no better than the orchestral fanfare from Jupiter’s theme in The Planets (Gustav Holst).
Great stuff.