# Why are some american gold medlaists not saluting the flag during the anthem? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 11, 2016, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-gold-medlaists-not-saluting-the-flag-during-the-anthem/762489 "2016-08-11T21:31:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![danderson400](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bc79bd/32.png) [@danderson400](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danderson400)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2016, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-gold-medlaists-not-saluting-the-flag-during-the-anthem/762489/1 "2016-08-11T21:31:47Z")
why are some of the American gold medalists not saluting the flag during the “Star Spangled Banner”? there is a issue about it during this Olympics, and I’ve never seen the issue raised before. is it illegal for the Americans to NOT salute the flag? ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2016, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-gold-medlaists-not-saluting-the-flag-during-the-anthem/762489/2 "2016-08-11T21:41:41Z")
> [@danderson400](#): > > why are some of the American gold medalists not saluting the flag during the “Star Spangled Banner”? there is a issue about it during this Olympics, and I’ve never seen the issue raised before. is it illegal for the Americans to NOT salute the flag? I’m not watching the Olympics, so I can’t comment on what’s happening. I can say it is certainly \*\*\*not \*\*\*illegal to refuse to salute the flag. Still a free country, mostly. There might be a US Olympic team rule about it. ---
**Author:** ![danderson400](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bc79bd/32.png) [@danderson400](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danderson400)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2016, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-gold-medlaists-not-saluting-the-flag-during-the-anthem/762489/3 "2016-08-11T21:45:04Z")
When I watched the Olympics when I was a boy and young kid, the Americans always saluted the flag without fail. This goes back to Seoul, the first games I watched in 1988. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2016, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-gold-medlaists-not-saluting-the-flag-during-the-anthem/762489/4 "2016-08-11T21:48:16Z")
In response to folks bringing it up, Gabby Douglas tweeted that she stands at attention when the anthem is played – including at the medal ceremony – out of respect. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Krupe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ebca7d/32.png) [@Leo\_Krupe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Krupe)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2016, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-gold-medlaists-not-saluting-the-flag-during-the-anthem/762489/5 "2016-08-11T21:48:47Z")
There’s no reason to _salute_ the flag during the national anthem, although it’s customary for military personnel to salute. [This](http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/02/national-anthem-etiquette-what-to-do-at-a-sporting-event-or-political-rally/) article is a couple of years old, but goes into the history of national anthem etiquette. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2016, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-gold-medlaists-not-saluting-the-flag-during-the-anthem/762489/6 "2016-08-11T21:48:48Z")
Not a sports fan, amateur sports especially (i.e. the Olympics) but isn’t it customary (for civilians anyway) to merely place one’s hand on their heart during the National Anthem, not salute? Including during the Olympics. In regards to the American flag, we’ve been thru this a million times. There is a [‘US flag code’](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Flag_Code), but they are guidelines of protocol, not criminal statues… ---
**Author:** ![leahcim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b4bc9f/32.png) [@leahcim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leahcim)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2016, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-gold-medlaists-not-saluting-the-flag-during-the-anthem/762489/7 "2016-08-11T21:49:42Z")
It must be because they hate America. 😉 The closest thing I’ve seen to a news story on this is [this](http://thegrio.com/2016/08/10/gabby-douglas-apologizes-for-not-putting-hand-over-heart-during-national-anthem/). I didn’t think putting your hand over your heart was really a “salute”, but standing at attention is perfectly respectful (and, as noted, nothing is legally required). Of course recreational outrage about people’s level of patriotic display is one of the internet’s favourite hobbies. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2016, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-gold-medlaists-not-saluting-the-flag-during-the-anthem/762489/8 "2016-08-11T21:54:03Z")
Etiquette dictates that one stand and face the flag when the anthem is playing. Saluting with a hand over your heart is a nice bonus, but certainly isn’t required in order to be polite. IME the majority of Americans will do hand-over-heart gesture but most other nationalities do not. Only military/police should use a military-style salute when the anthem is playing, and then typically only at official functions when in uniform. ETA: There was a lot of amusement during the Athens games when medalists were given wreaths to wear on their heads. Nobody had issued instructions on whether the wreaths were considered “hats,” so American athletes were constantly confused as to whether they should remove them during the anthem, with some taking them off and replacing them several times during the ceremony. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2016, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-gold-medlaists-not-saluting-the-flag-during-the-anthem/762489/9 "2016-08-11T21:58:42Z")
> [@danderson400](#): > > When I watched the Olympics when I was a boy and young kid, the Americans always saluted the flag without fail. This goes back to Seoul, the first games I watched in 1988. You youngster don’t remember the [1968 Olympics.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1968_Olympics_Black_Power_salute) ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2016, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-gold-medlaists-not-saluting-the-flag-during-the-anthem/762489/10 "2016-08-11T21:59:51Z")
When I’m at an event where the national anthem is played, I’ll stand with my hands at my sides, unless I’m wearing a cap. Then I’ll take it off and place it over my heart. Either way seems perfectly cromulent to me. Putting your hand over your heart during the playing of the national anthem is traditional, but certainly not required. Standing at attention with your hands folded in front of you, like Gabby Douglas, is certainly not being disrespectful. And as **Procrustus** said, there is no legal requirement when honoring the flag. Seriously, can’t people find better things to get bent out of shape about? Ninja’d by everyone else. ---
**Author:** ![Deeg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deeg/32/2955_2.png) [@Deeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deeg)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2016, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-gold-medlaists-not-saluting-the-flag-during-the-anthem/762489/11 "2016-08-11T22:02:49Z")
I just want to say that Gabby Douglas is a class act. She has handled the turmoil in this year’s Olympics with grace and style. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2016, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-gold-medlaists-not-saluting-the-flag-during-the-anthem/762489/12 "2016-08-11T22:08:27Z")
It boggles my mind that one would think it’s illegal not to salute the flag. Geez Louise. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2016, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-gold-medlaists-not-saluting-the-flag-during-the-anthem/762489/13 "2016-08-11T22:12:58Z")
> [@danderson400](#): > > is it illegal for the Americans to NOT salute the flag? Unfortunately, no. Just one more reason I’m voting Trump this year. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2016, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-gold-medlaists-not-saluting-the-flag-during-the-anthem/762489/14 "2016-08-11T22:25:44Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > ETA: There was a lot of amusement during the Athens games when medalists were given wreaths to wear on their heads. Nobody had issued instructions on whether the wreaths were considered “hats,” so American athletes were constantly confused as to whether they should remove them during the anthem, with some taking them off and replacing them several times during the ceremony. 🙂 They shoulda kept the wreathes on and saluted in the ancient Greek style of raising your fully-extended right arm about 45 degrees. No controversy in that, no sir-ree. I share pulykamell’s bogglification. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2016, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-gold-medlaists-not-saluting-the-flag-during-the-anthem/762489/15 "2016-08-11T22:34:06Z")
It’s time once again to link to Peter Beinart’s wonderful 2008 [Time Magazine article](http://www.odec.umd.edu/CD/POLITICS/BEINART.PDF) (pdf) about different forms of patriotism, and why for some people wearing a flag lapel pin (or saluting during the National Anthem) really is that important. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2016, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-gold-medlaists-not-saluting-the-flag-during-the-anthem/762489/16 "2016-08-11T22:42:54Z")
It is a little known fact that it is extremely illegal for American citizens to not salute the American flag while they are in Brazil. Nobody knows why the Brazilian government slipped that into an Olympics budgeting law especially because it can carry the death penalty. The Summer Games in 2020 will not be nearly as successful after the perpetrators are arrested, imprisoned or much worse because Brazilians will not stand for Americans disregarding proper protocol for their own flag on Brazil’s watch. It doesn’t apply to any other country. That is a shame because it is perfectly legal not to salute the flag during the national anthem back in the good old USA. We have strong protections for freedom of speech here. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2016, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-gold-medlaists-not-saluting-the-flag-during-the-anthem/762489/17 "2016-08-11T22:44:17Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > You youngster don’t remember the [1968 Olympics.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1968_Olympics_Black_Power_salute) Yup. What’s happening now can hardly be considered a controversy in comparison. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2016, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-gold-medlaists-not-saluting-the-flag-during-the-anthem/762489/18 "2016-08-11T22:49:32Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > It boggles my mind that one would think it’s illegal not to salute the flag. Geez Louise. > [@Ambivalid](#): > > Unfortunately, no. Just one more reason I’m voting Trump this year. :mad: It is, of course, now customary to dance on the graves of Muslims during the US National Anthem. And by customary, I mean those that don’t will be taken out back and shot. ---
**Author:** ![seal\_cleaner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@seal\_cleaner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seal_cleaner)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2016, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-gold-medlaists-not-saluting-the-flag-during-the-anthem/762489/19 "2016-08-11T22:49:58Z")
I don’t remember the “hand over heart” thing happening when I was a kid (early 60’s) - that was for the Pledge of Allegience, not the national anthem. ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2016, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-gold-medlaists-not-saluting-the-flag-during-the-anthem/762489/20 "2016-08-11T22:58:25Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > Unfortunately, no. Just one more reason I’m voting Trump this year. :mad: Totally agreed, comrade **Ambi**. We’ll make America great again, one salute at the Olympics at a time. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-gold-medlaists-not-saluting-the-flag-during-the-anthem/762489.md?page=2)