# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2016, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-gold-medlaists-not-saluting-the-flag-during-the-anthem/762489/21 "2016-08-11T23:00:59Z")
And where are their lapel pins? And while we’re at it, where are their lapels?? ETA: SpoilerVirgin, spoiler indeed. Lapel pins have halready been mentioned in this thread. Argh. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2016, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-gold-medlaists-not-saluting-the-flag-during-the-anthem/762489/22 "2016-08-11T23:24:42Z")
I can only wish that my life were so perfect and I had so much leisure time that I could give a flying fuck in a rolling donut hole about how someone does or does not behave during the national anthem. So many people think that freedom means others being free to do as they expect them to. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2016, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-gold-medlaists-not-saluting-the-flag-during-the-anthem/762489/23 "2016-08-11T23:25:59Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > Unfortunately, no. Just one more reason I’m voting Trump this year. :mad: LOFuckingL.:mad: > [@Deeg](#): > > 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. And this just five and a half years after taking that bullet. ---
**Author:** ![purplehearingaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@purplehearingaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehearingaid)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2016, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-gold-medlaists-not-saluting-the-flag-during-the-anthem/762489/24 "2016-08-11T23:46:39Z")
You put your hand over your heart during the anthem not salute the flag , that was never done . ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2016, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-gold-medlaists-not-saluting-the-flag-during-the-anthem/762489/25 "2016-08-11T23:48:43Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > I can only wish that my life were so perfect and I had so much leisure time that I could give a flying fuck in a rolling donut hole about how someone does or does not behave during the national anthem. So many people think that freedom means others being free to do as they expect them to. Exactly. I take my hat off and put my hands behind my back. “Hand over heart” always struck me as too ritualistic for my tastes. And I don’t take my hat off for GD God Bless America. ---
**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, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-gold-medlaists-not-saluting-the-flag-during-the-anthem/762489/26 "2016-08-11T23:56:37Z")
What part of free country does the OP not understand? ---
**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 12, 2016, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-gold-medlaists-not-saluting-the-flag-during-the-anthem/762489/27 "2016-08-12T00:03:53Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > And where are their lapel pins? And while we’re at it, where are their lapels?? I always put on at least three lapels pins during the anthem so I’ll be better than someone with just one or two. And I wave a flag with each hand. Then I say the pledge afterwards and tell anyone who doesn’t join me to go back where they came from. It’s the patriotic thing to do. But fuck 'em all if they want me to pay taxes. ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2016, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-gold-medlaists-not-saluting-the-flag-during-the-anthem/762489/28 "2016-08-12T00:06:43Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > Unfortunately, no. Just one more reason I’m voting Trump this year. :mad: That’s terrifying. ---
**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 12, 2016, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-gold-medlaists-not-saluting-the-flag-during-the-anthem/762489/29 "2016-08-12T00:13:02Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > I always put on at least three lapels pins during the anthem so I’ll be better than someone with just one or two. And I wave a flag with each hand. Then I say the pledge afterwards and tell anyone who doesn’t join me to go back where they came from. It’s the patriotic thing to do. But fuck 'em all if they want me to pay taxes. See, I do the same, but then I start screaming “AMERICA! AMERICA! AMERICA!!!” into everybody’s faces, then I jiz into my star spangled boxer shorts, just so it’s clear where my loyalties lie. It’s important to set an example for the children of this country. ---
**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 12, 2016, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-gold-medlaists-not-saluting-the-flag-during-the-anthem/762489/30 "2016-08-12T00:15:44Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > See, I do the same, but then I start screaming “AMERICA! AMERICA! AMERICA!!!” into everybody’s faces, then I jiz into my star spangled boxer shorts, just so it’s clear where my loyalties lie. > > It’s important to set an example for the children of this country. You don’t scream, “AMERICA! FUCK, YEAH!”? 😃 ---
**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 12, 2016, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-gold-medlaists-not-saluting-the-flag-during-the-anthem/762489/31 "2016-08-12T00:17:49Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > You don’t scream, “AMERICA! FUCK, YEAH!”? 😃 I would, but I try to keep it tasteful. ---
**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 12, 2016, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-gold-medlaists-not-saluting-the-flag-during-the-anthem/762489/32 "2016-08-12T00:31:18Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > What part of free country does the OP not understand? The weird thing to me is that this seems to me to be a case where the whole idea of freedom of speech/expression actually applies : the right to freely express oneself without subjecting oneself to _government_ retaliation, as opposed to the usual talking points of “boss fired me because I said something stupid that made his company look bad” or “Target/other private entity won’t sell my shit or dropped my endorsement because I said something idiotic” or “Why won’t the New York Times print my harebrained garbage,” etc… ---
**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 12, 2016, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-gold-medlaists-not-saluting-the-flag-during-the-anthem/762489/33 "2016-08-12T00:41:53Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > The weird thing to me is that this seems to me to be a case where the whole idea of freedom of speech/expression actually applies : the right to freely express oneself without subjecting oneself to _government_ retaliation, as opposed to the usual talking points of “boss fired me because I said something stupid that made his company look bad” or “Target/other private entity won’t sell my shit or dropped my endorsement because I said something idiotic” or “Why won’t the New York Times print my harebrained garbage,” etc… Because unfortunately, unlike most Americans, you understand the 1st Amendment. ---
**Author:** ![leahcim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b4bc9f/32.png) [@leahcim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leahcim)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2016, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-gold-medlaists-not-saluting-the-flag-during-the-anthem/762489/34 "2016-08-12T01:44:19Z")
> [@seal\_cleaner](#): > > 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. And it’s really more of a “hand over middle of left lung” thing. The heart is more centrally located than that. ---
**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 12, 2016, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-gold-medlaists-not-saluting-the-flag-during-the-anthem/762489/35 "2016-08-12T01:48:16Z")
> [@leahcim](#): > > And it’s really more of a “hand over middle of left lung” thing. The heart is more centrally located than that. You’re supposed to put your flag pin and hand over your heart now, in case you become a target of a terrorist for loving America so damn much. We’ll re-issue the memo. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2016, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-gold-medlaists-not-saluting-the-flag-during-the-anthem/762489/36 "2016-08-12T01:55:07Z")
If you don’t salute, you literally founded ISIS. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2016, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-gold-medlaists-not-saluting-the-flag-during-the-anthem/762489/37 "2016-08-12T02:27:25Z")
Another famous case was Dave Wottle, who forgot to take off his cap during the ceremony: > **[Dave Wottle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Wottle)** > > David James Wottle (born August 7, 1950) is an American retired middle-distance track athlete. He was the gold medalist in the 800 meter run at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich and a world record holder in the 800 meters. In 1973, Wottle also ran the 3rd fastest Mile in history. He was known for wearing a golf cap while running. > Dave Wottle was born in Canton, Ohio. During his childhood he was very slim and feeble. His family doctor told him that he needed to do something, such as running, t... Bizarrely, he lived down the hall from me one quarter in college. ---
**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 12, 2016, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-gold-medlaists-not-saluting-the-flag-during-the-anthem/762489/38 "2016-08-12T02:45:15Z")
> [@wendell wagner](#): > > another famous case was dave wottle, who forgot to take off his cap during the ceremony… noooo! Not that!!! ---
**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 12, 2016, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-gold-medlaists-not-saluting-the-flag-during-the-anthem/762489/39 "2016-08-12T02:51:47Z")
> [@Wendell\_Wagner](#): > > Another famous case was Dave Wottle, who forgot to take off his cap during the ceremony: Wot a turkey. ---
**Author:** ![ThisSpaceForRent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thisspaceforrent/32/345_2.png) [@ThisSpaceForRent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisSpaceForRent)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2016, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-gold-medlaists-not-saluting-the-flag-during-the-anthem/762489/40 "2016-08-12T03:55:56Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > Unfortunately, no. Just one more reason I’m voting Trump this year. :mad: Wow…thats it, just Wow. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-gold-medlaists-not-saluting-the-flag-during-the-anthem/762489.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-gold-medlaists-not-saluting-the-flag-during-the-anthem/762489.md?page=3)