# 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:** 5
**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 13, 2016, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-gold-medlaists-not-saluting-the-flag-during-the-anthem/762489/81 "2016-08-13T03:34:25Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Why does Trump hate America? I believe Cruz is reaching for his gun. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2016, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-gold-medlaists-not-saluting-the-flag-during-the-anthem/762489/82 "2016-08-13T04:17:18Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > I believe Cruz is reaching for his gun. Either that or he thinks he’s Napoleon. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2016, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-gold-medlaists-not-saluting-the-flag-during-the-anthem/762489/83 "2016-08-13T09:28:43Z")
> [@Dale\_Sams](#): > > Sometimes I will. Sometimes I’m just tired. I’m not making some kind of statement if I sit while a vet walks across the field, it just means I’m tired. Didn’t NBA player Jalen Rose once say something like: “If somebody doesn’t stand for the national anthem it might be they’re disrespecting their county, or it might just be because they’re eating nachos.” ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2016, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-gold-medlaists-not-saluting-the-flag-during-the-anthem/762489/84 "2016-08-13T09:29:15Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > I believe Cruz is reaching for his gun. Someone mentioned “culture”. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2016, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-gold-medlaists-not-saluting-the-flag-during-the-anthem/762489/85 "2016-08-13T15:58:40Z")
> [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > You mean [this](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/L8RwSOlRAAQ/hqdefault.jpg)Trump? May the best photoshop win. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2016, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-gold-medlaists-not-saluting-the-flag-during-the-anthem/762489/86 "2016-08-13T16:01:08Z")
> [@Mosier](#): > > That’s terrifying. > [@ThisSpaceForRent](#): > > Wow…thats it, just Wow. Whoosh! Or am I the guy being whooshed? Nah, **ambi** doesn’t seem like the Trump type, having a brain and all. ---
**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 13, 2016, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-gold-medlaists-not-saluting-the-flag-during-the-anthem/762489/87 "2016-08-13T17:19:11Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > May the best photoshop win. How does one photoshop jingoism? Actually, I think Cruz was trying to get as close to his heart as possible. The only possible next step was to take off his shirt, or make an incision, use a rib spreader and actually hold his heart in his hand. But that’s just too impractical on the spot. > [@dropzone](#): > > Whoosh! > > Or am I the guy being whooshed? Nah, **ambi** doesn’t seem like the Trump type, having a brain and all. I’m quite confident he was doing that thing some people do called “joking”. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2016, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-gold-medlaists-not-saluting-the-flag-during-the-anthem/762489/88 "2016-08-13T20:31:42Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > You youngster don’t remember the [1968 Olympics.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1968_Olympics_Black_Power_salute) Oh, I remember that, although I prefer to think of the 1968 games ending with the performance, in the men’s marathon, of John Stephen Akwhari, the last man in. His guts and determination got him invited back to appear at the Olympics at least twice. ---
**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 13, 2016, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-gold-medlaists-not-saluting-the-flag-during-the-anthem/762489/89 "2016-08-13T21:30:38Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > I’m quite confident he was doing that thing some people do called “joking”. Maybe he was being sarcastic. 😃 ---
**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 13, 2016, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-gold-medlaists-not-saluting-the-flag-during-the-anthem/762489/90 "2016-08-13T23:06:11Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Maybe he was being sarcastic. 😃 Nawwww, that can’t be it! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2016, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-gold-medlaists-not-saluting-the-flag-during-the-anthem/762489/91 "2016-08-14T01:03:41Z")
If I recall correctly, the US Olympic Committee requires its athletes to stand respectfully and face the flag when the anthem is played. No mention of what to do with one’s hands. ---
**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 14, 2016, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-gold-medlaists-not-saluting-the-flag-during-the-anthem/762489/92 "2016-08-14T01:09:24Z")
> [@suranyi](#): > > If I recall correctly, the US Olympic Committee requires its athletes to stand respectfully and face the flag when the anthem is played. No mention of what to do with one’s hands. Probably to not cover up the medal. ---
**Author:** ![up\_the\_junction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f1d935/32.png) [@up\_the\_junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/up_the_junction)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2016, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-gold-medlaists-not-saluting-the-flag-during-the-anthem/762489/93 "2016-08-14T02:26:02Z")
Do you see athletes from any nations standing to attention or saluting - even the Soviet Union didn’t do that. Got fuck all to do with ‘respect’ - too bizarre. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2016, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-gold-medlaists-not-saluting-the-flag-during-the-anthem/762489/94 "2016-08-14T02:32:32Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > How does one photoshop jingoism? Actually, he’s right. According to Snopes it’s a faked photo. I apologize for spreading it. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2016, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-gold-medlaists-not-saluting-the-flag-during-the-anthem/762489/95 "2016-08-14T02:43:08Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > Probably to not cover up the medal. Or the sponsors’ logos, which is even more important to the IOC. ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2016, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-gold-medlaists-not-saluting-the-flag-during-the-anthem/762489/96 "2016-08-14T03:03:45Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > I’m quite confident he was doing that thing some people do called “joking”. It seemed so obvious, that’s how I took it. And for the record, as a fellow comrade, I’m not voting for Trump either. I prefer my elected officials to be a different shade of orange. ---
**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:** [August 14, 2016, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-gold-medlaists-not-saluting-the-flag-during-the-anthem/762489/97 "2016-08-14T05:42:37Z")
> [@danderson400](#): > > is it illegal for the Americans to NOT salute the flag? > [@Ambivalid](#): > > Unfortunately, no. Just one more reason I’m voting Trump this year. :mad: > [@panache45](#): > > Just one more reason I’m not surprised whom you’re voting for. :rolleyes: Dont worry; it’ll backfire on him when they throw him in the pokey for not standing at attention… ---
**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:** [August 14, 2016, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-gold-medlaists-not-saluting-the-flag-during-the-anthem/762489/98 "2016-08-14T05:53:45Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Or it may be that you are drawing a distinction between a military salute and the civilian hand-over-heart with that latter not constituting a “salute?” From my personal perspective, ALL salutes are military, whether rendered by hand or by ordnance. Rightly or wrongly, I don’t think of the hand-over-heart thing as a salute. I DO find myself wondering what country the OP lives in, to be asking that last question. And just how militaristic we’re viewed as over there. ---
**Author:** ![Banksiaman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banksiaman/32/3334_2.png) [@Banksiaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banksiaman)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2016, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-gold-medlaists-not-saluting-the-flag-during-the-anthem/762489/99 "2016-08-14T06:27:39Z")
I’ve always understood saluting to mean any sort of prompted arm motion, including hand on heart, and for once [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salute)agrees with me, so it must be right. The article has a very comprehensive survey of military and non-military practice from around the globe. In some respects its a shame that Olympic winners don’t all salute the flag / national anthem as it seems we’d be treated to a real wild smorgasbord of arms waving all over the place like helicopters, adding much to the spectacle, and the sublime possibilty of someone accidentally beaning the bronze-medal winner. ---
**Author:** ![Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/channing_idaho_banks/32/250_2.png) [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Channing_Idaho_Banks)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2016, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-gold-medlaists-not-saluting-the-flag-during-the-anthem/762489/100 "2016-08-14T07:14:00Z")
> [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](#): > > Didn’t NBA player Jalen Rose once say something like: “If somebody doesn’t stand for the national anthem it might be they’re disrespecting their county, or it might just be because they’re eating nachos.” I’ll respond to this because it’s NBA related and I like Jalen Rose. This is an example of Hanlon’s Razor. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-gold-medlaists-not-saluting-the-flag-during-the-anthem/762489.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-american-gold-medlaists-not-saluting-the-flag-during-the-anthem/762489.md?page=6)