As a kid in school about 35-40 years ago, the “secondary anthem” was America the Beautiful. And there were a few other patriotic songs we were taught, some of which were horrible.
Back in college during the Viet Nam war, we didn’t even stand up for the national anthem. That was to show that we were the patriots and those committing atrocities in the name of the flag weren’t.
“You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me.”
TL/DR; If you salute the flag you hate Baby Jesus.
You know, this actually makes the gold-fringe sovereign-citizen stuff sound – well, not plausible, but, like, Very Slightly Less Laughable. “No, I know they told me to stand up and do that; and, yes, I know there’s official stuff on the books saying that I should do as they direct; but it’s not, technically, mandated! No, I can’t show you where it’s written that it’s not mandated; that’s just obvious; you’re trying to bluff me into thinking I have to do it, but I know that I don’t actually have to do it, and I know that you know that I don’t have to do it!”
What’s wrong with it being about a war? France’s anthem is about the French Revolution – it talks about blood of tyrants and stuff like that. Our’s is pretty tame.
And again for every veteran walking across the field or throwing a ball.
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.
But I can show you where it’s written that it’s not mandated.
In my view, if your argument depends on defeating a strawman that only slightly resembles what I have said, you have conceded the fraility of your argument.
