an observation or an opinion?
So I was cruising around on facebook today and a co-worker posted a YouTube link of President Obama not saluting the flag during the National Anthem(his hands were folding in front of him and he was watching whomever/whatever everyone else was watching). Of course this lead many people to say how unpatriotic he was and how dare he be president of our country, etc. I made a comment just stating an observation of my own – I don’t put my hand over my heart during the National Anthem either. I never have. I was then curious and googled whether or not other presidents displayed this act of "treason" and sure enough – others including former Presidents Bush(SR and JR) and Clinton had.
All throughout school my hands were either straight down at my side or behind my back during the National Anthem and when we said the Pledge of Allegiance my right hand was over my heart. I have ALWAYS done this. And I do NOT consider myself any less patriotic than someone that "salutes" during the National Anthem. I love my country very much and I am PROUD to be an American. I support my troops even if I don’t agree with why we are fighting. I thank my veterans. But really, am I(or anyone else) any less patriotic for not saluting our flag during the National Anthem? I find it so funny that people get so up in arms about this when it’s really not that big of a deal. But it has made me think…
Please tell me your thoughts and observations on what you do during the National Anthem vs. saying the Pledge of Allegiance.
I never thought about it, but I think I’ve always clasped my hands behind my back and bowed my head during the National Anthem and for the Pledge of Allegiance, I just had my hands at my sides. For me, personally, I would feel weird saluting because I never served in the military or as an armed officer, you know? If people want to salute, they can. It’s their choice. Now if they wereburning a flag and stomping on it during those two things, then yes, that’s unpatriotic. But not saluting? That’s not unpatriotic at all.
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i’ll get the ball rolling, even though we just discussed this for 30 minutes. 😀 haha i hold my hand over my heart for both. even though i’ve probably not had an opportunity to pledged the flag in about 15 years. i dont think bad of people who dont hold their heart during the nat. anthem though. whatever they wanna do as long at they arent acting stupid or something.
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What I was younger I did the hand over my heart… But now that I’m older I just keep my hands at my side and just leave it at that.
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I know that during school my hand was always on my heart during the Pledge because that is what everyone else did. I am not sure what I do during the National Anthem because it has been so long. J says he puts his hand on his heart during the National Anthem.
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Hm. I do the hand over the heart for the Pledge of Allegiance, but notthe National Anthem. I didnt know you were suppose to!
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I don’t salute the flag, and I don’t put my hand on my heart during the national anthem. A lot of the time, I don’t even stand. But that depends on the circumstances, because if I didn’t stand during the national anthem at a major league baseball game, I’d probably get my ass kicked. But I don’t think those rituals make anyone any more than patriotic than someone who does not participate in them.
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RYN: Thanks sweetie. ::hugs:: The last we heard, it was for a 1yr tour. But with the military, you never really know.
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I think it’s okay not to salute the flag if you’re not a member of the Armed Forces. Most civilians don’t do this… and honestly, I’d kinda look at people weird if they did this as a civilian. But as the president, you’re the head of the US Army, but also not a member of the service. You should at least do *something* to recognize you respect the flag. Hand over heart is fine. If you don’t do
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that as president of the United States then shame on you! I think it’s terrible. I voted for Obama, but if he’s not going to acknowledge his respect for the flag then I think it’s wrong…. and actually, let me just say that as president you are not only head of the Army, you’re head of the US Armed Forces.. ALL branches. Respect the position, you know?
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RYN: Thank you for those kind words, that warmed my heart. Linda
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