Are you offended if someone doesn't stand - for the pledge or national athem

TANNER'S MOM wrote: I have been going to post this and forgot.

Are you offended if you are like say a rodeo, a ball game where they do the flag or national athem and their people or don't stand and remove cover?

I know it makes me angry! I am not joking, I maybe the only person who feels this way. But it really bothers me. We were at a rodeo and there were people who were able bodied people, people I had seen walking to the beer garden sitting there when they rode the horses in with the flag and when they sang the national athem. I know that for me and my family we stand and remove cover. To be honest the national anthem can even bring tears to my eyes. I am so proud of my country and those who fought and died for it. Those who serve abroad and at home. I was sitting their thinking of our service men and women who aren't home right now and these people couldn't even honor that flag by standing up.

I had my Aunt with us, she is mentally retarded. She is handicapped with cerbal palsy and has horrific seizures. She is 70 years old and has the mind of a 5 year old. But yet when the flag came out she remembered enough, had been taught enough to stand for the national athem. She can't tell time, she can't read or write anything but her first name but I promise you that she knows the lords prayer, John 3:16 and the pledge!

I will get off my soap box now. I just wondered if it offends anyone else or is it just me?

cameragirl21 replied: yes, I become very offended. I always stand...if I'm watching a baseball game at home, I stand when they play it on tv and if I'm in the car and it comes on the radio or something I pull over and get out of the car to stand.

MoonMama replied: Yes! Extremely!

The other day during the Olympics when the US got Gold and they played the National Anthem....Braedin stopped what he was doing and was glued to the TV, when he saw the people with their hands over their hearts he did it too. I couldn't believe he did that, but let me tell you I was so PROUD of him!!!! PROUD of him!!!! It actually made me well up to see him do this.

HuskerMom replied: I would be offended too. I don't understand why someone wouldn't stand if they could. Too me that's disrespectful.

BabyOwen427 replied: It has always offended me to see people sitting or worse, talking during the anthem. Even before we were a military family. I remember all throughout my growing up, getting choked up and almost to tears when hearing it. I've always been extreamly patriotic. Now that my hubby is Army I have an even stronger feeling of patrioism, because I've seen what true patrioism and sacrifice are.

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied: I get disappointed. It shows ignorance and a lack of respect IMO, but it doesn't stop be from enjoying the game.

mammag replied: Yes, it really bothers me also. I'm like you guys who get teary. My kids make fun of me because I get teary at all things patriotic.

Chris became a citizen this year and at the ceremony I was crying. We were in the back and I didn't think anyone would notice (not that I would have been the only one with tears, I'm sure). Well, not the case because dear Conner turns around and says really loud "Mommy, are you crying?" in a tone of "oh good grief not again". So then everyone starts laughing. Heck, I even cry at fireworks.

I wonder though, some people probably were never really taught what you are supposed to do.... especially with taking off your hat. Standing I suppose you would realize though since everyone else is doing it.

PrairieMom replied: it bothers me yes. I always make sure to teach my children loudly correct behavior when I am in the company of people who are acting ignorant.

mom21kid2dogs replied: The hat thing I see alot. Although I think it's mostly ignorance or blatant rudeness, it doesn't ruin my day. Gotta tell you, though, since 9/11 I don't recall anyone not standing at the pledge or the star spangled banner. I'll pay more attention tonight at the football game, though.

Crystalina replied: I don't let what other people do (or don't do) offend me. I know what I'm supposed to do and what I've taught my kids to do. If I were somewhere and the person next to me wasn't standing then I would have an inner "humph" going on but other then that it's their choice. There could be a number of reasons they aren't standing.
Now, if the person were a child of mine they would be snatched up and set in the standing position before they could blink twice.

Celestrina replied:
ITA. It takes a lot more than that to offend me.

gr33n3y3z replied: Yes it ticks me off but what others do is their business I just lose respect for them

redchief replied: It does offend when people don't stand, remove cover, and be reverent during the national anthem and pledge.

Kentuckychick replied:
ITA with both of you.

it's a free country... personally I don't care if what you do as long as you aren't hurting someone else and by not standing up during the pledge or during the national anthem... you aren't hurting anyone.

Some people just aren't overly patriotic. It's kind of like saying it's disrespectful to not honor the fourth of july... as if the majority of us really stop to think of what the day really means other than fireworks, cookouts and a day off of work.

Calimama replied: Yes, but ultimately the ability to have a choice is what makes our country so great IMO.

jcc64 replied:


Couldn't have said it better myself. I respect the right of others to express themselves, whether or not I agree with them.

msoulz replied:
I quadruple that. To each his own as long as it doesn't harm another.

MommyToAshley replied:
This may be true, but I find it very disrespectful that they don't honor the country that gives them that choice.

Calimama replied:
Yep, so do I.

Boo&BugsMom replied: I could care less about the hats, even though it's the proper thing to do to remove them. I think it's proper manners to stand as well, but it doesn't "offend" me. Do I think it's the "right thing" to do? Yes. Does it bother or offend me? No. What other people do is their problem, not mine.

kimberley replied: maybe not offended but unimpressed. it equally disgusts me when other countries (in sports) do not respect each other. i have seen many a hockey game with uncouth US fans booing the Canadian National Anthem. it's plain ignorant. i would never disrespect any anthem or pledge.

jcc64 replied:

Not being obligated to honor the country that allows freedom of expression is a by-product of freedom itself, and I wouldn't have it any other way. On a personal level, I understand the offense that is taken, but I also ackowledge the right of others to express themselves however they see fit. I may not always or even frequently understand it, but I accept it. I don't like half the garbage masquerading as truth that goes out over AM radio airwaves or the net on a daily basis, but it's the price of doing business in a democracy.

Crystalina replied:
I agree.
This is the "land of the free and the home of the brave" even if some people don't stand or take off their hat to acknowledge those lyrics it still applies to them.

A&A'smommy replied: YES that is all I need to say!!!!

MommyToAshley replied:
I think the freedom of choice or speech can be taken too far. Not standing for the flag is one thing, but I think hate groups should not be allowed to do some of the things they can under the premise of "freedom of speech". But, that's an entirely different post and not comparable to not standing for the flag.

Kentuckychick replied:
You're right, sometimes it's taken too far... some of those group (the group that protests at soldier's funerals for example) are hurting others with their "freedom of speech"... and some groups (like the one I mentioned) intend to do just that.

The difference for me is that I don't find someone simply not singing or participating in the anthem/pledge offensive... but those individuals who start groups that aim to hurt others... those are majorly offensive.

luvmykids replied: Heck yes I am offended. I think it's disrespectful in every sense, to our past and to our present soldiers, to our forefathers who fought to make this nation a possibility, and to our nation herself. I heard someone say they didn't stand because they don't agree with the war, I thought what the heck does that have to with anything? Because you don't like something that is going on now, you disregard everything else that is so awesome about our country?

Colt, being in this military phase, has stood and saluted every time he hears our national anthem on the Olympics and it makes me cry, every single time no matter where I am or what the event is.

I'm also reading a book called Original Intent, based on tons of research and historical documents regarding our founding fathers and their notes and meetings on the Constitution....it has given me even greater respect for what our country stands for and I am more proud to be an American than ever.

jcc64 replied:

ITA, Dee Dee, but who gets to decide what "too far" is??? That's at the core of my feelings about limiting free speech. Today it might be obnoxious hate groups, tomorrow it might be criticism of the gov't. These things happen in small, seemingly inconsequential steps. For instance, did you know that demonstrators are not permitted to cross the path of the President? They must be penned into "free speech zones", areas designated for such activities but kept far away from the President's tender sensibilities. What's the point of demonstrating if the person in question can avoid witnessing the protest? Is he everyone's president, or just those who support him?
I know this discussion is very far from Mel's OP, but it's relevant. Who can feel good about some of the heinous manifestations of free speech (such as the protests at soldiers' funerals already mentioned or disrespecting the anthem), I certainly don't like it, but I accept it as a necessary evil, kwim?

jcc64 replied:


I think the intentions of our founding fathers would be considered offensive to many today. They were much much more rigid about the separation of church and state, for one, and had they been running today, some of them would be considered far too liberal, radical, or dangerous to be taken seriously. I studied the autobiographies and letters of Jefferson, Franklin, John Adams, and others, as well as the very first Puritans to set foot in Plymouth. They put everything they had on the line to establish the freedoms we enjoy today, and I think they'd be horrified at the thought of giving any of it away b/c some people find it offensive.
I'd like to check out that book, Monica. Who wrote it?

luvmykids replied:
ITA that many today would be offended, but for different reasons....there are many intentions of the founding fathers that have been dismissed for the sake of our current society and pleasing the masses.

It's by David Barton. I will warn you, he is a Christian but he is fanatical about citing sources...if a reader can get past the fact that he does refer to his religious point of view at times, there is a great deal of interesting information that is indisputable, regardless of personal beliefs. In reading this book I've cross referenced some things with other non-religious sources and it isn't one of those "Let me twist this to fit my agenda" type of books. It's worth at least finding a copy to flip through to see if you would find it worthwhile. It's one of those don't throw the baby out with the bathwater type of things

jcc64 replied: Having a religious perspective is not automatic grounds for dismissal, imo, Monica. If it's well written and well researched, it's worth reading. I'll check it out, thanks.

mammag replied:
That makes perfect sense to me. Regardless of which side of the aisle the president is on, their safety would be foremost. I don't think it is to protect their "tender sensibilities" at all more to protect their life. People who are protesting are naturally going to feel a little anger toward whatever it is they are protesting. You never know what someone would do in the heat of the moment. I'm pretty sure they know the protests are happening and I highly doubt it would hurt their feelings too much if they saw them.

Maddie&EthansMom replied: Oh boy. Honestly, I don't get offended if someone doesn't stand, remove their hat, cross their heart or even recite the Pledge or sing the National Anthem. As long as they aren't disrespectful about it, like oh Roseanne Barr for instance, then more power to them. We live in a culturally diverse country. There's not one religion or one nationality in America. I think people should respect our country if they are going to be on our soil. However, I don't think you necessarily have to say the pledge to show respect. I think that respect can be accomplished by sitting quietly during the pledge or Nat'l Anthem. I don't think the words should be changed, but the choice is yours on whether or not you say it. Being upset with the gov't or our president and whether or not you agree with the war, etc should have nothing to do with your pride of this country.

jcc64 replied:

ITA with you on this, Aimee.

Nina J replied: I have never seen anyone not stand for the National Anthem, unless they physically can't or are quite old.

It is how you are raised though, in primary school we stood up and sang the national anthem at assembly. If you didn't stand up you get in trouble. Although I see on American shows and stuff that when you sing the American National Anthem you put your hand over your heart. We don't do that.

Danalana replied: I don't recall seeing a well-bodied person not stand, but I would be angry. I think we have people who are just plain rude and were "raised in a barn" when it comes to manners. On the olympics, everybody stands for the national anthem of whoever wins gold...it's just respect. I agree everybody has the right not to stand, but it would make me think they were ignorant. But hey, we live in a society in which some people don't seem to know to respond when a cashier thanks them I better stop because I can feel my soapbox getting larger

holley79 replied: I always stand. It makes me very angry if someone doesn't.

lisar replied:
Thats true. I agree.

MomToJade&Jordan replied: I do a recall an instance while I was in Hawaii that a couple of people did not stand up and remove cover while the anthem was going on. We were at the Pro Bowl and the place was full of military. I was a bit miffed, but my friend Tonya, who is active duty AF (and currently in Iraq), was very upset. I will say that it should be a person's choice, but the anthem was being played while the military was being honored on the field. That should be a moment where everyone should stand. No matter how you feel about what is going on in this world today.