Why We Stand

[rtotten]

You know, I have always respected the fact that everyone has their own opinions, their own religion, their own sexual preference, whatever. I do my best not to judge because it's not our job to judge. That is your maker's job. So, I have my own opinion about standing for the National Anthem. That opinion comes from being taught that it is just what you do. Before any event, you are asked to stand for the National Anthem, so we stand. So, today, I decided I would research why we are asked or expected to do so. So, whether you agree or not, here are some facts, not opinions. And based on those facts, you can decide on how you feel about the whole situation.
Americans have stood for the U.S. flag since June 14, 1777. Aug. 1814, the White House and U.S. Capitol lay in ashes after the British military burned the public buildings in Washington D.C. Americans understandably feared that the the British flag, would soon fly over all of America again. Hence, three weeks after the sacking of Washington, Francis Scott Key, a Maryland attorney who politically oppose the current president, was so moved at seeing the U.S. flag flying victoriously at the end of the battle for Baltimore’s Fort McHenry, that he wrote lyrics for The Star-Spangled Banner, the song we now call the national anthem.
1. We stand for the flag today, not to please ourselves but to honor those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.
2. We stand for the flag not to focus on what divides us but on what unites us, which is being an American.
3. We stand for the flag not to pledge allegiance to a president, but to honor the reality that we have an elected president and not a lifetime king.
4. We stand not because of past or present pain caused by injustice, but to salute the principle of justice.
5. We stand for the flag not for our generation but to set an example for the next generation.
Copied from a friend, please feel free to do the same

[Bob Denman]

[UtahPete]

You know, I have always respected the fact that everyone has their own opinions, their own religion, their own sexual preference, whatever. I do my best not to judge because it's not our job to judge. That is your maker's job. So, I have my own opinion about standing for the National Anthem. That opinion comes from being taught that it is just what you do. Before any event, you are asked to stand for the National Anthem, so we stand. So, today, I decided I would research why we are asked or expected to do so. So, whether you agree or not, here are some facts, not opinions. And based on those facts, you can decide on how you feel about the whole situation.
Americans have stood for the U.S. flag since June 14, 1777. Aug. 1814, the White House and U.S. Capitol lay in ashes after the British military burned the public buildings in Washington D.C. Americans understandably feared that the the British flag, would soon fly over all of America again. Hence, three weeks after the sacking of Washington, Francis Scott Key, a Maryland attorney who politically oppose the current president, was so moved at seeing the U.S. flag flying victoriously at the end of the battle for Baltimore’s Fort McHenry, that he wrote lyrics for The Star-Spangled Banner, the song we now call the national anthem.
1. We stand for the flag today, not to please ourselves but to honor those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.
2. We stand for the flag not to focus on what divides us but on what unites us, which is being an American.
3. We stand for the flag not to pledge allegiance to a president, but to honor the reality that we have an elected president and not a lifetime king.
4. We stand not because of past or present pain caused by injustice, but to salute the principle of justice.
5. We stand for the flag not for our generation but to set an example for the next generation.
Copied from a friend, please feel free to do the same

Sorry, but your 5 points are all bias, not fact. People have been dishonoring the flag as a symbol of oppression since day one. Ask the confederate states.

A Vietnam combat veteran.

[JerryB]

Hi rtotten,

Re: I have my own opinion about standing for the National Anthem.

Ant that is all it is: An opinion.

I always stand for the national anthem. However, it is not req'd.

I support those who do not stand as a way of protesting. That is still a freedom here.

Jerry Baumchen
A veteran

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

X's 1000...+..... JMHO ….. Amen Brother …. Mike

[UtahPete]

Your comments, although probably well intended, come dangerously close to being jingoistic for those of us who view society more holistically.

[Fatcycledaddy]

Hi rtotten,

Re: I have my own opinion about standing for the National Anthem.

Ant that is all it is: An opinion.

I always stand for the national anthem. However, it is not req'd.

I support those who do not stand as a way of protesting. That is still a freedom here.

Jerry Baumchen
A veteran

You are correct, it is not required, however I still consider it disrespectful!!!

It is my opinion that those who do not stand do not deserve my respect or attention.

They chose not to stand and to disrespect our flag, I choose no more to watch or support them or their causes.

They choose not to stand, I choose to turn them off and take my support, dollars, and viewing elsewhere.

They choose not to stand, I choose to support politicians that will continue to point out the hypocrisy of it.

[Peteoz]

I always stand for the national anthem. However, it is not req'd.

I support those who do not stand as a way of protesting. That is still a freedom here.

Jerry Baumchen
A veteran

You know, I never really thought of it from that perspective, Jerry (and I should have). Thanks.

Pete

[Fatcycledaddy]

Your comments, although probably well intended, come dangerously close to being jingoistic for those of us who view society more holistically.

This is not a foreign policy issue but a domestic one, and I do not consider standing for the flag extreme!

[UtahPete]

This is not a foreign policy issue but a domestic one, and I do not consider standing for the flag extreme!

I respect your individual choice, as a choice, not as a truism.

[vided]

Sorry, but your 5 points are all bias, not fact. People have been dishonoring the flag as a symbol of oppression since day one. Ask the confederate states.

A Vietnam combat veteran.

DDB75710-C28D-4752-953C-9547E7CAB3DF.jpg

[UtahPete]

DDB75710-C28D-4752-953C-9547E7CAB3DF.jpg

Do you have a point?

[johnsimion]

I will get upset over kneeling for the National Anthem as being disrespectful when someone tells me why kneeling before God in church is NOT being disrespectful. I don't find either standing or kneeling to be disrespectful. Chewing gum, belching, talking, facing away from the flag ... that is disrespectful. Just quietly kneeling? Really??? The whole thing is the worst kind of nitpicking. There are more important things to be concerned with in this country.

[Bob Denman]

It' certainly isn't required to stand for the National Anthem...
You can't legislate good manners, or even common sense.

[C. Lee]

"America isn't easy. America is advanced citizenship. You've gotta want it bad, cause it's gonna put up a fight. It's gonna say 'You want free speech? Let's see you acknowledge a man whose words make your blood boil, and who's standing center stage and advocating at the top of his lungs that which you would spend a lifetime opposing at the top of yours.' You want to claim this land as the land of the free? Then the symbol of your country cannot just be a flag. The symbol also has to be one of its citizens exercising his right to burn that flag in protest. Now show me that, defend that, celebrate that in your classrooms. Then you can stand up and sing about the land of the free." This is from a movie with Michael Douglas.

America is the greatest idea ever. It's the idea that all men are created equal and have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. If you woke up in America you woke up free. Freedom is difficult and isn't just a choice of which fast food place to eat today. Freedom is the ability to get up and pursue your dreams or not. American doesn't promise life will be easy but possible and we all have the ability to make choices for ourselves for which we will suffer or benefit.

To me our flag and anthem represent those freedoms. They don't represent veterans, police or first responders only, they represent everyone who wakes up within our borders who came to America with a hope for a better life and the freedom they have to pursue that life. They represent anyone who stops to help at a crash scene or gives money to a homeless person or the homeless person himself. American never promised things would be easy but possible. i strongly disagree with someone kneeling at our anthem but they have the right to do so however misdirected it may be. I disagree with the porn industry as well but they are there. I don't want the government to censor them because the government that can censor porn can also censor my Bible.

I have much more to say but I won't now. Chris

[Fatcycledaddy]

I will get upset over kneeling for the National Anthem as being disrespectful when someone tells me why kneeling before God in church is NOT being disrespectful. I don't find either standing or kneeling to be disrespectful. Chewing gum, belching, talking, facing away from the flag ... that is disrespectful. Just quietly kneeling? Really??? The whole thing is the worst kind of nitpicking. There are more important things to be concerned with in this country.

I stand for the flag to show support for my country and stand in support for what it was founded on.
I kneel in church at an alter to show my surrender, reverence, and to give honor to the King of Kings.

[SPECTACUALR SPIDERMAN]

we stand and show respect for all the freedoms and liberties it was created to give us. you don't have to show
respect to the individual but you should show respect for the flag or the uniform.

[Fatcycledaddy]

"America isn't easy. America is advanced citizenship. You've gotta want it bad, cause it's gonna put up a fight. It's gonna say 'You want free speech? Let's see you acknowledge a man whose words make your blood boil, and who's standing center stage and advocating at the top of his lungs that which you would spend a lifetime opposing at the top of yours.' You want to claim this land as the land of the free? Then the symbol of your country cannot just be a flag. The symbol also has to be one of its citizens exercising his right to burn that flag in protest. Now show me that, defend that, celebrate that in your classrooms. Then you can stand up and sing about the land of the free." This is from a movie with Michael Douglas.

America is the greatest idea ever. It's the idea that all men are created equal and have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. If you woke up in America you woke up free. Freedom is difficult and isn't just a choice of which fast food place to eat today. Freedom is the ability to get up and pursue your dreams or not. American doesn't promise life will be easy but possible and we all have the ability to make choices for ourselves for which we will suffer or benefit.

To me our flag and anthem represent those freedoms. They don't represent veterans, police or first responders only, they represent everyone who wakes up within our borders who came to America with a hope for a better life and the freedom they have to pursue that life. They represent anyone who stops to help at a crash scene or gives money to a homeless person or the homeless person himself. American never promised things would be easy but possible. i strongly disagree with someone kneeling at our anthem but they have the right to do so however misdirected it may be. I disagree with the porn industry as well but they are there. I don't want the government to censor them because the government that can censor porn can also censor my Bible.

I have much more to say but I won't now. Chris

I agree that they have the freedom do do as they wish, and I am proud of a country that allows that. However, I still have the rights to not support it, be vocal against it, and do what I can to stop it.

These rights often times go only one way, and if you disagree or come out against the protest, you are told have no rights to do so.

[wyliec]

It' certainly isn't required to stand for the National Anthem...
You can't legislate good manners, or even common sense.

Those that kneel have been quietly protesting what they believe in, at least that's what I have seen. So, how is that not good manners or the lack of common sense?

I served in the military to protect your country's liberty and freedom. That includes those that kneel or stand during the National Anthem.

[SPECTACUALR SPIDERMAN]

Those that kneel have been quietly protesting what they believe in, at least that's what I have seen. So, how is that not good manners or the lack of common sense?

I served in the military to protect your country's liberty and freedom. That includes those that kneel or stand during the National Anthem.

look at where they kneel, that is the problem. they have my permission to kneel on their 5 acre homes and broadcast it on pay per view but don't push that agenda on my time without paying me millions.

[UtahPete]

"America isn't easy. America is advanced citizenship. You've gotta want it bad, cause it's gonna put up a fight. It's gonna say 'You want free speech? Let's see you acknowledge a man whose words make your blood boil, and who's standing center stage and advocating at the top of his lungs that which you would spend a lifetime opposing at the top of yours.' You want to claim this land as the land of the free? Then the symbol of your country cannot just be a flag. The symbol also has to be one of its citizens exercising his right to burn that flag in protest. Now show me that, defend that, celebrate that in your classrooms. Then you can stand up and sing about the land of the free." This is from a movie with Michael Douglas.

America is the greatest idea ever. It's the idea that all men are created equal and have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. If you woke up in America you woke up free. Freedom is difficult and isn't just a choice of which fast food place to eat today. Freedom is the ability to get up and pursue your dreams or not. American doesn't promise life will be easy but possible and we all have the ability to make choices for ourselves for which we will suffer or benefit.

To me our flag and anthem represent those freedoms. They don't represent veterans, police or first responders only, they represent everyone who wakes up within our borders who came to America with a hope for a better life and the freedom they have to pursue that life. They represent anyone who stops to help at a crash scene or gives money to a homeless person or the homeless person himself. American never promised things would be easy but possible. i strongly disagree with someone kneeling at our anthem but they have the right to do so however misdirected it may be. I disagree with the porn industry as well but they are there. I don't want the government to censor them because the government that can censor porn can also censor my Bible.

I have much more to say but I won't now. Chris

Nailed it!

[asp125]

This is the problem with America, everybody's so entitled that they passionately have to be RIGHT. And everybody that disagrees with your views is not just different, but plain WRONG. Tribalism, echo chambers, isolationism, we're becoming a closed minded society in general. We whine in the media and on forums that our views are correct and hate on views that are in opposition.

Agree to disagree, move on, go riding.

[2Paw]

What I find more offensive than kneeling in protest, is those who neither stand or kneel. I'm talking about those who just go on talking and sit around eating their hot dogs,drinking their beer and letting their kids just run wild.

[Lew L]

If I visited a foreign country, Canada or England perhaps, and was at an event there that countries' national anthem were played ------- I would most certainly stand in respect to that countries anthem.


Wouldn't you ????

Lew L

BTW: With 37 years in the high school classroom , I ran into a few students who didn't want to participate in the morning pledge to the flag. I know who they were and let them not participate by either standing quietly or leaving the room-- their choice. But it was NOT a time to protest.........

PS: I also like what C Lee said.

[UtahPete]

If I visited a foreign country, Canada or England perhaps, and was at an event there that countries' national anthem were played ------- I would most certainly stand in respect to that countries anthem. Wouldn't you ???? Lew L

Personally, I don't like the nationalism that goes hand-in-hand with certain sports. I've never understood that mentality. How does a sport become associated with national identity and patriotism? It's nuts.