Francis/Mobley National Anthem

I stand during the national anthem because it I am proud of this country. I stand during Canada's anthem, when it is played at ball games, out of respect for that country and our friends north of the border. Perhaps the national anthem played at every ball game is excessive. But I will stand everytime it is played. Now, people can do what they want. I am not in the business of questioning patriotism. I will assume those people have a somewhat different view of America than I do though.

 

The National Anthem is a wonderful and glorious song, but it's value is demeaned a little because it's played at <i>every single</i> sporting event, no matter how minor. People hear the song so much, they think that it's a chore to stand up for two minutes. It's like the latest cool song on the radio. It's fine for the first few times, but when it gets up into the "heavy rotation" and is being played once an hour, you sort of get tired of it. People stand up more out of a sense that they have to do it, rather than out of national pride. If they don't stand up, they will get ridiculed by their peers. I'm in favor of saving the National Anthem for the big sporting events like the Superbowl, NBA Finals, World Series, etc. That way, people will <i>want</i> to stand, because they haven't heard the song in a while.

 

I dont know how to say this tactfully so I wil be blunt.

Only now is it important ot stand and be proud of the national anthem. It takes a tragedy for some people to finally get upset at a few players for not showing enough respect to their country? Am I the only one who thinks this conversation is a bit vain?

Old School you say you understood last year but now they need to show pride. I hate to call someone out on this but it seems you have just jumped on the bandwagon here. Only after a tragedy do you show your pride for america?

Lets also not let our personal feelings after such horrific events cloud our judment of people. make us say things that are close to the heart that would not normally come out if it were not for recent events. I am upset at what happend also but I wont direct my anger at a few basketball players.

rather the real criminals in this event

 

I did not like it before when Cat and Steve ignored the Anthem. I don't like it now, luckily a lot of other people feel the same way.

Is it too much to ask to give 1 minute of respect to the country you live in before a sporting event.

Even players who are not from America stand and give our country some respect during the Anthem. This year I will make sure the team knows in no uncertain terms that it irritates a lot of fans greatly.

 

I plead ignorance on this Francis/Mobley deal, but anyone who chooses not to stand for the national anthem should do themselves and everyone else a favor and find another country to call home.

 

If you can't show respect for your country, get the hell out. If someone is within reaching and talking distance of me doesn't stand, I always get their attention and ask them to show some respect.

For the person that said Bush doesn't care about us, I assume he means the government. I am sure that he thinks they don't care when he or his kids use the schools, or libraries, or highways, or mass transit. Yes, we pay taxes for these things but, this is the perfect example of what our nation is all about. Everyone doing their share, allows us to achieve great things that individuals or small groups can't. We understand that we have to sacrifice some of the things that we work for, for the betterment of those that can't. How many nations have we helped with our taxes? Dozens. We even helped rebuild the ones that destroyed during times of war. We didn't have to do that but, it's our way of showing respect and that we understand that not everyone has what our nation has but, we help were we can when we think it will do some good.

I am proud to live here and proud to show the respect this country deserves and if you don't stand for the anthem and I am around you will here from me in the future just like you did in the past. God Bless America.

 

Is it respect or fear when a person stands because those around them are yelling at them to stand? Do you want people who don't stand, for whatever reason they may have, to stand because people are threatening them if they don't? If you are one of those people who yell and shake your fist in righteous indignation at someone because they don't stand, THEN YOU ARE A TERRORIST!

You may not use a bomb or anthrax but you are using the threat of violence to bend peoples wills. This is the work of a terrorist. Using terror as a tool to get their way.

GOD BLESS AMERICA, DAMMIT!!!!

 

Lil Francis

If you don't like what the President Bush is doing, I suggest you look across the oceans and see how bad it can truly be.

The middle eastern countries are well known for their harsh treatment of citizens even for the most minor of offenses.

The Chinese virtually enslave their citizens into sweat shops. Now is not the time to complain about our leaders. Would you have felt the same about other presidents as well? I would think not.

 

I hope Stevie & Cat begin to show more respect as well. I sincerely believe this will be an awakening to our nationism. They are getting paid alot of money in a country where athletes are allowed to make alot of money, as opposed to Cuba where the best baseball players live in poverty to play for the national team or in the old Soviet Union where a talent like Sabonis was never allowed to make what he could have made here.
I don't care if thye sing along, but I hope ALL players show alot of respect during the anthem.

 

Before it didn't bother you, but now it does. I don't have to ask why it bothers you now. Let's give these men the benefit of the doubt and trust they have been affected by this tragedy like all Americans. Shame on you for not being bothered, but times change and people change. Let's wait until the next time the anthem is played and save our judgement until then.