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I'm flipping channels and land on Va Tech and NC State about to play football. There was apparently a weather delay but stands were fairly full.

The National Anthem was playing. Va Tech students seemed more interested in cheering, chanting, waving things and most young men had their hats on. Then camera cuts to NC State sideline, one coach had his hand on his heart while several players milled around behind him with their helmets on and their backs to the Color Guard.

Once this fiasco ends, Mack Brown in the booth says this is one of the best fan bases in college football. Apparently that doesn't include showing respect for your country.

I'm not that old or crabby yet, but this is one of my pet peeves and I find it appalling.

That is part of what the president and his First Lady have accomplished for this country.

MeMelYup wrote:That is part of what the president and his First Lady have accomplished for this country.

How is this the President's fault? Sounds like bad parenting to me.

Michael Scofield wrote:

MeMelYup wrote:That is part of what the president and his First Lady have accomplished for this country.

How is this the President's fault? Sounds like bad parenting to me.

When you have a first lady lean in to the POTUS and ask, "all this for a flag?"

I was forced to watch part of the US vs Mexico soccer match last night. (oh how I hate soccer)
Anyway, the entire Mexican team sang their anthem very enthusiastically. Then, the camera scrolls down the US team and more were singing than I expected, but a couple didn't have their hands on their heart. The worst was one player with his head down, eyes closed, and hands clasped behind his back.

Maybe he was just getting into the zone or maybe it was political, but you could at least show proper respect when you're representing your country on a big stage as a member of the US National Team.

Texsquatch wrote:I was forced to watch part of the US vs Mexico soccer match last night. (oh how I hate soccer)
Anyway, the entire Mexican team sang their anthem very enthusiastically. Then, the camera scrolls down the US team and more were singing than I expected, but a couple didn't have their hands on their heart. The worst was one player with his head down, eyes closed, and hands clasped behind his back.

Maybe he was just getting into the zone or maybe it was political, but you could at least show proper respect when you're representing your country on a big stage as a member of the US National Team.

I found an old article about this particular player who says he cannot participate in the National Anthem because he is Jehova's Witness. I never heard of this before, but if that's what they have to do, I guess it's accepted. For the other players, if they're not Jehova's Witnesses, what excuse would they have?

I'm confident that at a college football game, the National Anthem was played by a college band, mostly standard arrangements, reasonably competently played.

However, at most sporting events, the undignified, incompetent renditions by even otherwise accomplished musicians has diminished the respect and dignity of this custom. I refuse to be afflicted by these spectacles, which are among the principal uses for the mute button.

After hundreds of these performances, and fewer and fewer of the more dignified ones, it is little wonder that few pay much attention, and respect is in short supply.

JALLEN wrote:I'm confident that at a college football game, the National Anthem was played by a college band, mostly standard arrangements, reasonably competently played.

However, at most sporting events, the undignified, incompetent renditions by even otherwise accomplished musicians has diminished the respect and dignity of this custom. I refuse to be afflicted by these spectacles, which are among the principal uses for the mute button.

After hundreds of these performances, and fewer and fewer of the more dignified ones, it is little wonder that few pay much attention, and respect is in short supply.

The lack of respect shown the Anthem by a group of ill mannered children is a result of bad singing?

I believe he is speaking of composition. There is no denighing Jimmy Hendix was a great guitar player. However, I find his version of the Natioal Anthem so disrespectful that I have never stayed to hear it completely through. I think he meant it to be disrespectful. It is the only version that I have walked out on.

There was a time when national pride led us to learn the words of the anthem and reverently recite or sing them ourselves as the song was performed. The quality of the performance mattered but little compared to the feeling the poetry invoked. Alas, we are a lesser people who fail to recognize the meaning in the words and the feelings they can generate.

Texsquatch wrote:

Texsquatch wrote:I was forced to watch part of the US vs Mexico soccer match last night. (oh how I hate soccer)
Anyway, the entire Mexican team sang their anthem very enthusiastically. Then, the camera scrolls down the US team and more were singing than I expected, but a couple didn't have their hands on their heart. The worst was one player with his head down, eyes closed, and hands clasped behind his back.

Maybe he was just getting into the zone or maybe it was political, but you could at least show proper respect when you're representing your country on a big stage as a member of the US National Team.

I found an old article about this particular player who says he cannot participate in the National Anthem because he is Jehova's Witness. I never heard of this before, but if that's what they have to do, I guess it's accepted. For the other players, if they're not Jehova's Witnesses, what excuse would they have?

I was unaware that JW's couldn't participate int he National Anthem. I'd question why he can then play for the National Team then?

And, good for the Mexican Team. There's nothing wrong with pride in your country.

Jeff B.

In grade school we had a J W who would not participate in the Pledge of Allegence to the Flag. However, he had no trouble with th singing of the Anthem.

Michael Scofield wrote:

MeMelYup wrote:That is part of what the president and his First Lady have accomplished for this country.

How is this the President's fault? Sounds like bad parenting to me.

In her own words.

Taypo wrote:

JALLEN wrote:I'm confident that at a college football game, the National Anthem was played by a college band, mostly standard arrangements, reasonably competently played.

However, at most sporting events, the undignified, incompetent renditions by even otherwise accomplished musicians has diminished the respect and dignity of this custom. I refuse to be afflicted by these spectacles, which are among the principal uses for the mute button.

After hundreds of these performances, and fewer and fewer of the more dignified ones, it is little wonder that few pay much attention, and respect is in short supply.

The lack of respect shown the Anthem by a group of ill mannered children is a result of bad singing?

Not only bad singing, although some consider these ahhh, err, uhhhh, performances good singing. Either way, these "free style" ad lib renditions are demeaning and disrespectful as far as I am concerned. Of course, I freely admit to being an old fashioned grump.

Nothing improves upon the arrangement by John Philips Souza played by a military, good college or high school band. No others need apply.

JALLEN wrote:

Taypo wrote:

JALLEN wrote:I'm confident that at a college football game, the National Anthem was played by a college band, mostly standard arrangements, reasonably competently played.

However, at most sporting events, the undignified, incompetent renditions by even otherwise accomplished musicians has diminished the respect and dignity of this custom. I refuse to be afflicted by these spectacles, which are among the principal uses for the mute button.

After hundreds of these performances, and fewer and fewer of the more dignified ones, it is little wonder that few pay much attention, and respect is in short supply.

The lack of respect shown the Anthem by a group of ill mannered children is a result of bad singing?

Not only bad singing, although some consider these ahhh, err, uhhhh, performances good singing. Either way, these "free style" ad lib renditions are demeaning and disrespectful as far as I am concerned. Of course, I freely admit to being an old fashioned grump.

Nothing improves upon the arrangement by John Philips Souza played by a military, good college or high school band. No others need apply.

I don't disagree with what you're saying about the performances, but if anything the kids playing football should be more attentive to the noise coming out of the speakers when its been reworked to fit their demographic.

It boils down to a lack of respect IMO. They're being taught that it's OK to be disrespectful to anything patriotic. That's coming from everyone from the President to the news to the classrooms. They play a sport in front of millions as a stepping stone to play a sport in front of 10s of millions, yet dump all over the country that's allowing them that privilege.