Senator Barack Obama and National Anthem

I don't put my hand on my heart...I stand with arms at my sides or holding my beer....since the only time I hear it is at sporting events. But by that rule quoted I could dance a jig and turkey call during it since I am a mere WOMAN...it doesn't matter what I do...lmbo.

IMO big deal...long as he isn't overly keen to push the big red button on a whim like some others are. THAT kinda stuff matters far more to me as a voter.

It doesn't really bother me. To be honest, I'm sick of all the fake political showmanship that politicians display when they're running for office. Like shaking hands, kissing babies, saying prayers when they don't even practice a religion, and so on. It's all a play to the media. I'd rather have someone in office who can actually do a good job instead of buying in to the publicity stunts that get them elected only to find out they are total morons.

Now, I'm not saying that he can or can't do a good job, I'm just saying that I hate campaign BS. It's a disgrace that politicians spend millions of dollars to get elected. What a waste of money.

 isnt he a muslim? isnt a part of that religion, not showing an allegiance to anything besides god? maybe i am mistaken.

i dont necessarily see it as a big deal. i think it is a bit of a slap in the face to veterans, but that is his right. 

No, Obama is a Christian. 

Personally, I don't say the pledge and I don't hold my hand over my heart and I may or may not sing along with the anthem (I've got a pretty rotten singing voice and our anthem is not one of the easier songs to sing). I find a lot of that stuff just smacks of jingoism with no real meaning behind it. There were some teachers at various schools I've taught at that made a HUGE deal over kids saying the pledge and putting hands over hearts and that to me was just silly. Way to make what should be a meaningful and voluntary act into something kids just do because they've been told to. No way. In my classroom, the only thing I required was that all students remain quiet for the pledge and show some respect for those who do find it meaningful and important to them. I stood with my hands at my sides quietly and I do not recite it. I find the "under god" part to be extremely objectionable and I also don't feel like I should have "unconditional love" for my country "right or wrong" which saying a "pledge of allegiance" seems to imply.

No, Obama is a Christian.

 thanks for the clarification. i was just (stupidly) repeating what one of my co-workers had told me.

edit: personally i am more concerned about each candidates stance on real issues.... not their religious affiliation or whether they salute the flag.
 

My kiddo learned it this past week. They gave them little certificates and all that LOL. When she gets to the "under god" part she always hesitates and gives me this quizzical look...I think she is like "why are we under god? Tell him to GET UP!"...lol.

She doesn't understand almost any of it...so I told her to say it if she wants to in school, or don't either one, and when she's older she can decide what it means for herself.

 Stadiums are another place where I get bugged. I am one who stops and faces the flag when the anthem is played and I get annoyed at the ones who are purchasing items from the snack bar or walking to their seats during the anthem.

 Please do not be offended at my comments, I do not detest the people who do these things and I recognize that most of them are probably very patriotic, I just confess to being annoyed at the lack of proper flag protocol.

 I was taught to hold the flag in high regard because of the symbolism and because of those who had served and died to defend it. My family was a very pro military family with 100% of the men having served in WWII and many of past generations serving in all other conflicts.

 Is it perhaps the military background that causes many to hold the flag in high regard and those who do not have this background are more casual about it?

As far as Obama is concerned it bothers me, like all lack of flag and anthem protocol does, but I do not think that makes him unpatriotic. I do think that his behavior will not help him with veterans.

i found one that explains the meaning of "under god". but was afraid to post the image directly. here is the link. it is just a sketch, but may be perceived as containing adult content. you are warned....

http://www.thebirdman.org/Index/Index-Science-UnderGod.jpg 

dgriego

Stadiums are another place where I get bugged. I am one who stops and faces the flag when the anthem is played and I get annoyed at the ones who are purchasing items from the snack bar or walking to their seats during the anthem.

 

I don't understand why they still do this, these days (play the anthem). Makes no sense really and I do think it's offensive to do this at SUCH a blantant, purely commercial, and entertainment venue like a pro sports event.

Maybe once upon a time it made sense to tie professional sports to God and the Flag and the Patriot type feeling....but now?

This guy has it right IMO

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5517421

Honestly, I couldn't care less.

Personally, I'm pretty good about putting my hand up.  We played the Nat'l Anthem before every gymnastics meet, so it's now an ingrained habit.  That, and I'm kind of a sucker for ritual like that, coming from a family of veterans, civil service workers, and law enforcement officers.  To me, it's more about honoring those people than being patriotic and standing behind our government.  There's a lot of things that make me ashamed to be an American, but the people I know personally that have served in various ways are what make me proud.

houndlove

Personally, I don't say the pledge and I don't hold my hand over my heart and I may or may not sing along with the anthem (I've got a pretty rotten singing voice and our anthem is not one of the easier songs to sing). I find a lot of that stuff just smacks of jingoism with no real meaning behind it. There were some teachers at various schools I've taught at that made a HUGE deal over kids saying the pledge and putting hands over hearts and that to me was just silly. Way to make what should be a meaningful and voluntary act into something kids just do because they've been told to. No way. In my classroom, the only thing I required was that all students remain quiet for the pledge and show some respect for those who do find it meaningful and important to them. I stood with my hands at my sides quietly and I do not recite it. I find the "under god" part to be extremely objectionable and I also don't feel like I should have "unconditional love" for my country "right or wrong" which saying a "pledge of allegiance" seems to imply.

I so agree with this. I also hate the nonsensical over-the-top flag waving - I'm all for flags all over the place on, say, Veterans' Day, or the 4th of July, but all the flag-hanging that went on after 9/11 made me queasy. Reminded me too much of brutal dictators plastering their national logo all over everywhere (or else). 2 legs good, 4 legs bad, if you're not one of us then you're the enemy, that sort of thing. If we're going to use national symbols, I think we should make sure they mean what they created to mean.

Liesje

To me, it's more about honoring those people than being patriotic and standing behind our government. 

That is how I feel and how I was always taught to feel about the anthem and the flag. It is not blind allegiance to the goverment nor is it blind alegenenice to a piece of cloth.

 It is about honoring those who gave their all in order for us to have what we have today, it is about defending the constitution to ensure that those who follow after also have what we have had.

 Even the oath that one takes when joining the military is not about blind allegiance to the goverment, or to any cause other than the constitution. Should the goverment itself go against the constitution all members of the military could according to their oath rise up protest and even fight their own goverment. The allegiance is to the Constitution and the obeying is provided the goverment is adhering to the constitution.

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.

houndlove

No, Obama is a Christian. 

Personally, I don't say the pledge and I don't hold my hand over my heart and I may or may not sing along with the anthem (I've got a pretty rotten singing voice and our anthem is not one of the easier songs to sing). I find a lot of that stuff just smacks of jingoism with no real meaning behind it. There were some teachers at various schools I've taught at that made a HUGE deal over kids saying the pledge and putting hands over hearts and that to me was just silly. Way to make what should be a meaningful and voluntary act into something kids just do because they've been told to. No way. In my classroom, the only thing I required was that all students remain quiet for the pledge and show some respect for those who do find it meaningful and important to them. I stood with my hands at my sides quietly and I do not recite it. I find the "under god" part to be extremely objectionable and I also don't feel like I should have "unconditional love" for my country "right or wrong" which saying a "pledge of allegiance" seems to imply.

rwbeagles

I stand with arms at my sides or holding my beer

LOL!!!!  Isn't that the truth!

But it does bother me that he isn't showing the respect that the potential new President should.  Does he have a problem with it?  Or was this an isolated incidence?  I do have a problem with a person trying to become the leader of a country and can't be bothered to show the respect to flag of the country he wants to lead.