Sometimes I'm not standing up because I'm working on homework due soon. The other times I'm sitting or leaning on a desk working on homework due later.
It's a choice, but if you choose not to stand up, you better be sitting at home. In public, you should always stand for the National Anthem, even if you're a foreigner. It's a matter of respect.
I think it's because the US is a relatively new culture and you need symbols to rally around. Older countries who have suffered far greater losses in war (which seems to be the most common justification for standing) do not require this vertical discipline.
To be fair, this quote was originaly about the Pledge of Allegiance, but I feel it is still applicable.
Justice Jackson argued that "[i]f there is any fixed star in our constitutional constellation, it is that no official, high or petty, can prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or other matters of opinion or force citizens to confess by word or act their faith therein."
This was from a Supreme Court case, where the majority found that no one should be forced to say the pledge of allegiance. Basically, it means that we should not force people or even ask people to partake in a ceremony that they do not believe in. For instance, the song is actually very violent and glamourizes war. So should we force pacifists to stand for it? Sure, it would be polite and respectful if they did. But isn't it more respectful to allow individuals to choose which symbols they will respect?
On a different note, even americans don't actually like the song. That's why we only sing the first stanza (the full song has four). And the vast majority of americans cannot even sing the first stanza correcly from memory. If americans don't even respect the song or care enough to learn the lyrics, why should I stand? National Anthem Project
It's a choice, but if you choose not to stand up, you better be sitting at home. In public, you should always stand for the National Anthem, even if you're a foreigner. It's a matter of respect.
That, and everybody else would be standing for the National Anthem while you are sitting down. You would be essentially drawing a target on you and indirectly screaming "hey look everyone I don't care!" while the person is singing. Standing up for the National Anthem is paying tribute to those that basically handed you the land you live on. Gods know without them, you'd be living somewhere else. Or still colonized. Either way theoretically stands.
Did anybody bother to look up when the National Anthem was written?
Yup. It was a poem written in 1814 by Francis Scott Key during the war of 1812. Then it was set to an English Drinking song. A fith stanza was added during the civil war, but seeing as no one makes it past the first stanza, it is largely forgotten. Just because something is historical doesn't mean it should be revered. When I go to Stone Mountain, Georgia, should I pay respects to Robert E. Lee? Should I respect a carving on a mountain that has become a symbol of the KKK just because it is historical? I don't agree with what that mountain represents TODAY, and if you don't agree with what the Star Spangled Banner has BECOME, you shouldn't have to stand for it. When we stand, we stand in 2010. Not 1812.
I get your point aknerd, but (if you live in the US) it's about respecting what your country does for you and offers, even if you don't agree with everything. It's also about what people have done in the past to create this for us. Yes, things are not and have not always been great but I think most will agree that they live a decent life here. No, you do not have to stand, but I believe you should for the National Anthem out of respect.
The Pledge of Allegiance is a different case for me.
well its because after a few million time standing up at school, i wanted to see what the lyrics really said. ( i knew the lyrics just not that good and i didnt really understand). Anyways there is a line that talks about "god", but what if im atheist? I should be aloud not to stand up for my own believes.
We pay respect to those before us. If you can't respect the people who faught to preserve this countrie's freedom, you deserve no respect yourself.
But the war of 1812 was an agressive war the US started, it wasn't defensive. If it was based on the war of US independence, perhaps I'd understand.
Basically, my opinon is, I don't expect people to stand during a rendition of God Save the Queen, so why should I stand during the Star Spangled Banner?
