Should the National Anthem be Played before Movies?
 

One of the things I miss about living on a military base is the playing of the National Anthem before movies in military theaters. It just set a positive tone in the audience before the movie started and it didn't take up any more time than those pre-movie trivia tests.

Do you think the National Anthem should be played before movies in The Villages? We members of this community are certainly proud of our patriotism and we have an awful lot of veterans. I don't think many people would complain. After all, folks seem to be happy to hear the Anthem before sporting events.

So what do you think?

I'd like that very much.

I also miss the national anthem being played when TV channels go off the air. I haven't heard that in a long time.

I would like that. Love the song. Love the country.

Me too, although I can't stay up that late anymore.

Stand Up for the King (Part 2)

I found this interesting.

They do this in Thai cinemas, play the King's Anthem.

With some movies, it would seem to cheapen the National Anthem if it were shown beforehand. It just seems to me that the National Anthem is something to be respected for serious occasions or for those where there is a longstanding tradition of playing it.

A military base would be different and there also seems to be a long history of doing this-- playing the National Anthem-- before movies.

"With some movies, it would seem to cheapen the National Anthem if it were shown beforehand."

It's the national anthem...it stands alone. The only way it could cheapen it is if you're trying to compare it's significance with the theme of the movie. That would be a tenuous connection of political correctness. And wrong...liberal thinking...

I'd love them to play before the movie. I wonder how many would stand and if wearing one(males of course)remove their hat...

I like the idea of standing up at a special event for the national anthem. The crowd is into it and pride beams. However, too much of a good thing lessens it's meaning.

That's where I am coming from. And it seems kind of Stepford Wives which is an image often used against the Villages.

Fox News Channel, 5:57 AM, Saturday and Sunday only

I think we should play it at all public gatherings as often as possible, the nation is forgetting who we are and the sacrifices many made to get us here.

We should lead by example. It would be Huugghh! What a great idea.

I have been going to the movies since 1964 or so and cannot remember any movie theater ever playing the National Anthem. This would have been in WI, NV, CA, AZ, IL, MN, DC, CO, IA, and FL.

It would be less irritating than some of the commercials shown before the movies at the Villages' theaters. "Now, that was unexpected"!

For security reasons I would give this a second thought.

That crossed my mind too. Especially if it would get some unwanted press for the Villages about being the only place that does it in Florida. If people could convince a lot of FL communities to do this, then no problem but we should not be going out of our way to become a target for various kinds of crazies be they people with psychological problems or those following a very warped view of one of the World's major religions.

I understand playing it before live events, but not movies.

After having read what everyone said, I have to agree with Challenger and Bogie Shooter.

but on the subject of the National Anthem, I hate, hate, hate it when some young singer warbles it WAY out of the way it was written. I like it simple and exactly on key with no new notes interposed.

I agree.

Security risks?
Potential other locations being offended?

Forget it just rise up and join the majority. It is our turn!!

I agree too!!!!

I always get annoyed when watching a sporting event, when people start cheering, before the National Athem is finished, which to me, is disrespectful.

It seems some people have misplaced priorities and take our freedom for granted, or the attention span of a flea.

End of rant. :blahblahblah:

I would definitely support that idea. Same at the town squares every night.:thumbup:

When we get too much of a good thing it becomes trite and largely disrespected. I.E. people talking and laughing, misreable renditions and presentations. The National anthem should be done in a reverent and respectful manner not be part of every b movie and low brow cat fight.

I spent 35 years in the Army, Reserves, and Natl Guard and am still filled with emotion when I observe the NA presented in a Majestic rendition and in the right setting. Don't lower this ancient symbol of our nation to the the ambivalence that it will engender by sloppy overuse

Could not be said in a better way.......................

Agree!!!!!

Patriotism seems not to be in vogue these days, especially at our institutions of learning. Its one of the reasons I would reinstitute the draft and collapse some of the classes ( Class 1A, etc) to make it fairer because far too many people seem to have no skin in the game

In my view I would prefer they overdo rather than under utilize the ceremonial celebration of our National Anthem

Don't get me wrong, folks. I am a patriotic guy and an Army veteran. I agree that the National Anthem should NOT be played before movies. It falls into disinterest if so commonplace. Keep it special. Stand up at attention when it is played!

On the other hand, I have been to functions where "God Bless The USA" or "America The Beautiful" were played and people stand up for those and even some veterans salute. Yes, they are patriotic songs but the only one to stand on your feet for is The National Anthem.

Going to the movies has nothing to do with patriotism. You can love this country without having to make mandatory, regulated, scheduled, public gestures. It's sort of like the performer who gets choked up every single night when he mentions (you name the event or name). The biggest flag does not make you the biggest patriot... it just means you're a Toyota dealer.

great observation,,i never thought about that

I also notice that when the anthem is played there are very few that salute the flag. I'm a believer that if you are a veteran you should salute to show those attending how many veterans surround them. We should stop trying to blend in but start standing out, might change some attitudes of those generations who did not serve.

Bring back the draft? To make the country more patriotic? That worked well in the 60's, not.

Absolutely right on. When did the National Anthem become NOT correct?

More reasons to have the National Anthem played as a regular occurrence.

We did the Pledge of Allegiance every day for years. That never became a "disinterest" to me. I'd rather too often than not at all - the current status.

We are one of the few major nations that do not require service in the military......what we do is keep recycling those that want to serve for whatever reasons. . To say the draft didn't work well in the 60's shows how much you don't know. What we had was a political environment that succumbed to those that didn't want to serve. Hell one of our Presidents even crossed the border so he could avoid serving. Our President and most of our Congress didn't serve and do whatever they can to demean anyone that wears a uniform, military and police. Now,while we keep cutting our resources and focus on being politically correct, our enemies, both foreign and domestic, keep increasing theirs. That will make us a more secure and safe Country....not.

And here is a list of the "few" nations that do NOT require service

Afghanistan Albania Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Australia Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belgium Belize Bhutan Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cameroon Canada Chile China (PRC) Comoros Congo Croatia Czech Republic Democratic Republic of the Congo Djibouti Dominican Republic Ethiopia Fiji France Gabon Gambia Ghana Germany Guyana Honduras Hungary India Indonesia Iraq Ireland Italy Jamaica Japan Jordan Kenya Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Luxembourg Macedonia Madagascar Malaysia Malawi Maldives Malta Mauritania Morocco Montenegro Namibia Nepal Netherlands New Zealand Nicaragua Nigeria Oman Pakistan Papua New Guinea Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Romania Rwanda Saint Kitts and Nevis San Marino Saudi Arabia Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Slovakia Slovenia Somalia South Africa Spain Sri Lanka Suriname Sweden Swaziland Tanzania Timor-Leste Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Uganda United Kingdom United States Uruguay Zambia Zimbabwe
for a total of 124 nations with no service requirement including 19 not listed that do not have a military.

Every permanent member of the Security council is on this list, except Russia as are most of the major EU nations. Many nations not on the no requirement list offer a non-military option for service.

There are 65 countries with a military service requirement of varying length of which 32 require 24 months or longer:

Armenia Angola Central African Republic Chad Cuba Cyprus Equatorial Guinea Guinea Guinea-Bissau Iran Israel Kazakhstan North Korea South Korea Kyrgyzstan Libya Mali Mauritania Mozambique Myanmar Ni ger São Tomé and Príncipe Senegal Singapore Somalia (uncertain) Syria Sudan Tajikistan Thailand Togo UAE Vietnam Yemen

So, no it is not accurate to have claimed that most major nations require military service, in fact the opposite is true. But it sounded good so I checked it.

Hi Chi: did you not notice that I also suggested they rework the classes because there were too many exemptions. The point I was really making is that young people are so disengaged and as a result we are losing this thing called "patriotism" I need to stop here or I will be going off topic

Growing up in the 40's it was in my hometown, and agree we are at war with isis, so it should be played. How about a news clip also.

Rubicon, you are right about class differences and how exemptions favored some over others. It's just that the late 60's were such divisive times, and the SSS in its form then was a factor.

I look at my son, nieces, and nephews and their friends and see true patriotism. They are just not as demonstrative as we are.

Patriotism and love of country are things that you either feel in your heart, or you don't. Singing the national anthem, pledging allegiance, getting drafted into the army, or saluting the flag are all more meaningful when someone does it because they want to rather than because they are expected to. It seems to me that the anthem at movies would not really cause more patriotism, but would simply be a routine exercise that people would take for granted, and others would resent. If that's the case then I don't see the point.

TheAnother poster quoting Facts-- drat!!!! This kind of suff will end all the misinfo on TOTV if we are not careful. Yhen what will we have to stew about?:MOJE_whot:

How about the ads that TOTV is now inserting into threads. Looks like they are part of the discussion until I figured out Charles Schwab was not responding to blueash.

Tell me how well the draft worked out well in the 60's perhaps starting off with your draft classification. No second hand info please.

:boom: