Unpatriotic Americans
 

The band Hayfire played a great show at Brownwood last night. They had a little girl about 7 do the Pledge of Allegiance and then they sang the Proud to be an American song by Lee Greenwood. It was stunning to see the people who remained seated and didn’t even show respect. Where has American pride gone?

"proud to be an american" is not a nationally recognized official song for this country and it's an insult to America when people DO stand for it. It puts it as equal to the National Anthem, which IS an officially recognized song of this country.

Just like you don't stand and salute the flag of Iowa when someone drives down the road with that flag poking up from their golf cart, or when someone sings Kumbaya.

I will not stand for that song until/unless the Nation selects it to replace the National Anthem.

As for the pledge of allegiance, it seems to be political posturing to recite it before a musical entertainment show and degrades the significance of it.

I wouldn't stand then, either.

Coming soon, it's OVER! :sad:

Really enjoy Hayfire. The great thing about the USA is freedom to not stand for whatever. And in some other countries not conforming to the mob comes with a great price.

I do not stand for that song.

I am a proud veteran, love my country, served in a war, member of the American Legion, and a volunteer for Honor Flight. I feel I am a true patriot. I will proudly stand for the pledge and the national anthem, but I do not make a special effort to stand for the Lee Greenwood song. I was eating dinner once in the bowling alley restaurant in Spanish Springs when karaoke was going on, and the DJ played the Lee Greenwood song and expected everyone to stand. I did not. I got some stink-eye looks from neighboring tables, but I won't be intimidated by anyone. There are any number of patriotic songs that can be played. Only the national anthem deserves special respect.

I believe the OP was talking about standing for the Pledge of Allegiance...

Disagree.

Maybe they are citizens of the USA.

:shrug::shrug:

It's a very good song that is also the lead in for a speech from a certain politican. Many people know this and it's a shame this song is closely attributed to him. As a Viet Nam veteran I too only stand for the Pledge and our National Anthem.

I'm all for citing the pledge at Goverment meetings, Citizenship Ceremonies and Special Ceremonies.
Normally I don't pledge Allegiance inanimate objects when I enlisted I swore to uphold the Constitution.

:bigbow: Agree. I can't believe the people that think patriotism is all about having a bunch of flags on your golf cart, or playing a popular song. And patriotism is different than Nationalism.

Agree. Thank you for your service.

I disagree with your disagreement...

My opinion, for what it is worth:

Standing for "Proud to be an American" and standing for the Pledge of Allegiance is two vastly different things, and there is no political "posture" associated with the Pledge of Allegiance.

I don't recall there being a flag at the Brownwood stage. Did Hayfire have one at their performance?

If they brought one in just for this song, was it transported, presented, and placed correctly and did those attending react properly?

I'm really uncomfortable with the idea of using the pledge as part of a performance To open a meeting, absolutely. To elicit a response by an audience at your performance, no.

You would get no "stink eye" from me. I would be busy eating my dinner, too.

Given we have many Canadian home owners in TV I have often wondered 1 - what they do 2 - how they feel when various groups at the rec centers start their activity with the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the USA.

Spent a lot of time in Canada. Canada is our neighbor, friend and ally. Out of courtesy we would stand respectfully during those times their anthem was played. That's what friends do, imho.

I don’t know why people think this milk sop song should require standing for , I guess it’s one of those only in the village moments and no I never stand for it , I’m afraid to ,I might get sick on the person in front of me and I have to wonder why the pledge is being used for a bands performance , sort of like the used car dealer with the 30 flags outside proclaiming he’s proud to be an American , I’ve always stood for the national anthem and that’s it and I would only stand for the pledge in a proper setting and not for the PR stunt by some band , and I shouldn’t have to defend my post but I’ll say this I’m a Vietnam combat multi Purple Heart , multi tour paratrooper who went back with another government agency doing the same thing in Laos , and Cambodia

"You da Man!" But you already knew that.

:bowdown::bowdown: bowdown::bowdown 1000% agree. Not one person knows what is in a person's heart and mind. You can not say whether a person is patriotic due to your definition, just like you can not say whether someone is religious with your definition.

My question was specific to the pledge of allegiance. Given you spent a lot of time in Canada how did you handle standing to give an "oath" to a foreign country's flag ? Standing for an anthem is not the same as taking an oath.

How did you handle it ?

Simply stand
Stand and remove your cap
Stand with hand over heart
Stand with hand over heart and pretend to mouth the words

How often did this happen to you ? At what kind of events ? Here in TV this realistically could be a daily event to a Canadian home owner participating in rec activities.

Spoiler alert - Canadians do not have a pledge of allegiance to their flag.

Did you know our pledge of allegiance was invented as a marketing ploy to sell magazines ?

I stand for my own UK national anthem (a dire dirge) and any other nations.
I would respect The Pledge of Allegiance if the done thing was to stand.
Apart from that I stand for nothing, and I cannot stand overt patriotism.

I don’t see the point in saying the pledge before a clay modeling class at a rec center………………..
This is really being done?

Thank you !! I was talking about the pledge of allegiance

Yes many many times - Example quilt guilds and nurse's club.

I agree with your disagreement!:bigbow:

Saw Lee Greenwood perform God Bless the U.S.A. a long time ago. I really enjoyed the experience as it was the first time and it moved me. Now it appears to be a way for a performer to engage an audience that has been less than enthusiastic. Also, the Pledge of Allegiance is not meant to be an attention getter. I have stood for O Canada at the Blackhawks game when they play it for visiting Canadian teams.

.

Most of us knew that...



Edit to add: After re-reading the thread, I'm even more surprised how many couldn't noodle that thru...

Never had to be concerned with any foreign "oath". Just anthems.

Which version? I learned it before the "under God" part was added as a sop to the Christian right. Still don't say that part. I'm such a rebel.

There was no Christian right back in the mid 50's, rather the Under god was added by the power of the Knights of Columbus as a way to promote their view of how we should differ from "godless" Communism. It was during the peak of McCarthyism and blacklists and checking for Commies under your bed that we got the additional verbiage.

It is called freedom. Specifically freedom of choice.

But the real question is: Did anyone in that era ever find a communist under their bed?????

Can't I just go to a show and not have to deal with this stuff?

. For a little girl reciting the Pledge of Allegiance .... MAYBE I'd stand just to make her feel special, but not for a commercial song just because it's become a "thing".

And yet... for many decades people have stood, hand over heart, IN MASS at public gatherings and events when Kate Smith's "God Bless America" is sung. Are ALL those millions "unpatriotic" ? Certainly it is not the national Anthem, and NO ONE should be criticized for NOT standing, but Greenwood's rendition has become an "unofficial" national anthem and what harm is done if many come to their feet, or continue to sit ? The, "political posturing" by saying the pledge of allegiance to our country ? Posturing by a young child ? Posturing by a band who (if you think about it ) may just actually have a deep love of country ? Perhaps all members are veterans ? Don't know, but there are many possibilities !
Have you not seen people come to their feet at the playing of a college anthem, or at hearing a hymn like Amazing Grace ? Would those who stand, or sit, be considered "better", or "worse" Christians ? What is the REAL harm in emotionally reacting at a public entertainment, who is actually harmed ? And exactly does that indicate a lack of respect, or patriotism ? Perhaps a more accurate measure would just be the percentage of people who turn their back on the flag and anthem when presented ? The logic is missing here, we KNOW what is customary (standing in respect), but certainly there is NO flagrant disrespect for country, or God, by also reacting emotionally to many melodies !! Also, no one has the same experiences, but, I HAVE seen people (truckers in this case) going down the highway and saluting a passing flag. I did not, and do not, judge them disrespectful or non-patriotic for that ! Have also seen many salute the flag covering a casket, including my father's.

Well the greatness of our country, a democratic REPUBLIC, is you, others, myself, we can all react as individuals. People do sometimes stand when the National anthem is played on TV, you've just not had that experience is all. When in the world is the connection between the SIZE OF WHEELS on a truck and having RESPECT for a symbol of our country ??? SIX FOOT Wheels ? SIX FOOT ? I did see those once at a demonstration of OFF ROAD MINING EQUIPMENT made by an American company, but have never seen six foot wheels on a big highway truck, not denying they are out there and running regularly at all.

My wife and I were just having this conversation. I couldn't agree with you more!