Originally Posted by Johnsocat (Post 2207194)

Hmmm. Recital of the Pledge of Allegiance is viewed as a PR stunt and thus people refused to show their Allegiance?
They used to recite The Pledge before the school day started every day. Done to instill patriotism.
Perhaps we need a reminder of what it means to be a citizen and be a member of this Republic that so many have sacrificed themselves to preserve. Our veterans are not the only ones who have made sacrifices... many citizens have fought for rights of citizens as well, i.e. abolition of slavery, civil rights, rights to vote, women's rights.
Our Republic is not perfect, but in my opinion, it has helped create the only Nation in the world I want to call home.
So, what is wrong with showing a little patriotism? Is it really to much to ask for to expect (you do have the right to refuse) our citizens to show a little respect and remind us that we owe a little Allegiance to this great Nation?
Says a lot about American citizens today.

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby (Post 2206842)

"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.

Originally Posted by collie1228 (Post 2206849)

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.

Originally Posted by DonH57 (Post 2207065)

I went back and read it. I don't see a clarification between the girl singing and the song. What's your reason to attack me? Because I view different?

Originally Posted by PersonOfInterest (Post 2207107)

I don't understand why the Pledge is used at so many functions that have nothing to do with loyalty to the U.S. The pledge and song represent the freedom of a country where you should have the right / freedom to say the pledge or not and sit or stand for the song at your choosing. Why do you feel someone owes 'duty' to this country just because they were born here? There are also religious references in the Pledge as well. How do you think a Muslim, Hindu or atheist feel spouting loyalty to 'One Nation Under God'? If this country is going to Demand loyalty from everyone who is born here, then its not the country of Freedom that the pledge and song are about.

Originally Posted by mjr0773 (Post 2207132)

It’s a great song and has been long before it now seems to be associated with a certain politician.

That said it is NOT our national anthem and there is no formal reason to stand when the song is played. If one chooses to stand that’s fine but nobody should be disappointed or stunned if someone chooses not to stand.

As far as the Pledge goes, all who are able should stand in my opinion.

Originally Posted by Vermilion Villager (Post 2207159)

Did it ever occur to you they were Canadian or from another country? :welcome:

Originally Posted by Vermilion Villager (Post 2207167)

You mean like the flags the cult flies here in TV? (and no I don't mean the "un-doctored" Stars and Stripes):spoken:

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby (Post 2207176)

There's no harm in choosing to stand for a song, just as there's no harm in choosing to sit for it. Americans have that freedom of choice - we are not obligated by law to stand for the Pledge, the Anthem, or Oh MacDonald Had a Farm. We can sit, or lay down, or kneel, or walk away, or turn our backs. That is what our military fights for - that freedom of choice.

That is the POINT of those songs and pledges. To express that - thanks to our ancestors and the Founding Fathers, we have that freedom of choice.

Anyone who has a problem with me not standing for any of these things, has a problem with the freedom of choice. You can consider it tacky to not stand. And I can consider you unpatriotic for criticizing it.

A patriot embraces the freedoms that we have. That includes the freedom to NOT stand for the pledge or the National Anthem when they're not presented at the appropriate times.

PS I also don't kneel for the cross. I'm not christian, Jews kneel before god, and no one else.

Originally Posted by miadford@gmail.com (Post 2207223)

Instead of being so “against” something such as this, why don’t you join in sometime to just show pride in your country. That is what they were doing. I don’t think they told anyone to stand up, it’s just a show of pride for the country they all live in. No one said they were trying to replace anything.

Originally Posted by vlm790 (Post 2206840)

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?

Originally Posted by charlieo1126@gmail.com (Post 2207229)

Excuse me but the op said it was stunning to see people who remained seated and didn’t show any respect, where has American pride gone , thus casting all those who didn’t stand as having no pride in America , his message seemed to me very clear if your not with us your against us , but it’s a free country so you can have your patriotic moment listening to that milk sop song and feel good about yourself while shaming those closet commies that sat in there chair ,personally for me all those years in that Southeast Asian War ) , the 2 songs that got me up on my feet were All Along the Watchtower, the Jimi Hendrix version and the Stones Sympathy for the Devil now that’s an anthem