[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by vlm790

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?

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.

[fdpaq0580]

Originally Posted by collie1228

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.

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

[rustyp]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

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.

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.

[fdpaq0580]

Originally Posted by rustyp

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.

[charlieo1126@gmail.com]

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

[fdpaq0580]

Originally Posted by charlieo1126@gmail.com

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.

[eyc234]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

"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.

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.

[rustyp]

Originally Posted by fdpaq0580

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.

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 ?

[Two Bills]

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.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by rustyp

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.

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

[vlm790]

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

[rustyp]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

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

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

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by JMintzer

I disagree with your disagreement...

I agree with your disagreement!

[Chi-Town]

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.

.

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by vlm790

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

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...