[charlieo1126@gmail.com]

Originally Posted by Johnsocat

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.

it’s a PR stunt when some band decides to bring out a 7 year old child to recite the pledge , it’s a free country , but in my eyes it just cheapens the whole meaning of the pledge

[nhtexasrn]

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.

Well,,,,,,,aren't you just a delight.

[Boffin]

Freedom and pariotism do not require symbols, songs, gestures, postures, behaviors, or spoken and written words.

[MandoMan]

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.

Having worked overseas for three years, I can fairly say I love America, and I don’t every want to live elsewhere again. I do think that in the Free State of Florida, our constitutional freedoms are being eroded week by week, and that worries me. I also love living in The Villages. I stand and cover my heart and happily say the Pledge of Allegiance at appropriate times, but some concert is not an appropriate time. I wish “God Bless America” we’re our national anthem, or “This Land Was Made for You and Me,” but I stand and cover my heart because it’s appropriate, and I love my country, and I’m grateful to live here. But I’ve never heard of being expected to stand for some Lee Greenwood song. I also never wear a cap in the house or a restaurant. To me that’s just bad manners.

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by DonH57

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?

See Post #26...

And you saw my response as an attack? Wow...

It was a simple response... No malice implied nor intended...

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by PersonOfInterest

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.

What does being a Hindu, Muslim or atheist have to do with anything?

And atheist can simply leave out the "under god" portion. Muslims and Hindus have a god, last time I checked...

I'm Jewish, the Pledge of Allegiance doesn't name any specific god to me...

As far as those who become naturalized citizens go, they most certainly pledge allegiance when they take their citizenship oaths...

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by mjr0773

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.

Which was the point of the original post...

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by Vermilion Villager

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

Yes, because they far outnumber the US Citizens in TV...

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by Vermilion Villager

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

The hate is strong with you...

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

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.

Last time I checks, we don't kneel at all...

[miadford@gmail.com]

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.

[charlieo1126@gmail.com]

Originally Posted by miadford@gmail.com

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.

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

[stewiegal]

Should have been the national anthem

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?

[Tvflguy]

It so saddens me how so many in this great country take so much for granted. Especially much of the youth and the complainers.

A great President once said “America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we lose our freedoms it will be because we have destroyed ourselves from within" - Abraham Lincoln.

Patriotism should be a glue to our freedom. What’s wrong with showing it stating it at every opportunity???

I’m very afraid of the divisions and lack of some unity in our country. Our enemies are becoming stronger. Our freedom is fragile, as well as our country.

So many take so much for granted and it’s troubling.

[fdpaq0580]

Originally Posted by charlieo1126@gmail.com

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

All along the watchtower and Stairway to Heaven! Just my opinion.