Pledge of Allegiance at sporting events ?

[hippiechick]

:wtf: I am listening to a webcast of my hockey team, they're on the road.

Prior to the National Anthem (which always confused me because the majority of the players are Canadian, but we don't play the Canadian anthem), a group of kids led the crowd in the Pledge.

Am I wrong at being cranked off over this?? :shrug:


:hippie:

[BoX o BooX]

1. I adore The Pledge.

The REAL Pledge... before Ike corrupted it by adding "under God."

[hippiechick]

2. I hear ya, but is it appropriate at a sporting event ?

:shrug: Images of Sig Heil, y'know ?


:hippie:

[BoX o BooX]

8. The REAL pledge is appropriate wherever we gather.

The REAL pledge. NOT the religious one.

[Whoa_Nelly]

3. I would be PO'd

I go to baseball games from spring training through end of summer. Never has the pledge been recited. yes, someone sings the national anthem, but the pledge????
As far as the anthem goes...whem did people start placing their hands over their hearts while the anthem is sung? That wasn't something that went on when I was a kid. When the anthem is played/sung, I stand, but don't place my hand over my heart. People look at me like I'm some sort of traitor.

[Reverend_Smitty]

4. I don't do that either...

I attend a lot of sporting events and when the anthem is played I will stand and usually place my at my side or behind my back

[Left Is Write]

6. People were putting their hands over their hearts

when I was a kid thirty years ago.

I usually stand with my hands at my sides.

[Benhurst]

18. Since the coup, I've been putting mine in my pockets.

[TaleWgnDg]

5. Welcome to the newbie *red* America!

Where all are welcome if they rise and *pledge* at public events, rise at the National Anthem while holding hand over heart, and rise and sing "America the Beautiful" during (what used to be called the) 7th inning stretch . . . Dammit, aint it *grand?*

It puts *new* meaning into the words "God Bless America!"

[taps]

7. I'm one of those who look at folks who don't put hand on heart!

I'm willing to bet that nearly 100 % of the ones who don't place their hands over their heart are not veterans. I always place mine over my heart and always gives me a sense of pride when the anthem or pledge is presented.

[BoX o BooX]

9. I do not place my hand over my heart.

I stand at attention, with my hands at my sides, as I was taught as a young Marine.

[ridgerunner]

14. Another vet who doesn't place his hand over his heart

A short history of the pledge http://history.vineyard.net/pledge.htm

[BoX o BooX]

16. Awesome link!

Welcome, rr! And thanks!

[AlienGirl]

10. I'm uncomfortable pledging allegience to the *flag*

I'd rather pledge it to the Constitution or the ideas upon which America was founded. I've always thought pledging to the *physical symbol* of the US felt a little "icky" for some reason.

Tucker

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

11. I'm SO over all the displays of nationalism

and false piousness.

Oh look at me! Look what a good 'Merican I am for yelling out the pledge. Yeah, all I've ever done for my country is slap a magnetic ribbon on the bumper of my car (magnetic so I can eventually take it off), but hey aren't I a GREAT Merican!

And I say the "under GOD" part extra loud so everyone can see what a good Christian I am.

:puke:

Our country is not a sporting event and sporting events are not our country, thus I don't see why the pledge needs to be said before them. We already sing the national anthem.

We're starting to look more and more like countries such as China. What are we so damn afraid of anyway? Makes you wonder....

[Mojambo]

12. I refuse to pledge allegiance to ANYTHING

But reason and nature.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

13. And in a "free" country

you'd think it wouldn't be a problem if people decided not to partake in the pledge. But I bet you $50 you'd get a browbeating from hell if you stated that anywhere but on DU.

"Free" country, my ass.

[salin]

15. a little off topic, but

last night I attended the IU bball game. They always have a color guard march out with the flag (us and indiana), the iu band plays the star spangled banner and a notable singer associated with the school of music sings the Anthem.

Last night there was no color guard (t-day break, I guess... or I hope rather than national guard callups leaving not even three folks to do the duty...) - but the rest of the routine was the same. There is no flag (that I could see, nor have ever noticed) in Assembly Hall... so what do you do when the anthem is playing and there is no where to look/focus? It was rather akward - and I noticed other folks, as well, sorta looking around trying to figure out what to do... somehow it made one very self-conscience (along with 11,000+ other folks) we are 'trained' to look at (honor?) the flag during the anthem - so what do you do when it isn't there? Never gave it much thought before...

[ridgerunner]

17. Have you ever been to Churchill Downs?

I got there early one day and was standing in the paddock area studying the racing form when the national anthem started to play. Everybody stopped what they were doing, turned away from the infield towards the monitors over the paddock and went through the ritual.

Well, the funny thing about that is the flag is in the infield, so in actuality they turned their back on the flag during the anthem.

[salin]

19. funny how that works

not even a "direct your attention ot the infield..." message - instead a secondary image on what sounds like a jumbotron. Sorta makes sense in this live or memorex era...

[WMliberal]

20. we already sing star spangled banner and that AWFUL

Irving Berlin song. Why don't we just add Deutschland Uber Alles to our baseball games... :puke:

maybe a prayer before the pledge :puke:

[Mojambo]

21. I always turn my back when God Bless America plays

I fucking hate that song.

[liwkenne]

22. What a joke

Every time I think about the Pledge of Allegiance, I think about young black students in the 1950s and 1960s reciting the last part of the pledge: "with liberty and justice for all." Justice for all? What a pathetic joke.

Even now, compare the "justice" available to the poor and powerless with the "justice" available to the affluent and well-connected.

I'll never recite the Pledge of Allegiance until the statements it contains are true.

[antigone382]

23. Right on, liwkenne!

Welcome to DU! :)

[Seabiscuit]

24. Fuck the "Pledge of Allegiance"! It's been co-opted by the fundies.

[Groggy]

25. Its a little much

Its okay to sing the star spangled banner...although I have no idea why we do, but okay. The pledge too now? sheesh..just play the damn game.

[Guaranteed]

26. Just SCREAM the end- "WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL!!"

God dammit.