National Anthem

I have a question a bit of a stuffy one I guess..... :lol: maybe I should send this to Emily Post or Ms. Manners he he he.
I attend a decent amount of sporting events, prior to the game the national anthem is sung. Since I am not a US citizen I just get up but don't sing along or place my hand on my heart etc....
What I notice is that once the artist gets towards the end of the anthem, where they sing "and the land of the free" the crowd tends to go ballistic, cheering, howling and what not. I assume they do this to emphasize their perception that the US is truly the land of the free or the one bringing freedom (an entire discussion by itself) but here is my question, isn't this behaviour rude? I mean she or he is still singing, the anthem is not over, wouldn't you think that the proper way is to wait until the last note is sung and then cheer after all it is the anthem...
What do you think?

 

People emote and express what they are feeling at any given time when they react to a singer.When we do a show people react whenever they feel a connection with what is being sung.
To some people, that line of the song really rings true, and so they like to hear it when the singer gets to that part and they show gratitude by a vocal response.It's usually sincere, and not thought of as rude.
I didn't know until recently you were German, Chigirl. I love Germany.
Thanks.

 

That's interesting, never thought about it from that perspective.

I think you are reading too much into it. When I start cheering it is not with any type of awareness that I'm doing it b/c I am emphasizing my percieved dominance of the US. Mostly it's b/c I'm excited about what ever event I'm about to witness and it seems like tradition to cheer early.

I will admit that since 9/11 the anthem means more to me than it did before, and I suppose that is also a way I'm expressing love for my country. (sometimes I get a little teary, so glad I can't see anyone roll their eyes at this sappy comment!).

I can see where you could argue it's rude, but given that you are at a sporting event, the cheering seems to fit the venue. All in all, the whole situation is not a big deal. Where are you from? does the cheering not start before the end note?

Interesting thread...

 

In theory it is somewhat rude but you are right in your assessment about “freedom loving citizens” so most people will never say anything about it because it’s a “positive” thing so it’s “okay”.
It’s not like people are booing or burning the flag.

I don’t sing it because I can’t sing and I’ll stand out of respect of any [almost any] national anthem.
At the ’96 Olympics, I stood for China and Brazil although they kick our butts that day!!

To me it’s all about respect and not some blind faith belief that my Commander and Chief is always right.
Unless his name is AL GORE!!!!!

GORE IN ’08!!!!!!!
8)

 

Thank you both for your response. I think you are both correct and I am looking at it a bit to critical. I just find it interesting. I guess I always equate a national anthem with being more somber and quiet and yes formal

In Germany (due to our history...) we don't have the healtiest relationship to our heritage and patriotism. So when the anthem is sung it's very quiet, most people don't sing along. Except for the Soccer World Cup you don't see the flag or anything (not sure if that changed in the meantime). I think Germany could stand to show a bit more pride...

Wedlock, glad you like Germany :lol: I always love to hear when people tell me they like "my" country. I am from Hannover, northern Germany. That is where I was born and raised, I moved to the US in 2000.

 

...

 

Conversations.National Anthem.Germany.

Wedlock, glad you like Germany :lol: I always love to hear when people tell me they like "my" country. I am from Hannover, northern Germany. That is where I was born and raised, I moved to the US in 2000.[/quote]

Yes, it's a beautiful country. This forum is truly international.I think it's wonderful.

 

GraphicRat I had no idea!! Where did you live? Did you like it? You are british, correct? You guys usually don't like "the krauts" ha ha ha

 

Designer I agree, I always get up for the anthem, no matter which one is played. I don't sing because like you I can't he he

Do you think Al Gore will run?
I am still rooting for Obama. Although I must say in the last democratic debate I watched I thought Hillary did a good job, better than Obama who is just such a lawyer (evasive and a bit slippery answers)
lol Sorry SmrtFunny... I know you will be a lawyer soon

 

That's cool, you can be the first person I sue!! Libel/defamation is fun stuff!

I like Hilary b/c then we get a package deal with Bill for free! Bill had his morality issues, or at least was the worst pres about hiding them, but he was a good pres. Think what he would do for foreign relations.

 

To be honest with you, i've never really paid much intuitive attention to the words of the national anthem. I just see them as what they are - a poem. I love my country and all but i don't really think me hollering and yelling at it shows any more or less for my country.

Oh and by the way, Chigirl, Germany is a wonderful country. I've been to Munich, Hamburg and Leipzig. My father was on a diplomatic mission in Germany from 2002 to 2004 and i went there to visit him. I really like Germany. It's very clean - you can barely find any litter on the roads- and environmentalism is a big thing over there. The only thing i am a bit critical of is the fact that it is a bit of a police state. Security is highly valued and they do a lot of roadstops and stuff. When i went to visit my dad in 2002, the police stopped me many times, asking me to identify myself a lot and i got fed up that i had to ask my dad to allow his driver take me around in his official diplomatic car. Foreign diplomats are rarely ever stopped due to diplomatic immunity and only then did they let me by without any hassle. Other than that, Germany's wonderful.

 

I hope so.
I added my name to "Draft Al Gore.com" :shock:

There is a very large part of me that would truly love to see a woman or black person or any so called minority in the White House.
But I always preach “vote the issues not the person or party” so I'm hoping Al Gore jumps in but who knows.......

No matter who we get next they can't be worst than what we have now.
Lying, stealing, freedom robbing, crooked, money worshiping, law breaking, spying.... :evil:
You get my point.

 

I don't know if you realize this, but both parties, especially the Dems, love to eat their losers, so to speak. What i mean by that is that when a candidate runs and loses, the mainstream don't want the person to ever run again. History is on my side as i assert this. Let's take a look:

John Kerry - Ran in 2004 and "lost" the election to "President" Bush. Wanted to file again for 2008 but the DNC urged him not to. And quite frankly, i agree. And i dont think he'd run again.

Bob Dole - Ran in 1996 against Bill Clinton in what was meant to be a Clinton v Powell matchup. Anyway, Dole was seen as an outsider and run as an underdog. Lost and vowed never to run again.

George H.W. Bush - Incumbent president. After snatching the nomination from Pat Robertson, was expected to crush Clinton until the "no new taxes" debacle. Was handily defeated and left politics for good.

Michael Dukakis - After barely beating Jesse Jackson in the primaries, vowed to run as a populist but was seen as weak. Bush walloped him in the general election (although the latter played the race card), he left the political stage. Democrats originally wanted Bill Clinton to run in 1988 and when he was defeated, that sealed his fate.

Walter Mondale - Who honestly thought this guy was going to win? He was perhaps the first person to lose the election as early as the 2nd live debate. After Reagan won by a landslide (he carried 49 states, including uber liberal Massachusetts, New Jersey and New Hampshire), Mondale wanted to run again but the Democrats weren't having it.

So, as you can see, both parties prefer for one lost election to remain in history and not have their chances at getting back the White House (or keeping it, depending on the situation) blown by some sore loser.

This is why i am confident Al Gore will not run.

 

Laydeezman
Oh that is great to hear. You are one lucky man, you hit the most beautiful cities in Germany. My personal fave is Hamburg, which is also close to my hometown, he he my old stomping grounds so to say.

Interesting to hear about the police run ins... During my 27 years of living in Germany I was never stopped or anything like that. While in the US I get stopped all the time.. I even got yelled at for crossing the street in Vegas when this cop thought I shouldn't have (idiot made me go back just to proove his point) he he
Everyone also says it's so clean

 

Let me get in on this

edit

 

Yeah, Germany is really, really clean. I remember arriving at Hamburg Airport and thinking i was in some kind of paradise. It was ridiculously clean and organized. Even JFK Airport can't top it. Of all the German cities i've visited, i really enjoyed Berlin, Munich and Hamburg the most. They are all beautiful cities and their cultural achievements are remarkable. I also love German cuisine. At a restaurant in Hamburg, i tried this meal called Bohnen, birnen und speck (sp), sorry if i spelt it wrong. I think it meant beans and bacon.

Although i must point out that there is a lot of traffic in Hamburg. Granted my dad worked and lived in the American consul in Hamburg and so there wasn't a lot of hold-ups as it was a residential area but outside from it, there was so much traffic. Is it the same in most German cities or only the big ones?

 

Compelling views you have there Cris.

I’m more than sure that those officially running for the Democratic nomination are wishing that Al Gore would fade into the woodworks until after ’08. I also think Al is on the fence and he may very well say that he won’t run.

However…
There are more than a few people who believe he won in 2000 but Bush Jr., Jeb and an unbalanced Supreme Court stole that election. So Al may be seen more as a wildcard and not a flat out loser.

As far as Mr. Kerry is concerned, I have often wonder about his Skull and Bones connection as he seems to always play into this administrations hands all to often.
Maybe I’m being too “X File-ish” here but I would not put anything past Skull and Bones and their need to control the free world.

If Al Gore sits this one out, I’ll pick up my vote and go for second best!
But until that time feel free to go to DraftGore.com and leave your John Hancock! :lol:
You know you want to…
8)

 

I'd like to tell you more, but I'd rather do so offline (got yahoo/MSN?). I try as much as possible to put as little information about myself on forums.

This much I'll say here, Germany is a beauuutiful country, in spite of the war.

 

Understand, I will email you from my yahoo account.

 

i agree it is rude and disrespectful and can wait til the end of the anthem, but we are a patriotic folk and really enjoy to show it