Should We Eliminate The National Anthem At Sporting Events ?...

[Grassy Knoll]

..I Don't Need To Be Reminded Where I Live, And Basically
It Has Been My Que To Grab A Beer, An Fire Up The BBQ.

I Can Only Guess How Many Humans Across The Globe Do The Same,
I Could Be Wrong.

[Skittles]

1. yes

they're just trying to make sports seem more important than what it actually is - a bunch of very overpaid people playing a fucking game

[Grassy Knoll]

3. I Remember What Joe Montana Said...

" When You Call It A Business, The Say It's Just A Game.But When
You Say It's Just A Game They Remind You That It's a Business "

**Joe Montana Was Traded To The Chiefs**

[Skittles]

5. it is a business where a bunch of very overpaid people play a fucking game

it's always made out to be so much more important than it actually is

[TexasBushwhacker]

20. If the players were paid less

It would just mean more money in the pockets of the owners and the networks. People tune in to see the players and it's the players who risk injury at every game. Why shouldn't they be well paid?

[Skittles]

25. heaven forbid they make going to see the games more affordable

I don't want to argue about sports, which I consider to be a total fucking waste of time

[joshdawg]

53. Couldn't agree more! Thanks, Skittles.

[gopiscrap]

16. exactly baseball and basketball is the same way

[fleabiscuit]

28. What is the metric for being an "overpaid" athlete? nt

[Skittles]

34. ...

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=9655820

done here

[fleabiscuit]

52. "which I consider to be a total fucking waste of time" It certainly pulled my irony trigger. nt

[dchill]

51. When I can no way afford a ticket.

[fleabiscuit]

58. NFL players earn less than NBA, MLB and NHL players.

One could easily say that about a ticket to see "Hamilton" as well.

[mountain grammy]

2. Yes, and the military displays.

We're glorifying war.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

17. I agree, it's too divisive... the anthem and sports don't mix.

[Baconator]

50. There aren't a whole lot of ways to remind the American population...

... that we are still out there chugging along on their supposed behalf.

The NFL stuff is cheezy, as is most of the other military themed stuff I see in the media.

It's also an effective way to reach folks who otherwise forget what we are up to on a day to day basis.

America has a warrior class and service is generational. Most people don't have any skin in the game and thus have no reason to understand what their political indifference means.

It doesn't need to go away. It needs to be refined. Citizenship... Service... Real cost and benefit...

[Watchfoxheadexplodes]

4. Can you imagine the outrage if President Obama or

Suggested all football players need to stand.

Over at fox and talk radio.

Not sure how they would do it but they would roast Obama.

[Grassy Knoll]

39. The Right Wing World Would Fall Off Its Axis..

...Fox News Would Pop Faster Than Microwave Popcorn.

[pangaia]

6. Yes. I know. I guess i meant i would like them, rather than writing a well-crafted, reasoned letter,

Ok, my answer is yes...
BUT, some machine filled in all the rest.
And since that makes about as much sense as playing the star strangled bananana at sporting games, i decided to leave it.

[democratisphere]

7. We wouldn't even be thinking of this if it weren't for a bunch of racists.

[Ms. Toad]

10. Actually, as I noted below, I've been hoping for it for around 5 decades. n/t

[GP6971]

8. Yes

as well as God Bless America during baseball's 7th inning stretch.

[Grassy Knoll]

14. Lol .. Yes To Most Attendants That's Last Call For Alcohol

[GP6971]

23. Being a transplanted New Yorker

I still follow the Yankees. It bugged the hell out of me when the announcer said "please join Kate Smith in singing God Bless America" No....I don't want to join Kate Smith....she's dead.

[Ms. Toad]

9. Yes.

It makes it challenging for me to go to sports events since I have not participated in patriotic rituals for religious reasons for around 5 decades. Because I don't need to make a scene about it, I typically delay arrival until after the ritual. But I would much prefer not having to arrange my participation in sporting/community/political events around whether I expect to be pressured to participate in what to me are spiritually offensive activities.

[Grassy Knoll]

11. Yes , Exactly Ms. Toad

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

21. Good for you... it's absolutely wrong to pressure people in this way.

Felt the same way in public school, being forced to recite the pledge of allegiance.

[Ms. Toad]

24. One of the many patriotic rituals I have refused to participate in

since I was around 12.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

32. Wish I would've had your courage!

[Ms. Toad]

35. Meh. I was already the target of bullies.

Adding one more thing for them to pick on me about didn't make it significantly worse.

[democratisphere]

22. Great point.

[Hayduke Bomgarte]

12. Yes

`

[gopiscrap]

13. Yes, except at the Olympics

[sinkingfeeling]

15. Okay by me.

[bluecollar2]

18. yes...unless

It is an international competition

E.g.

USA vs. Mexico in a soccer match....

Then play and both anthems...

My $.02

[Hun Joro]

19. Yes.

Furthermore, I think we need a new national anthem that doesn't glorify war, slavery and symbol-worship.

[SammyWinstonJack]

44. +1000000!

[Xipe Totec]

26. Oh, say can you steep...

Oh, say can you steep by the stove's pilot light
What so proudly we boiled at the teabag's last squeezing?
Whose brew bags and large cups kept the strainer's busy,
O'er the teacups we watched were so gallantly dripping?
And the tea drip's red glare, the bags bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our tea was still there.
Oh, say does that tea-cup brimmingly yet wave
O'er the land of the freeps and the home of the crazed?

[Grassy Knoll]

30. That Should Defiantly Be In A Book Somewhere....

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

27. Absolutely.

Let's review the defining characteristics of Fascism.

Number one is: Powerful and Continuing Nationalism. Fascist regimes tend to make constant use of patriotic mottos, slogans, symbosl, songs, and other paraphernalia. Flags are seen everywhere, as are flag symbols on clothing and in public displays.

For your own edification, simply google "The defining characteristics of fascism."

More to the point, we do NOT need to be singing/playing the National Anthem at all sporting events, nor do we need to be reciting the Pledge of Allegiance every morning at the start of school nor at every cub scout meeting or local political assembly. It's genuinely offensive, and not only to those whose religion or sincere beliefs don't allow them to participate.

[hardluck]

29. Why? I like O Canada

Then again, I mostly watch hockey. Frankly, I don’t mind the anthem - either the Canadian or the U.S. at sporting events. My favorite was seeing a hockey game in Canada. You want to see a crowd get into their anthem - go there. I’ve never seen anything like that in the states.

[Alice11111]

31. I think we should.keep it so the players can knell.

Besides, it pisses off Republicans when people kneel.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

33. That's the best part!

[Alice11111]

36. 😆

[GReedDiamond]

37. Yes. Just YES.

[bluestarone]

38. yes

absolutely

[jaysunb]

40. The Players union should demand a halt to the payments from the military. n/t

[GoCubsGo]

41. Should have been done a long time ago.

[jcmaine72]

42. Yes. And absolutely no military expositions.

If you want to see a B2 bomber do a fly by, go to Afghanistan and see one from the perspective of the innocent people we terror bomb.

The only purpose for playing the Anthem or other such idiotic public displays of 'patriotism' is to promote naked jingoism, xenophobia, selfishness and bigotry. Get rid of all this toxic window dressing and just play your stupid sport. Fair enough?

[alfredo]

43. "America The Beautiful" instead of TSSB

[zentrum]

45. Yes.

[Arazi]

46. Yes

[cstanleytech]

47. I have no problem with it being played nor with those standing or kneeling as

in the end its up to a person to decide what they want to do and our government should not be allowed to force its citizens to do something that causes no real harm to other people.

[Ms. Toad]

57. The problem here, at the moment, is that once the NFL sees their revenue drop

they will make standing mandatory. Even though it was initiated by Trump, it will not be the government mandating participation in the patriotic ritual - and employers can require it.

So the upshot is likely, in short order, to be an NFL rule requiring presence on the field, standing.

[ToxMarz]

48. Simple, just reinstate the draft/mandatory conscription

Eliminates the need for a military advertising budget, no more wasted tax dollars on recruiting and military testosterone displays

[romanic]

49. Sorry but I think eliminating it is political suicide.

[Purveyor]

56. Ding, ding, ding...winner of the thread! If the meme of the Dem cause is trashing

the patriotic foundations we have all grown up to admire...then we will loose.

[Eko]

54. No,

Just quit televising the sports.

[Weekend Warrior]

55. I think there is something missed in why it works.

Before Kap there really wasn’t much talk of it.

It works well before a game because the actions themselves represent sportsmanship. They bring large groups of people together before the competition starts.

That is why the protest was recognized. It went against what had been universally respected, for the most part.

[Petrushka]

59. NO . . . especially not when, beginning in 2009, he NFL received millions of $$ from the Pentagon .

. . . to display "patriotism". . . and, since the National Anthem has been played at sporting events for many, many more years than the NFL was paid for its "patriotism", there's no reason to eliminate the Anthem now.

If NFL players choose not to stand, I understand their ex-fans say they couldn't care less---but that's obviously because they care more.

[RainCaster]

60. Eliminate Twitter in the WH