Jingsamichty

From the BBC

I read this article on the Beeb about the US law and etiquette regarding the flag and I was genuinely shocked. That is fascism writ large. No surprise it was introduced by the Legion.

The rabid and blind uber-patriotism is perhaps the single greatest thing I dislike about the USA.

Why is the national anthem played before every domestic sports game anyway? Internationals, fair enough, but domestic games?

Shard

It's all part of the great brainwashing that is American exceptionalism. If you want to have the ability to persuade vast numbers of families to sacrifice their sons and daughters for foreign policy whims, you need a public that is fully subscribed to the myth. Especially in a country which otherwise upholds free speech.

scrubbedexpat091

Why does Canada play their National Anthem at sporting events?


The flag code is not enforced by government nor is there a punishment for not following it.

Dorothy

Australia plays there's as well before AFL games.

BristolUK

CBC plays O Canada at 6.00am - it's like the old days of the BBC

Not the sort of thing one would expect of an organisation supposedly controlled by "pinko liberals"

I can't recall if it's just weekends or every day.

I believe the schools in NB (possibly other places too) begin the day playing it.

At least it's not the dirge that is GSTQ.

Shard

Maybe the UK needs a new national ditty?

Something without reference to God or her majesty. Maybe a plug for sausages, Cheddar, tea or something like that.

BristolUK

I vote The Sun to poll its readers. We could have "Ten German Bombers" or The Great Escape theme.

Danny B

In Thailand they play the national anthem at the cinema before a movie starts

magnumpi

They did that in Manila too

dave_j

I'm old enough to remember the audience standing in UK cinemas as the national anthem was played at the end of the film. As a young boy, I always found it made me self conscious as it meant little to me and yet crowd and peer pressure somehow made me stand. I suppose the fact that it was just within a decade or two of the ending of WW2 probably influenced it.

caretaker

Fear God, honour the Crown, shoot straight and keep clean; you'll go far, Gripweed!
First through fourth grade in our little two room school house we sang both GSTQ and Oh Canada at the start of each day. There might have been some praying as well, I can't recall.

Oink

Whatever you think about the US, they've written down in their Constitution, the almost total freedom of prosecution for speech. Where in some countries, like the UK, you can be incarcerated for expressing your political and philosophical views.

Shard

Canada deserves an honourable mention for restricting free speech too.

Teaandtoday5

And every morning in schools!

Also in Kenya. And don't even think of not standing up for it.

Dorothy

I remember K-grade 6 or so singing God Save The Queen and O Canada then reciting the Lord's Prayer every morning at school. (Little country school in semi-rural Ontario)