I stand up for the "Star Spangled Banner" and that's as good as it gets, I don't know the words and just watch and look around, same as the national anthem in England, although I must admit we don't get it shoved down our faces as much as the US, they seem to make the most of any chance they get here!

I also stand up when the US anthem is played; but fold my hands behind my back and assume a vacant expression which I usually hope is taken for respect.

I think I have a sort of bemused expression.

Join the club

So, it seems that the general consensus is that we should stand up. Does it make anyone else feel a bit awkward though? It's hard for me to explain succinctly. I understand that when in a foreign country to as they do, but I don't think of the US as a 'foreign' country. It is now my home.

If I went to another foreign (I suppose what I'm thinking is a non-English speaking) country for a two week holiday and everyone stood up for the national anthem I would too. However, being that I live here and they seem to play the national anthem quite a lot and at random times that I wouldn't think they would (sports games), it's not a one off time. It's not that I feel like I'm losing my English identity exactly but more that I'm confused as to what it means and I also can't identify with it as I've never been around patriotic people.

Gah, it's hard to explain. If anyone could paraphrase it concisely that would be great. Does anyone else feel like this?

I am clueless to this as well so look forward to an educated reply.

Did you watch the Olympics in London last year? At the medal ceremonies they played the national anthem of the country of the athlete that won the gold medal. Everyone stood up for the playing of the anthem. Do you think that was silly? Or do you think that everyone should sit down, except for people who were from the gold medalist's own country?

I really like the US national anthem - much more fun than GSTQ. I'm a bit disappointed that it's not the custom for everyone to sing it together at a sporting occasion, instead everyone stands and listens to a local or fourth-rate national celeb sing it, usually very badly.

I don't recall ever saying it was silly. Please don't put words in my mouth.

I shall answer your question anyway.

No, I don't think it is silly. The Olympics are a completely appropriate place to have the national anthems playing as it is recognising each countries' achievements. We should celebrate and respect that.

Oh, and no, I did not watch the Olympics.

You obviously don't understand my point. Feel free to re-read the thread from the beginning.

Actually, I enjoy the Canadian one -- "Oh Canada, we stand on guard for thee" for some reason always makes me join in rather loudly (from the couch!). When they did that and the US anthem before the recent Allstar Game, I thought the US one paled in comparison. But that's probably because a tenor did a rousing version of the Canadian anthem and some pop singer did the US one, changing the tune and adding in extraneous trills at every line end.

That to me is an appropriate time to play an anthem, when it involves nations in some form.

But the anthem at some college soccer game between colleges 50 miles from each other and 70 people in attendance is not appropriate

Not likely to be an educated answer on this from me, as it is a bit of a gut reaction.

To me the anthem at the drop of a hat demonstrates an insecurity, that I find surprising from what is still the only real super-power, but at the heart of it, isn't that what all this nationalism and flag waving is?

It reminds me of Zhou Enlais famous words "It is too early to tell" but the question is about the American Revolution, The outcome of the revolution is still being fought, the Brits have been defeated but the true nature of America is unknown as yet, that can explain the Fox viewers fears of everything. 250 years or whatever it is since the Revolution seems like a long time, but in History I guess it is not.

The Anthem, the pledge and the flags are part of a state propaganda that tries to instil, as Orwell (from Carl Schurz) put it "My country, right or wrong",

That is why I hate it, it is part of the hegemony of the USA, to dampen down opposition to unpopular wars, inequitable social policies, all based upon My country, right or wrong.

Thank you

This! Why do they do that? Why do Americans let them get away with it?

I know we don't like singing anthems and waving flags very much back home, but if someone tried jazzing up GSTQ the way American pop singers do to the Star Spangled Banner, say at an England game, there'd be a riot!

I stand up for the national anthem of any and every country and I'm proud to do so.

I'm proud that I'm welcome in their country to participate in what's important to them. I don't do the hand on heart thing, i don't need to. I don't "pledge", but I stand with respect.

I would hope that the participants would do the same when my national anthem was played in my country.

At events like the Olympics, it's in recognition of the achievements (like someone else pointed out) and I also stand up for that as proudly as the nationals of the winners country.