Mehh.

Maybe I don't want to ruin someone else's experience by being a douche bag.

And I do think that other people deserve respect until they show their own douchebaggery. Then, game on.

I am not sure why you have to match their body language. Don't compete, don't interfere, but why match their body language? That almost seems disrespectful, almost mocking them, I am sure you do not mean this, and do not do this, but what do you do, join hands? bend head?

What i mean is that If they're standing still - so will I... If they're sitting/kneeling - I'll sit (which I believe is acceptable even if some are kneeling)

I don't bow my head, join hands (unless I'm specifically asked and then I say that I don't pray)

I stand for the anthem and people watch at that point. The only point I have been at something when prayer has been involved was someone's funeral. I didn't pray, but sat at appropriate point, etc.

That's no fun.

Having said that, the experience I was referring to was prayer, which is essentially just passive role playing, which can't be ruined by someone playing with their phone, scratching their arse or farting.

I still stand for the anthem (or would, if I ever found myself in a situation where it was played.)

Ok, yes with you there.

Having seen your sig line, you may be interested in joining my church.... the church of the apathetic agnostic. Also known as I don't know and I don't care.

If you ordain me, I am in.

(It is my understanding that if you say "you are ordained" then that is enough under Washington State law, I could marry people in the name of the Church of Trixie)

I suspect the over use of the US national anthem started in the late 1800s and early 1900s as immigrants flooded the shores and probably outnumbered Americans. I suspect at that time, laws were passed that the national anthem had to be played at many different events to try to instill a unity among the many different nationalities in the country.

Since then, it has become a tradition at events.

That may have been me. In that case, it was my mother-in-law at church in England signing The Star Spangled Banner over the top of God Save the Queen. Then she proceeded to ask all the old ladies there if any of them had German ancestry. I wasn't there, but I heard she came close to causing the first bloodshed in our part of rural Wiltshire since Stonehenge was put up.

From an American, I don't care if you do or don't. There are many Americans who do not stand for the national athem or for the pledge. Their choice.

I've a Canadian husband and I've spent time in Canada while he was still living there and whenever their national athem was played, he stood and I stood along side of him out of respect for the country I was visiting.

I would think that if one is a resident in the US, then you respected the US enough to live here, have your family here, and earn your living here, then you should display your respect by standing for the national athem. It doesn't take anything away from you but it gives that little edge of civility in a very uncivilized world.

Could be I got it the wrong way round

In all honesty, I have never, in 25 years seen anyone not stand for either the pledge of allegiance or that racket of a national anthem **

Funny thing happened earlier this year, when I was at a military re-enactment event: the Star Spangled Racket was played and everyone faced the large American flag hoisted over the US camp. In between me and it, though was the Union Jack over the British camp. So there I was standing out of respect, but staring at my own flag also. Slightly Zen moment, that.

Incidentally, above our (German) camp was another flag entirely.

I hope they played the other 2 countries national anthem, all in the name of equality, you know.