I see this happen throughout society, of course, but it deserves mention (complaint) when it happens at the Olympics. The first medal ceremony I saw this morning was for women's fencing in which the USA swept all three medals -- an amazing accomplishment, and hats off to these three talented young women.
But when they played the gold medal winner's national anthem (in this case it represented all three winners' country -- the US) none of the three girls placed their hands over their heart during the playing of "The Star Spangled Banner." (See the last photo in the series of photos at the link.)
I don't think most young people today realize that the American tradition is that every U.S. citizen salutes the flag during the playing of the national anthem. There are two kinds of salutes: one for persons in uniform (military, police, Boy Scouts, etc.) and one for civilians. The uniformed salute is what we typically see military people do -- hand raised to the hat visor or eyebrow -- but the civilian salute is the hand placed over the heart.
In the case of Olympic athletes, excuses like, "Well, I don't really respect America" seem out of place. They are personally entitled to that view, of course, but by representing the US at the Olympics you would think that respect for country and flag is a given. If a civilian in another non-representative context chooses not to salute the flag, that is their Constitutional freedom-of-speech right, which I respect.
The three young fencers almost looked like they had been told not to salute the flag with their hand over their heart -- they looked like they were doing something official since not one did it. So maybe there is some new Olympic rule that podium placers are excused from this show of respect. I don't get it if there is, but I say it just to acknowledge that I may be wrong about the lack of respect shown by the fencing winners.
These young women were very polite and well-spoken about their pleasure in winning a medal for their country, so I assume no disrespect was intended. I think they're just like a lot of young folks today who have inherited a waterered-down tradition. But having been a Cub Scout, Boy Scout, and member of the military, I've been saluting the flag all of my life in and out of uniform. Just not sure why that respectful tradition shouldn't continue.
But when they played the gold medal winner's national anthem (in this case it represented all three winners' country -- the US) none of the three girls placed their hands over their heart during the playing of "The Star Spangled Banner." (See the last photo in the series of photos at the link.)
I don't think most young people today realize that the American tradition is that every U.S. citizen salutes the flag during the playing of the national anthem. There are two kinds of salutes: one for persons in uniform (military, police, Boy Scouts, etc.) and one for civilians. The uniformed salute is what we typically see military people do -- hand raised to the hat visor or eyebrow -- but the civilian salute is the hand placed over the heart.
In the case of Olympic athletes, excuses like, "Well, I don't really respect America" seem out of place. They are personally entitled to that view, of course, but by representing the US at the Olympics you would think that respect for country and flag is a given. If a civilian in another non-representative context chooses not to salute the flag, that is their Constitutional freedom-of-speech right, which I respect.
The three young fencers almost looked like they had been told not to salute the flag with their hand over their heart -- they looked like they were doing something official since not one did it. So maybe there is some new Olympic rule that podium placers are excused from this show of respect. I don't get it if there is, but I say it just to acknowledge that I may be wrong about the lack of respect shown by the fencing winners.
These young women were very polite and well-spoken about their pleasure in winning a medal for their country, so I assume no disrespect was intended. I think they're just like a lot of young folks today who have inherited a waterered-down tradition. But having been a Cub Scout, Boy Scout, and member of the military, I've been saluting the flag all of my life in and out of uniform. Just not sure why that respectful tradition shouldn't continue.
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