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Croney

(4,646 posts)
Sun Sep 22, 2019, 12:42 PM Sep 2019

National Anthem before a 5K today

I've done over 20 of the Cambridge Classic 5K series, spring/summer/fall/winter, and today was the first time this happened. A live person singing the anthem like we're at a baseball game or something.

I'm used to it in arenas (although I don't really see the necessary connection between sports and flag-waving if we're not at the Olympics.) But to have 2000 people lined up waiting for GO and suddenly have to take off caps and hear a sincere young woman draw out this song, was surreal.

Maybe a change of management? I'm patriotic and I love my country as much as a sane person can at this time. But maybe not enough?

41 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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National Anthem before a 5K today (Original Post) Croney Sep 2019 OP
Flag worship is practically a religion now. Mariana Sep 2019 #1
It made me look around for MAGA hats, which would be rare in Cambridge MA anyway. Croney Sep 2019 #10
It doesn't help that The Star Spangled Banner sucks as a piece of music. stopbush Sep 2019 #2
I actually kinda like the music itself. pangaia Sep 2019 #4
I'm partial to Oh Canada, my husband being Canadian. Croney Sep 2019 #14
Actually, me too.. It is so "Canadian.' pangaia Sep 2019 #15
I agree. And when they try to add rills and frills it sounds worse. Croney Sep 2019 #11
it takes a lot of practice in the shower. haha. Lib 4 Life Sep 2019 #27
I much prefer the original (1814) scoring... SeattleVet Sep 2019 #31
Interesting to hear the original doesn't sound truculent. It's an improvement. Judi Lynn Sep 2019 #38
Yuck. Jirel Sep 2019 #3
I just stand there being quiet, pondering the oddness of it all. Croney Sep 2019 #12
Same here. Dagstead Bumwood Sep 2019 #33
It's happened at every race I've ever run sir pball Sep 2019 #5
I guess I've been spared until now. Croney Sep 2019 #7
Same with me obamanut2012 Sep 2019 #29
I run races. It's hit or miss with the national anthem Buckeyeblue Sep 2019 #6
The thought is chilling. Croney Sep 2019 #8
Yep. Nothing can surprise me these days. Buckeyeblue Sep 2019 #9
It's because Americans are insecure in their identity. That's my hypothesis. GoneOffShore Sep 2019 #13
And we will be until we get rid of the orange slug. Croney Sep 2019 #21
Ah, it's been that way for years. GoneOffShore Sep 2019 #34
Ya got off light! albacore Sep 2019 #16
I was looking around for the list being passed around! Croney Sep 2019 #20
All of the running/triathlon events I take part in... TidalWave46 Sep 2019 #17
Really? This was the first time for me. Croney Sep 2019 #22
I never once had to endure that in all my 30+ years of running and tri races. triron Sep 2019 #18
I live in Cambridge, MA. Sometimes called The People's Republic Croney Sep 2019 #19
They play it down in Falmouth before the race sir pball Sep 2019 #25
What have we become pintobean Sep 2019 #23
Yes it does, I agree. But there are places where it might not be Croney Sep 2019 #24
I'm not sure I agree there's an "inappropriate" place... MadDAsHell Sep 2019 #26
Good point. Croney Sep 2019 #28
Here's a list of places where the anthem is appropriate or 'needs' to be sung. GoneOffShore Sep 2019 #35
lol pintobean Sep 2019 #36
Yep! Croney Sep 2019 #37
I don't mind the National Anthem but I can't stand doc03 Sep 2019 #30
Thankfully I haven't been subjected to that in person yet. Croney Sep 2019 #32
Wouldn't stand for that or 'God Bless America'. No matter where I was. GoneOffShore Sep 2019 #39
I can't find the story, but Doc_Technical Sep 2019 #40
Denying access to a restroom might cause pee to end up on somebody's shoes. Croney Sep 2019 #41

Mariana

(14,849 posts)
1. Flag worship is practically a religion now.
Sun Sep 22, 2019, 01:04 PM
Sep 2019

And, some people are just bound and determined to pressure everyone into participating in their flag-worshiping fetish, whenever and wherever they have the power to do so. Such people decided to do this to the participants and spectators of your race.

I belong to a club that has nothing to do with politics or nationalism or anything like that, and there is a group of members who want us to open every meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance and have a flag present. So far they've pretty much been ignored, but they just will not stop going on about it. I remains to be seen if they'll succeed - the members may eventually go along with what they want just to shut them up.

Croney

(4,646 posts)
10. It made me look around for MAGA hats, which would be rare in Cambridge MA anyway.
Sun Sep 22, 2019, 02:16 PM
Sep 2019

Then I felt unpatriotic. But I got over it.

stopbush

(24,378 posts)
2. It doesn't help that The Star Spangled Banner sucks as a piece of music.
Sun Sep 22, 2019, 01:14 PM
Sep 2019

and is near impossible for the average person to sing. Most sound like Rosanne Barr.

The only people who can really do justice to the piece are opera singers like Robert Merrill at the Yankees games. And even then, it’s about a battle, not the country.

“America the Beautiful” would make a much better national anthem, even with the hackneyed “god shed his grace on thee” mumbo jumbo.

pangaia

(24,324 posts)
4. I actually kinda like the music itself.
Sun Sep 22, 2019, 01:42 PM
Sep 2019

But, for sheer get your mojo up there is nothing quite like the National Anthem of the Soviet Union/Russian Federation to send goose bumps up your spine !!!! The words have changed over time, and even for a period, there were no words. The lyrics for the Russian Federation are different from any of the others, with, as far as I k now, no reference to Lenin and all that crap....

But then. I am a musician, and have always felt a strong connection to Russian culture in general, music in particular...


SeattleVet

(5,468 posts)
31. I much prefer the original (1814) scoring...
Sun Sep 22, 2019, 08:10 PM
Sep 2019

much lighter, not as ponderous and hymn-like.

Wingnuts heads would explode if this version were to be performed instead of the 'hymn' that it has morphed into.




(On edit: I'm old enough to remember the national outrage and debate after Jose Feliciano performed the song at the World Series in 1968)



Huge controversy, much time and talk was wasted on this.

Jirel

(1,993 posts)
3. Yuck.
Sun Sep 22, 2019, 01:27 PM
Sep 2019

I have been intentionally “rude” during these exercises in “patriotic” stupidity. I do not put my hand over my heart or stop whatever I’m doing. I’m over this empty headed and DANGEROUS jingoism.

Dagstead Bumwood

(3,528 posts)
33. Same here.
Sun Sep 22, 2019, 08:27 PM
Sep 2019

I take off my cap, my hands stay at my side and I don't make a sound. If the person does a decent job, I might clap for a few seconds. It doesn't mean anything to me (especially during the past almost three years), and I only follow along not to draw attention to myself, lest I be confronted by some jingoistic mouth-breather who thinks I'm dissin' 'Murica.

sir pball

(4,726 posts)
5. It's happened at every race I've ever run
Sun Sep 22, 2019, 01:53 PM
Sep 2019

Over 25 years of racing, from the New York City Marathon to the Litchfield Hills Road Race, there's always been a live rendition of the anthem as one of the final events before the gun. I've never given it much thought either way, to be honest.

obamanut2012

(25,911 posts)
29. Same with me
Sun Sep 22, 2019, 07:50 PM
Sep 2019

Road or trail, 5ks to ultras, in many states.

I think it is a tad ridiculous, but I am always mentally getting ready and getting my nerves under control, so ignore all of it.

Buckeyeblue

(5,491 posts)
6. I run races. It's hit or miss with the national anthem
Sun Sep 22, 2019, 02:08 PM
Sep 2019

I agree that it's not necessary for sporting events. We don't play the anthem before work every morning. At least not yet.

GoneOffShore

(17,309 posts)
34. Ah, it's been that way for years.
Mon Sep 23, 2019, 01:59 AM
Sep 2019

18 years ago we were visited by a French teenager. One of her comments was: Why so many flags? Don't Americans know who they are and where they are living?

 

TidalWave46

(2,061 posts)
17. All of the running/triathlon events I take part in...
Sun Sep 22, 2019, 02:53 PM
Sep 2019

Play the anthem beforehand. Most of the time it’s a recording with no vocals. Sometimes there will be a local person who sings it.

triron

(21,916 posts)
18. I never once had to endure that in all my 30+ years of running and tri races.
Sun Sep 22, 2019, 02:54 PM
Sep 2019

WTF! Where do you live?

Croney

(4,646 posts)
19. I live in Cambridge, MA. Sometimes called The People's Republic
Sun Sep 22, 2019, 03:02 PM
Sep 2019

of Cambridge. Home of Harvard and MIT and Elizabeth Warren. This was a very diverse crowd, too; students from all over the world I'm sure (plus old local people like me). Really no need to point out what country we were in.

I hope they don't make a habit of it.

sir pball

(4,726 posts)
25. They play it down in Falmouth before the race
Sun Sep 22, 2019, 06:49 PM
Sep 2019

Least they did last time I ran it, probably ten years ago

 

pintobean

(18,101 posts)
23. What have we become
Sun Sep 22, 2019, 03:09 PM
Sep 2019

to be bitching about someone singing our national anthem? The country belongs to all of us, regardless of who is in power.

Croney

(4,646 posts)
24. Yes it does, I agree. But there are places where it might not be
Sun Sep 22, 2019, 03:13 PM
Sep 2019

as appropriate as other places. We all have opinions regarding which places those are. I don't think there are any right or wrong answers.

 

MadDAsHell

(2,067 posts)
26. I'm not sure I agree there's an "inappropriate" place...
Sun Sep 22, 2019, 06:58 PM
Sep 2019

It's our freaking national anthem.

Now are there places where it's maybe unneeded? Maybe.

GoneOffShore

(17,309 posts)
35. Here's a list of places where the anthem is appropriate or 'needs' to be sung.
Mon Sep 23, 2019, 02:02 AM
Sep 2019

Military funerals, inauguration of presidents, national holidays, international sporting events. Everywhere else it's just nationalistic wanking.

GoneOffShore

(17,309 posts)
39. Wouldn't stand for that or 'God Bless America'. No matter where I was.
Mon Sep 23, 2019, 08:40 AM
Sep 2019

I'll barely stand for the anthem anymore. Stopped saying 'The Pledge' years ago.

I'm a bit of a hypocrite though, because I do sing 'La Marseillaise' when needed. Don't get many chances though. The French only play it on the occasions I mentioned above.

Doc_Technical

(3,504 posts)
40. I can't find the story, but
Mon Sep 23, 2019, 09:28 AM
Sep 2019

A Major League baseball park would play "God Bless America"
during the seventh inning stretch and the crowd was expected
to stand (if they weren't already) and people who didn't stand were
harassed by people who were standing and singing.
Allegedly, one guy decided to duck into the restroom after the third out
was denied entrance to the restroom by a park employee who
said that the restroom was closed while the song is being played.

Jingoism is not patriotism.

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