marlin29311 wrote:FYI - this might sound like a rant...
Im still in the camp that believes that everyone (and by that i mean every US citizen) should be placing their hand on their hearts during a pledge or national anthem. Kids in high school didn't do it because they were "being cool and rebelious." F*** them. Kids are one thing, adults, especially ones that are running our country, have a duty to give good examples to everyone else. By not saluting our flag, you're basically saying f*** everything that is stands for and that you don't give a s*** in my opinion. If you don't want to salute the flag, I say you have the right to GTFO of my country.
People get pissed at what the gov does, etc, and I'm fine with that. But when people start publicly lambasting the USA, while still living here (I'm calling out modern music/art/entertainment people and more), you're the biggest hypocrites out there. Lets criticize everything that so many worked so hard to give you. Awesome. Great idea guys Way to show some respect to the thousands that have died domestically and foreignly to preserve the way of life that we have.
/rant
Ok, so for some more logical insight, I feel that the POTUS needs to represent something for the country he/she is serving. Hands on the heart are a long standing tradition that shows honor and reverence towards the flag and all of the history that stands behind it. As someone that is running for the "highest office in the land," I feel that Obama should be offering his reverence towards the flag, and not standing there, idling.
I couldn't disagree more... so you're saying we can't crticize our country just because we live here... saying we live in the place that's the lesser of other evils doesn't remove the country from its wrongdoings. I personally am so disgusted with our legal system that I loathe talking about it. In some instances, our legal system has become as racist as the racist people that smile at the inequalities. From unequal sentencing guidlines for whites and blacks committing the same croime with no priors, to the racist laws that make selling crack coacine 10x more punishable than powered cocaine. If you have ever been caught up in the legal system unfairly, this may appeal to you more!
So to that end, there is nothing wrong with publicly lambasting the country! If you still see wrongs and ills being committed.
personal example: Johns Hopkins School of medicine is one of the most preiminnt medical institutions in the world. The fact that I'm there and that I've recuited other minorities to my program doesn't excuse the fact that the school itself didn't start accepting blacks until the 1960's (80+ years after Harvard, Yale, etc) and that there are still many racist attitudes that exist within the school in the administration , faculty and staff alike.
From your line of thinking,. I should just be happy I'm there, accept my world class education and STFU right? Nope, I'm the main person speaking out when I see somethging wrong, whether it be through groupwise emails, or conferences with the Dean of Medicine!
/rant
so, I don't think there's anything wrong with criticizing the country when there still remains a lot that needs to be criticized. BUt in the case of Barack Obama, I don't think he purposefully did that to make a statement or prove a point or anything, I think he was respectful and attentive during the anthem. I'm sorry it offened some of you, but I just don't think he did it to be disrespectful in any way shape form or fashion. The fact that you took it as disrespectful could be worlds away from his original intent! Intent, not perception should judge this action!
