Boy lucky to have freedom to not stand for anthem
Kennebec Journal Staff
Recently we attended a girls basketball tournament game in Augusta (Skowhegan vs. Brunswick) to support our team.
As the game was to begin, the announcer said, "All rise, remove your hats for our national anthem." Immediately we all rose with hats in hand and faced our flag -- all, that is, except one boy (approximately 16 or 17 years old) in front of our group.
I leaned forward and reminded him once and then again to stand or at least to remove his hat. The student, as well as the people around him, heard both of the remarks and ignored them. Obviously, he was trying to make some sort of a statement.
I personally feel that he is very fortunate to live in this country under that flag where he can do what he did or what he did not do. I felt much better when I scanned the auditorium and saw my son, his friends, students, players and rest of the audience straight up, hats off and eyes forward. I guess that, too, was a statement in itself.
Harold T. Bigelow
Skowhegan
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14 COMMENTS
OldClarkie said...
Harold. Being a disabled veteran I have no problem viewing individuals who like this young man show his American rights of choice. He had the right to simply not stand, for whatever reason, maybe he wasn't American, maybe a religious conviction, maybe a protest, but he also did it in style. I feel it is far worse to have an entire audience stand because peer pressure and political correctness. Good thing the SS did not see this or might have been a bigger issue then local paper and upset parent overstepping their bounds with a child who has a different belief.
March 13, 2010 at 12:53 AM Report abuse
MarkB said...
Liberalism has succeeded in teaching hatred for the USA. It's his right, yes. It's also the most despicable form of disrespect any "American" can have. Thanks liberals, socialists and communists. Be proud of your student.
March 13, 2010 at 7:08 AM Report abuse
bastaa said...
The young man expressed himself in a free country. MarkB: Maybe it was an extreme RIGHT viewpoint that urged him on. Folks like you should be glad you have the freedom to label and hate.
March 13, 2010 at 8:04 AM Report abuse
HesterPrynne said...
MarkB, sitting out a song is the most despicable form of disrespect? Really? I thought perhaps killing someone or blowing up a building or sexually molesting a child would have made it higher on your list of disprespectful things that one can do against the mores of a country. He had the right to sit. Freedom to enjoy life, liberty and happiness is one of our greatest goals (not yet enjoyed by all, however). He's a kid and probably thought it was totally cool to remain seated exactly for the purpose that it would irritate some of the adults. By heckling him, you gave him exactly what he wanted and made him a hero to his friends thereby reinforcing the behavior.
March 13, 2010 at 9:00 AM Report abuse
Divinity said...
A young man returns from his first tour in Afghanistan without his legs. He is adjusting still to the new prosthetics and the hair is still growing in around the area where a plate was attached to his skull. He served under the command of Canadian Brig.-Gen. Daniel Ménard, top commander in Kandahar and was a close friend of Michelle Lang, who along with four of his fellows was killed in the December 30 IED attack.
March 13, 2010 at 10:16 AM Report abuse
Divinity said...
A young man returns from his first tour in Afghanistan without his legs. He is adjusting still to the new prosthetics and the hair is still growing in around the area where a plate was attached to his skull. He served under the command of Canadian Brig.-Gen. Daniel Ménard, top commander in Kandahar and was a close friend of reporter Michelle Lang, who along with four of his fellows was killed in the December 30 IED attack.
March 13, 2010 at 10:17 AM Report abuse
ThomasPaine said...
I'd have to commend the young man for not giving into the peer pressure of others. His exercise of his right not to participate in idolatry outweighs the reflex reactions of the Simon Says crowd. Unless people exercise their right not to be peer pressured into going along just to get along, they'll soon forget what the true meaning of the word "freedom" really is.
March 13, 2010 at 10:43 AM Report abuse
C-Fairer said...
Poor student should realize how moral & just it is to invade and occupy foreign countries. How heroic and brave he would be if he wanted to kill for you, instead of a silent protest.
March 13, 2010 at 11:43 AM Report abuse
anticon said...
Yes, he's so lucky. Free to be represented by failed politicians who can subsidize giant banks but not ensure basic healthcare for him. Free to work his whole life to pay taxes toward an ever-amassing federal debt to pay for 2 pointless exercises posing as "wars" against people who are no threat to him. Free, most of all, to be harassed by total strangers at a basketball game for exercising what few choices he has left. Why would he NOT hop right up and salute what's left of the flag? I commend the young man for at least not falling in line in this one small way. Mr Bigelow, you are lucky indeed to have the "freedom" to pressure people you don't know to act as you do, even if you lack the grace to restrain yourself.
March 13, 2010 at 11:52 AM Report abuse
NamVet said...
Big deal. I'm a veteran, too, and I find it absurd to get bent out of shape over this kid's behavior. I can certainly think of a lot more despicable forms of protest -- posters, for example, comparing President Obama to Hitler. I like to think that tolerance, a sense of humor, and suspicion of cant -- not ranting and name-calling represent what's best about my country.
March 13, 2010 at 1:37 PM Report abuse
AKMaineiac said...
He's got a right to not stand. Others have a right to respond to his protest in a legal manner. That's the spirit of protest. It's how we determine what people are thinking and feeling. If there is a "protest" and more show up to protest the "protest" we know who to listen to. It's simple... ten thousand people in an arena, 9,990 stand and ten "protestors" don't. The only excuse for not standing is ignorance. Come here and whine and cry about civility and respect, then holler about someone correcting what is personally disrespectful behavior? Why is it labeling and hate to say, "I do not agree with your protest, and think it is disrespectful and idiotic?" It's disagreement, and within our rights as well. Or do people who hate this country have some kind of special license?
March 14, 2010 at 2:03 PM Report abuse
reader said...
8 Mainer commentators defended the kid for not standing up for the anthem....guess what, i dont care if it was against his religion,his beliefs, get the he11 off your arse and look at the ceiling for 30 seconds to avoid being disregardful so many people in this country dead and alive believe in. Or get the hell out of the country. You military vets like me should know better.
March 15, 2010 at 1:11 AM Report abuse
reader said...
Great point Harold T. Bigelow from Skowhegan. Lazy arse should have at least stood, it would not have been much to ask.
March 15, 2010 at 1:12 AM Report abuse
ThomasPaine said...
Now that reader has commented against the young man for not participating in idolatry or the Simon Says process, I'm more certain than ever that the young man has nothing to be ashamed of for holding his convictions of not going along just to get along. Freedom and liberty require more than just lip service and complacency, it requires intestinal fortitude and eternal vigilance.
March 15, 2010 at 2:52 PM Report abuse