Isn’t it awful when our gold medalists refuse to show how much they care about their country after winning team competitions? Sure, anyone could go out and jump all those clears for the country; it takes a true American to remember to hold his hand up! I agree, let’s kick him out - I think the Germans would take him. :winkgrin:
[QUOTE=ridgeback;3453436]
I don’t think it’s a law I’ve never seen anyone arrested for not doing it… When I was a child that was not the case…:lol:[/QUOTE]
I don’t think anyone has ever bothered to enforce it, if they even know it exists. Most cops know about as much as the average person off the street about the laws they enforce and there are tons of laws and codes that nobody has probably ever enforced that are only on the books for political reasons or they simply sounded practical on paper many years ago but wouldn’t make any sense in today’s world.
The law says that he should have had his hat in his hand anyway. His hat was probably made in China too?
[QUOTE=Tiramit;3453454]
Isn’t it awful when our gold medalists refuse to show how much they care about their country after winning team competitions? Sure, anyone could go out and jump all those clears for the country; it takes a true American to remember to hold his hand up! I agree, let’s kick him out - I think the Germans would take him. :winkgrin:[/QUOTE]
The Germans have enough good riders. Let the French have him. :lol:
What I personally find more offensive is the dude has a good honest to God surname as a first name!
That’s an affront to humanity.
I suppose it’s really his parents fault. I knew there was something I didn’t like about his Dad.
None of the horses had their hooves over their hearts either! And no wonder we can’t trust them to be patriots – some of them were born in Germany, you know.
I am sure there are many that have things to say that Mclain has done that are FAR more offensive then hand on heart.
Just visit Horseshowspy
The statute says “should,” not “have to.” In other words, it is trying to set the standard, but it is not illegal to do other things.
When I go to baseball games, etc., hard-over-hearters like me are in the minority (less than 10%). Beezie had to elbow Will to remind him, and I don’t think Laura even tried to remind McLain. This is a nonissue to me – these people are all patriotic enough for me, as they have expended significant resources and time to represent our country in the international arena, and have done so very well.
Hand over heart
is definitely an American tradition. Never seen it in Canada or in France.
What REALLY irks me is boys and men having to be reminded to take off their hats! Grrr! No matter which anthem is played… you bare your head!
I’d burn the flag before I’m forced to do anything I don’t want to do during the pledge of alligence or the national anthem…JMO
Well I heard that in the wee hours in the morning he goes wheelchair tipping 
Some people get confused because at many sporting events they play the national anthem and pepole instinctively remove hat and place hand over heart… don’t have to but they do.
[QUOTE=LexInVA;3453433]
Ah. Here is the law…
United States Code, 36 USC Sec. 301, states that during the playing of “The Star Spangled Banner” (United States National Anthem) when the flag is displayed, everyone except those in uniform should stand at attention while facing the flag with their right hand over their heart. Those in attendance who are not in uniform should remove any head wear with their right hand and hold it at their left shoulder, with their right hand held over their heart. Individuals in uniform should show the military salute during the first note of the anthem and stay in this position until the last note. If the flag is not displayed, people in attendance should face the music and respond as if the flag were present.[/QUOTE]
Thank you.
If the band is good I sometimes tear up a bit, too. Especially if the breeze lifts the Flag, just a bit, to unfurl it.
Sheesh. So glad to see respect of flag, anthem and country is such a non issue for so many. 
[QUOTE=Drvmb1ggl3;3453416]
He’s a communist.
Heard he kicks small puppies too, esp the cute ones.[/QUOTE]
Yup. And I heard he had his picture taken doing the “slanty eyes” thing a la the Spanish Basketball thing while he was at a terrorist training camp in Afghanistan.
Definitely a communist. And a terrorist. And worst of all, a… REPUBLICAN!
Wow. And I thought we Brits were too nationalistic sometimes. Um, aren’t both our countries currently occupying others to bring them freedom and democracy? Something here doesn’t add up (policing athlete’s manners druing a song? Surely that is more appropriate in, um, other headline grabbing countries) :lol::lol:
Imagine… you’ve just won Olympic gold for your country, riding with a degree of style and grace that few achieve these days. You’ve managed to maintain a bit of professionalism despite being thrust in the spotlight at a very young age (first for your own outstanding talent and sadly later for more dubious reasons). You must be well aware of the fact that no matter what you do for the rest of your career, your behaviour will always be put under a microscope and you will be judged by a higher standard than most. Despite all of this you keep your cool in a very high pressure jump off situation, support your teammates, etc. And yet your fellow countrymen fault you for not making the right gesture during the national anthem? wow. Come on, give the man a break already.
I’m not saying we should just forgive and forget, but I was a teenager when Mclain first came on the scene, and I can remember good things as well as the bad. Remember the old adage, if you can’t say something kind…??
Oh, and pssst… the Olympics isn’t about PATRIOTISM anyway, it’s about world peace and international cooperation remember??? 
[QUOTE=MyGiantPony;3453480]
Sheesh. So glad to see respect of flag, anthem and country is such a non issue for so many. :([/QUOTE]
It has nothing to do with respect for the country or the love for the country… Just a shame that he was the reason we won the gold medal and we have to pick on him for not putting his hand over his heart…sheesh… There is alot more you can say about Mclain’s respect for things…
[QUOTE=MyGiantPony;3453480]
Sheesh. So glad to see respect of flag, anthem and country is such a non issue for so many. :([/QUOTE]
Respect for your country is nothing to laugh about. Equating that with whether or not someone puts his hand on his heart for the anthem is.
That’s missing the point. I think what people are saying is that there’s some cultural variety as to what is considered respectful of the flag. Some folks say hand on the heart. Others say take off your hat. Other say stand quietly in respect. There seems to be some divergence. He stood quietly in respect. There’s a large contingent here that feels that is an accetable form of repecting the flag.
When I go to the baeball game, I see more people standing with their hands at their sides than over their heart. Not everyone takes off their hat. There’s some real divergence in terms of what is considered appropriate. I never learned hand over heart during the anthem, only the pledge of allegience-- and I had to study the rules because I’m Canadian and was naturalized. Things might have changed since then, but I don’t recall that rule being outlined as manditory.
Not to mention, he might have been SLIGHTLY overwhelmed with everything that was going on. Just a tiny little bit.
I guess the only way he can redeem himself is by winning the individual gold medal and placing his hand over his heart then!!! Hope Eric does not give him the opportunity though!!
I’m not much of a flag waver after 9/11. Not because of the events themselves but just the stuff that came after it in this country. Not the WOT either but that’s another thread for another Off Topic Day. I think that they went a little too far when they tried to put Patriotism in a box and sell it gift wrapped with political tissue paper. Anyway, I think McLain’s lack of proper decorum might be taken as a bit of a slap in the face by some people and I think he should have done it just for the sake of being proper on the world’s stage but I won’t lose sleep over it.
