September 20, 2016
There has
been a Facebook exchange recently highlighting a video of President Obama without
his hand over his heart for a playing of the
National Anthem. The writer implies
in CAPS that President Obama REFUSED to place his hand over his heart thereby
showing disrespect for our country.
I have gone
years without putting my hand on my heart.
For a long time, I was taught it was a choice and I chose to stand in
respectful attention with my arms at my sides singing with all my heart. The flag and my country were always and are
still dear to me.
As I’ve
gotten older, I’ve questioned some of the things I/we do automatically— because
it has always been done. I’ve come to a
conclusion in this case. Please hear me
out. The flag is a piece of cloth with
our country’s symbolic design. Other
countries could have the same piece of cloth made with their symbols. The cloth is not sacred, nor is the
design. It is A Symbol of our ideals and
as such holds deep symbolic meaning for the people of our Nation. It deserves our respect. The National Anthem is also a symbol of love
for our nation. It too calls for our
respect.
For me it
goes deeper. Deeper than the flag. Deeper than the Anthem. Respect may be shown in placing our hand over
our heart. It may also be shown by
kneeling on one knee or by standing respectfully with hands at your sides. (I’m
not sure about the whooping and hollering that goes on before the anthem is even
finished at ball games, but sharing a good time is also part of our nation’s
past-time.)
However, the
hateful vitriol that is spewed in some places and at some times almost before
the National Anthem fades away does not show respect for our Nation or our
Anthem. It does not show respect for
people or the constitution. Showing
respect for our symbols—the flag, the Pledge, and the National Anthem—must go
further and deeper than a hand over our heart. It must honor the complexity and diversity of the many people who make up our nation. It must reach into our heart and love us into being the loving, accepting,
welcoming, diverse and united nation our forefathers and mothers dreamed of and
that I trust we continue to strive to be.
