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Friday, February 19, 2010

Winter Olympics

Good Morning Joe!

Thought I might shine a little winter Olympic opinion with you this morning. Every time I watch a medal ceremony I get chocked up. Our free county is leading with golds! I, like many other Americans watch with pride as our young athletes receive their medals as our National Anthem is played. I am also sure that our President was proud of Shani Davis receiving the gold in the men's speed skating 1000m. And like our President being the first black American to do so. I congratulate him, but am left with a question in my mind as to why Shani did not hold his hand over his heart as the way other Americans I have seen have done, as well as his team mate did during their medal ceremony? cj

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

interesting story in Sports Illustrated about SHani Davis. Maybe it wilhttp://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/olympics/2010/writers/alexander_wolff/02/09/shani.davis/index.htmll explain why.

Anonymous said...

If you know anything about Davis, you know he marches to his own beat, so to speak.

BTW, I thought he won a gold at the last Olympics as well. That was when he made the history.

Heather said...

I have seen very few winning American athletes put their hands over their hearts. Not just Mr. Davis.

Anonymous said...

Just want to Comment regarding the post by JOEALBERO from earlier.

Thank you, I thought I was crazy when I noticed this.

You know, when I hear the National Anthem, I always get "Chills", and feel a Deep Sense of American Pride!!

Is this guy Muslim?? And I'm sure after the Games are all over, he'll be the first one on the list to visit the White House..He and Our Pres seem to have alot in common!!

All I'm saying is that, if your going to compete under the US Flag, then you should remember that your there for The Core American Values, and if not, then please start shopping for another country....

Gtrfan

Anonymous said...

that link goes nowhere

Anonymous said...

I don't have a problem with the holding of the right hand over the heart for the national anthem because I feel that is for the pledge of allegiance, not the anthem.
However, what bothers me every time we have the Olympics is the athletes don't seem to even know the words to our national anthem. If you don't want to sing it, fine, atleast move your lips to it!
I'd bet a number of them don't even know the words to our country's anthem!

Anonymous said...

Joe, it might be helpful for your readers to know that it is not a required protocol to place your hand over your heart during the National Anthem.

You are required to remove your hate, however, as a sign of respect.

The hand of the heart is required during the Pledge of Allegiance because it is a gesture of making an oath, much like placing a hand on a bible or holding up a hand when swearing to tell the truth in a court.

The National Anthem is not an oath. You are not required to put your hand on your heart. You are not required to sing it, either, although it's grand if you do. You are required only to stand in respectful pose for it. It is a song of history and pride, not an oath to be sworn.

This is the protocol observed all my growing years and the protocol I taught my students over my many years of teaching.

Thank you for letting me teach again for a moment. You can take the old gal out of the classroom, but you can't take the classroom out of the old gal.

Anonymous said...

Simple....Shani is a jerk. It's not a big secret.

Anonymous said...

think link is dead but google it. Interesting background story to this athlete. And yes, who cares if someone holds their hand over their heart. Alot of you trashing people for how they pose during the anthem are the same ones celebrating/justifying yesterday's plane attack.

joealbero said...

anonymous 11:58, I CARE, that's who!

I was raised to respect the Flag, our National Anthem and those who taught us the way.

You must be a wet pants liberal who will defend anything and everything, yet bitch about anything that doesn't go your way.

It absolutely 100% doesn't surprise me one single bit that you are far too afraid to put your name behind your comment.

I promissed someone I wouldn't use the regular name I call people like you vut if anyone deserves it, it's you.

Anonymous said...

11:34 I believe US code says that proper protocol during playing of our National Anthem is to stand with your right hand over you heart. I hope our kids are being taught this.

Anonymous said...

well it is appropriate for one in uniform (police, miltary etc) to salute the flag while in uniform and if they are not then they place their hand over their heart. Why is that? Everyone should place their hand over their heart when the anthem is played. You are showing respect for the colors (AMERICAN FLAG) that are being raised not the actual anthem. Regardless of what everyone else thinks, in my houshold we stand and place our hands on our heart when it is played on TV. Now I dont stop my car and get out when it is played on the radio but when I can and hear it I stop whatever I am doing and pay respect to it!! HAVE SOME PRIDE PEOPLE< AMERICANS (BLACK WHITE YELLOW) faught hard for our freedoms and everyone should respect that if nothing else.

Anonymous said...

Joe, sometimes i agree with you and sometimes not! this is one of those times I don't. I was raised to show respect to our flag and our country, but honestly I don't know this country, especially this government anymore! they are the enemy to all of us hard working americans!!

Anonymous said...

More importantly, he kept looking down and not at the flag.