American Anthem Etiquette

[norse]

I just watched both the Olympic men and women's 4x400 meter relay race. Both teams won gold medals. During the American anthem, none of the athletes put their hand over their heart. What's up with that? Is this gesture outdated? Are they not told by their coaches to do it?

Just curious.

[M>B>]

I haven't seen everything, but I have seen American athletes do it one way or the other and to me it is a matter of personal choice and no big deal.

At least I haven't seen any of them bowing their heads and hold up a clinched fist!

[Lux Interior]

[quote M>B>]
At least I haven't seen any of them bowing their heads and hold up a clinched fist!
Yeah, good thing none of them are uppity this time 'round.

[pRICE cUBE]

I have been to many sporting events and have seen different ways of doing this. I suspect it is how you interpret etiquette while wearing a team uniform.

[mattkime]

perhaps their hearts are not located where you assume

[RgrF]

They're on an adrenalin high, bet they don't have a lapel flag pin either. What's wrong with you? They run for themselves, any attendant glory you want to claim for yourself is your thing.

That they represent their country by honoring their sport, that's all you should ask.

[rgG]

I think it probably varies according to what they have been taught to do, probably by their coaches. I noticed that the USA gymnasts and the swimmers, the ones that I watched, did place their hands over their hearts.

[RgrF]

It's more likely a reflection of their upbringing.

Nationalist jingoism isn't conducive to real sportsmanship; it's, if anything, a distraction from sportsmanship and in the end destructive.

[AlphaDog]

I thought it was while the Pledge of Allegiance was being recited that people put their hands over their hearts. I remember being taught that, but I don't remember anything about putting one's hand over their heart during the National Anthem.

Edit: So I posted this and then looked it up, so for any of you who want to know what the scoop is:

The U. S. Flag code states that people should stand with their right hand over their heart when then anthem is being played - if there is an American flag present. However, the custom is now considered outdated, especially since it also references other items no longer used, and modern custom does not require it. Or at least that's according to the place where the original manuscript of the Star Spangled Banner is held.

I was right, though, and there is an expectation that the right hand is held over the heart during the Pledge of Allegiance.

I guess at some fairly recent event, there was a big deal made over the fact one of the presidential candidates did not have his hand over his heart while the anthem was being played, so I found this information on Snopes, where they, naturally, told us how it is! Oh, and that particular person was taught the same thing I was - hand over the heart during the Pledge, quiet respect during the Anthem.

[rgG]

Here is a link I found that spells out the etiquette.

http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/36/301.html