Boos go to CNN's hapless Wolf Blitzer and equally hapless Piers Morgan for remaining seated at the RNC convention during the pledge of allegiance and halfway through the National Anthem-standing only after being prodded from the crowd. I guess they figure things like that only apply to the people they are filming and not "impartial journalists" like themselves. In the video, you have to look closely. They are seated directly behind the "beam" sign.
ttp://dailycaller.com/2012/09/03/cnns-blitzer-morgan-skip-standing-for-pledge-of-allegiance-half-the-national-anthem-at-rnc/
I don't know if Morgan is a US citizen or not. He talks like this is his country. Let me assume for the sake of argument that he is still a British subject. If you are in another country and that country's national anthem is played or something equivalent of our pledge of allegiance, it is not expected that you would put your hand over your heart, sing the anthem, or recite the pledge. However, it is expected that you would stand as a sign of respect.
For example, when we were living in Bangkok and attending a movie, the Thai Royal Anthem would always be played at the start. We always stood silently-not in allegiance, but out of respect. (If in Thailand, try remain seated when the Royal Anthem is played and see what happens.)
As for Blitzer, I don't think he has enough sense to come in out of the rain. Morgan strikes me as an arrogant jerk-especially for someone who is always preaching about how this country should be in his eyes.
Even Larry King would have had enough sense to stand up.
It is my belief that reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, at least as that odd verse from a children's magazine has been enshrined today, violates the Second Commandment. However, like the Jehovah's Witnesses, I stand out of respect while declining to recite.
ReplyDeleteIt wouldn't hurt Blitzer to do the same. He may not know this, but they're going to recite both at the Democratic National Convention too. Union meetings also open with the Pledge of Allegiance, which may surprise Gary.
We should force these people to stand up so they can know what freedom of expression is all about.
ReplyDeleteI guess it is just me, but I do not recall Gary, or anyone else for that matter (to include me)indicating that unions/union members are necessarily unpatriotic. Lot of bad thngs to say about them, but patriotism is not among them in my book.
ReplyDeleteAnd Siarlys, I guess I am just dense, but please help me out a little bit on the Second Commandment/pledge of allegiance nexus?? I guess I could see a stretch by a weird person relative the the Third Commandment and the phrase "under God", but that is about it for me.
Elwood,
ReplyDeleteI would never question the patriotism of union members.
"Thou shalt not make unto thee a graven image... thou shalt not bow down to it or serve it..."
ReplyDeleteI am not committed to never making a realistic depiction of any object or living thing... but the manner in which the half-baked poem from a 19th century magazine for youth has become a national ritual strikes me as bowing to a graven image... without this particular ritual, I have no problems with flags.
Jehovah's Witnesses, Mennonites, and many others have conscientious scruples of this nature. I don't have to be either to share this reservation.
Of course Gary wouldn't question the patriotism of union members... only of the unions they belong to.