The Islamic call to prayer in Arabic, in the evening, is the prettiest sound on Earth.
Posted on 02/20/2010 7:37:58 AM PST by tellw
'Oh, Say, Can You See, by the...Um...Help!'
They can ski down steep slopes at lightning speeds, perform quad spins on ice and do backflips on halfpipes, so how's this for a new, novel Olympic challenge: Singing your country's national anthem on the medal stand.
A scant 21.2% of gold-medal winners in these Games actually sang their entire national anthem, with an additional 18.2% mustering bits and pieces while mumbling or entirely missing other parts, according to a Wall Street Journal study of 33 winners through Thursday's events.
Six Americans were part of this assessment and only one, snowboarder Seth Wescott, sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" at all (though he stumbled over the lyrics a couple times). Another American snowboarder, Shaun White, didn't sing at all—he was busy pointing to the crowd, pumping his fists and playing the air guitar. This shouldn't be surprising: A 2004 Harris Poll survey of 2,200 Americans showed 61% didn't know all the words to the national anthem.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
I have seen many, many fine American athletes—as I am sure many on this thread have—standing at attention with quiet dignity, with tears rolling down their faces (the telephoto lenses obviously dismiss privacy) at this time.
Knowing who some of these athletes are, I know they are patriots indeed—
When you have winners on that platform who are clowning or fidgeting at the time a national anthem is played—whatever the nation—then that is bad and usually disgusting behavior.
A few days ago, flipping through channels, I got the Ellen Degeneres show. She does some games with audience members. One, a young latina, was asked to name the 13 original colonies....she says, N.J.....New York....CANADA....
CANADA! I was a bit surprised she didn’t say Mexico.
The Islamic call to prayer in Arabic, in the evening, is the prettiest sound on Earth.
I turned to NBC four times over the opening weekend and watched for half an hour each time. There was no action, just talking. Turned it off.
Some actually DID cover their hearts, some actually kept their eyes on the Grand Old Flag during the playing, some actually kept a respectful countenance and some DID try not to look completely bored with the whole minute or so extracted from their busy lives.
It's NOT a generational thing......their instructors, coaches and parents should have (and may have) educated them long, long ago on Anthem protocol and good manners. These athletes have been on podiums before.....and not ALL of them are teen-age yutes.
Leni
The best moment of the olympics the last few years was Apolo Ono winning his first medal. The smug and cocky little boy stood on the podium getting his just reward. Then the national anthem rang out. His face contorted and tears welled up in his eyes. A boy became a man as he soak in the gravity of his victory. It was a beautiful moment.
It doesn’t matter if you don’t have the vocal range to sing it beautifully. The 1998 U.S. Women’s ice hockey team belted out the anthem totally off tune but it didn’t matter, they knew the words and they delivered it!!
I did see one girl, don’t ask me which sport, but we got the fold and the bronze. The one getting the bronze was singing the anthem enthusiastically. A joy to see.
When we go to an athletic event and the band plays the Star Spangled Banner, I sing. Yes, really. And next time, I will sing even louder. It is a sad day when people who live in the greatest country on earth cannot even open their mouths to sing in celebration.
Let’s reestablish the tradition!
Hah - bad typing skills. Of course I meant the Gold, not fold.
I saw that too, it could have been women’s downhill.
Most of the athletes are fighting back emotions and probably cannot even remember the words not to mention it is one of the hardest songs to sing ever.
A lot of people don’t sing the National Anthem at our football games either and the words are on the screen. Our singers are good and people don’t bother trying to sing but if you play God Bless America you will hear people singing all around.
Why don’t some of the ones on here try standing on a stage after just winning a gold medal they have worked all their life for and try to get the words of this song to come in their mind. As the athletes have been interviewed, all talk about what was going through their mind at the time and it involved their family, training, etc.
People need to cut these athletes some slack whether they put their hand over their heart or don’t sing or don’t look up because they are emotional and this is an event that comes along usually once in a lifetime for most.
"The prettiest National Anthem is the Russian--I mean Soviet anthem. The Melody makes me happy!"
How many verses?
Thank you! When I worked on a military installation and retreat was sounded you were to stand at attention and face the flag. When you say the Pledge of Allegiance you hold your hand over your heart.
Try verse 3 - folks WILL stare!
A group belted out the song — must easier to remember words when everyone around you is singing then when you are standing on the podium alone.
Especially when you're the Secretary of State.
‘....their instructors, coaches and parents should have (and may have) educated them long, long ago on Anthem protocol and good manners....’
Agree. It was very iritating to watch some of the U.S. gold medal winners who did not place their hands over their hearts when our Anthem was played. These athletes are representing the United States of America and they should be required to show respect for our country, our flag and our Anthem. I presume they receive, at least, some funding or housing paid for by donations by Americans. They surely deserve to be happy and proud of their personal accomplishments but they NEED to remember they are representing the U.S. and should show some respect .....and patriotism would be nice but this, sadly, seems to be ‘passe’ these days.
One of the athletes didn’t place his hand over his heart but he also barely looked at our beautiful flag......he didn’t look happy to hear the anthem and looked at the ground most of the time the anthem was played.....if he’s not proud of the U.S. then he should not be representing our great nation.
How many are brainwashed by schools/media to haate their own country?
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