When I was in High School, I found it a privilege to stand and cover my heart. I felt I was honoring my Dad, my uncles, and all other veterans who had defended America. When I was in Boot Camp, the flag was placed at half mast due to the Embassy bombing in Beirut, and I thought, “here we go.” and I mourned the killing of other American servicemen that were just like me. When I was over in Europe, and I saw the American flag, I really got a sense of the power and freedom it stands for, even in a free Europe.
I guess what I'm saying is 1) you can't force people to respect the flag/anthem if they really don't feel it themselves, and 2) maybe it takes the realization that America is something special and the flag/anthem is something special and unique that some people just have no life experience to realize that. Or I suppose, they could just hate America and showing respect irks them to no end.
Ultimately, I'm glad idiots like this out themselves.
People will talk.
Then they start to recite the pledge, but omit "one nation under God".
People will talk.
Better to twit about boycotting the whole affair. < /sarc >