From a Chaplain who had served in Iraq

[Undertoad]

Cic, everything you have and everything you hold dear, you can thank the military for.

Including the ignorance not to see that. It's a certain kind of luxury, that ignorance. You get to have it and still be defended.

[xoxoxoBruce]

So you stand at attention for the playing of the national anthem and if the anthem stops you stay at attention. When you shoot at the enemy and the enemy decides to quit and go home, do you keep shooting at empty space?

No; but, I might start singing as those Marines did and with my voice I need all the auditorium practice I can get!

Yours was a false analogy. The national anthem was expected to be played again after the first time it stopped.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by NoBoxes

No; but, I might start singing as those Marines did and with my voice I need all the auditorium practice I can get!

Yours was a false analogy. The national anthem was expected to be played again after the first time it stopped.

That's an interesting statement. Expected to be played again, rather than pick up where it left off? Because if interrupted it doesn't count? Or the military way is to start over as many times as necessary to get it right?

Maybe they started singing because they knew they were going to be standing at attention until it was finished, and since the person playing the recording screwed up, twice, they would take matters into there own hands, to git r done.

The fact that they all joined in, if not together, very quickly, shows a like mind set, or at least the ability react to the unexpected in unison. However, saying they did it out of respect for the brave men and women that fought and died before them, might be stretching it a bit.

[Sundae]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

However, saying they did it out of respect for the brave men and women that fought and died before them, might be stretching it a bit.

That's my problem with it too. It's a song. I have very strong views about people who don't observe the two minutes silence. I will make sure it is observed on 11 November this year in the office, and I will make a big deal about it. I will wear my poppy as every year and I'll observe the two minutes silence on Rembrance Sunday as well (belts & braces approach)

But I can't equate a song - sung at sports games and in schools, in cinemas and concerts - with respect for the military. YMMV.

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

That's an interesting statement. Expected to be played again, rather than pick up where it left off? Because if interrupted it doesn't count? Or the military way is to start over as many times as necessary to get it right?

The answer to your question should have been self evident. The article states that the Marines finished the anthem. They could have started it over again; but, didn't. I've not heard of a protocol that requires them to do so. Playing the anthem over a sound system is a different matter. One may reasonably expect it to be difficult to pick up precisely where the interruption left off depending on the audio media and who's controlling it (those positions can be outsourced). Replaying the anthem was most likely just a practical solution. For a different perspective, from a similar situation during an Olympic US gold medal ceremony, read this short CBSSports.com wire report and pay particular attention to the first reply to the article.

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

Maybe they started singing because they knew they were going to be standing at attention until it was finished, and since the person playing the recording screwed up, twice, they would take matters into there own hands, to git r done.

We don't know if it was operator error; or, equipment failure. I concur that someone commendably stepped forward to get the job done; but, that took only ONE Marine.

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

The fact that they all joined in, if not together, very quickly, shows a like mind set, or at least the ability react to the unexpected in unison. However, saying they did it out of respect for the brave men and women that fought and died before them, might be stretching it a bit.

It was primarily camaraderie and remembrance figures into that more than you probably realize. When I went through US Special Forces training, unit history was taught and it was testable knowledge. Unit lineage, key people, exceptional missions, and the sacrifices previous members made were included. I even had to memorize the name of the first Special Forces Medal of Honor recipient of the Vietnam conflict [Captain Donlon]. A good example of unit camaraderie spanning time might come from the day that I, a next generation SFer, had Easter dinner with Colonel Donlon (SAA, follow the link). Remind me to tell you about that sometime.

[Cicero]

You guys can screw off if you think that I was berating the military. Talk about ignorance of the military..... I like the flying leap to conclusions here. The true ignorance.

[Undertoad]

Maybe you could do a better job of explaining yourself, instead of just shaking your head.

[Cicero]

I was indicating that I was done with this topic. Which is why you jumped in now isn't it? Screw it. I'm still done with this topic. Let me explain, that I don't care to explain myself to you. ok? I am done with this topic. I get to decide when I am done with something and there isn't anything you can do to change that. Why do I need to explain myself? Again? Do I have a written agreement somewhere to explain the inner-workings of my mind, and why I say anything I say? I am not allowed to just give up a conversation that I didn't like in the first place? Are you going to allocate the time I spend on it?

This is not a bone I am going to pick because I do not care enough. You don't get to decide that for me.

[Undertoad]

You don't have to explain yourself one bit -- unless you care about what the people think of you.

You seemed to care for a moment there, but now you've thrown this minor tantrum and it looks like you just want out of the thread without explaining yourself.

[Cicero]

Yea. Now I have no intention of "explaining myself" to you. Absolutely not. Anyone that can jump to conclusions about my so-called ignorance of the subject doesn't deserve any further explanations, due to the fact that they would obviously continue to jump to drastic conclusions, no matter what was explained.

We have entered the scenario of, "no explanation will serve". So why should I entertain that notion of an explanation, bound to fall on deaf ears?

[Undertoad]

Originally Posted by Cicero

Yea. Now I have no intention of "explaining myself" to you. Absolutely not.

Don't do it for my sake, do it for everybody who reads the thread.

[Sundae]

From the Snopes Forum, discussing the glurge "I am your flag"
Okay not the national anthem, but with a similar feel I think.

[Pico and ME]

Cicero, I think everyone knows what you meant in your post. I did and I didn't see any disrespect. Of course, you walk on dangerous territory whenever you step on someones poetically patriotic toes by being pragmatic, doncha know.

[classicman]

I really don't know what she meant. I may be the only one, but that is why I asked.