Su Blog Frozen

I beleive that it is incredibly disrepectful for the loud insertion of the “O” during the National Anthem (and I am from Baltimore. I don’t like it during O’s games but at least understand the correlation. Don’t get it at all at Caps games!). That said, while God Bless America is one of my favorite patriotic songs, it is not the anthem of our country. We should not change that which reprents us nationwide because of those who do not understand the disrepect that it employs by emphasizing the vowel. Two wrongs do not make a right.

I would bet that 75% of the people yelling “O” have no clue why they are yelling it - they heard it done at a game, thought it was a tradition and added their voices to the fray. We need an announcement before the games explaining the origins of the “O” - maybe that would get people to stop.

Actually, I didn’t really completely take care of itself, there was some public scolding in the stands and in print, so that helped a lot.

I’m glad you guys are bringing it up.

I hate the O as much as anyone but I just don’t feel comfortable with not playing The Star Spangled Banner…it almost seem unamerican. Maybe you guys should tell Tarik to write a blurb about it in the Post….

In Kansas City, the do …” the home of the…CHIEFS” for all the sports. Sickening.

amen brother…we have the lamest singers also, i like caleb but bitsy…sweet jesus

I know I’m in the minority, but I really don’t mind the ‘O’. That’s not to say I like it, it just doesn’t bother me. It’s not uncommon… There’s a word that the Thrashers crowd yells out that has to do with a minor league baseball team that was moved out of town a couple of decades ago. The Chicago crowd just yells at full blast through the entire thing. In fact, it bothers me less than smattering of fans yelling out cheers and taunting the opposing team during the last verse. That to me is disrespectful.

Another thing that drives me up a wall is when the anthem singer pronounces it “o’er the per-ol-ous fight,” instead of “per-il-ous.” Drives me mad, and 90% of them do it.

I like God Bless America and would have no problem moving to it - Philly did this with Kate Smith singing it for a long time, and I don’t think anyone thinks less of them for it (there are plenty of reasons to think less of the Phlyerscum, but it ain’t one of them).

And Bitsy… Oh, Bitsy. I love you for trying, but good lord.

Being a recent transplant I’ve always wondered what the ‘O’ was all about.

It’s just as bad with Dallas fans shouting Star, Atlanta fans shouting Night, or Braves fans shouting Brave.

I loathe God Bless America at sporting events. I dislike the “O” as much as the next guy, but GBA is NOT our national anthem, and should never displace it.

I am still angry at the NHL for playing GBA in lieu of the Star Spangled Banner at the Winter Classic, even after they played O Canada. It was shameful.

In short: NO NO NO NO!!!

Yay! Something else to complain about!

I grew up in the early 80s and attended 100x more Caps games in Landover than O’s games on 33rd. Thus, no surprise that I believed the “O” was a Caps tradition, along the same lines as shouting out “Pete” whenever Peeters made a save, or trying to get the decibel meter over 100 so the blue lights would blink.

I never thought of the “O” as disrespectful or spurious because 1) it’s just a hockey game, and 2) who exactly are we “disrespecting” when we carve out an esoteric tradition like this? Each other? Ourselves? I am still an American when I walk out of Verizon, and so are (most of) you. And I sure don’t spend time thinking about the “O” after a hotly-contested hockey game. Why do you?

I think we would benefit by having a sense of humor about traditions, even the ones that evolved via unorthodox means. Chances are good that the Nats’ presence will eventually eliminate it anyway.

I just think it’s amazing that it ONLY happens at Caps games. At Nationals games they get booed. At Wizards games there’s usually one or two people who yell it, but when they realize that no one else did they look all embarassed. At United games, it’s pretty much the same as for Wizards, meaning a few idiots, but most people don’t yell it.

So tell me, WHY IS IT ONLY AT CAPS GAMES THAT WE HAVE SUCH IDIOTS?

Its amazing to me that this issue generates so many comments.

In any event, I suppose a patriot with a certain appreciation of history would particularly favor singing the SSB over any other composition when facing a Canadian team.

How about America the Beautiful? You’d only be offended 99 times less.

Forgot to mention one thing: I noticed Slapshot the other night during the anthem. When we got to the “O” part, he raised his arms, as if to encourage the fans to shout.

Make of that what you will, but shouting almost seems sanctioned by the team.

I’m a reformed “O” person. I’m still an Orioles fan, even though they’re awful (death to Angelos!)

I used to yell it all the time when there were no Nats. Now that there is another awful baseball team that some like, I don’t.

You will get so sick of God Bless America you won’t believe it! Instead, “This Land is Your Land.” Woody Guthrie wrote it because he was sick of hearing Kate Smith.

It’s getting worse in Dallas with “Oh say can JUSSI! (Jokinen)..and don’t forget, the word STAR is sung TWICE! (and if we’re really lucky, some drunk will follow the word RED with WINGS SUCK!

That makes FOUR yells in Big D!

Go Stars!

I’m no fan of the “O”, but it has nothing to do with national disrespect. It has to do with DC vs Baltimore (and Angelos ruining the Orioles etc). I shout “Vech-Kin” after everyone else yells “O”.

I checked with some season ticket holders who are military to get their take on it. If they (these specific ones who sit near me, not a survey of the arena) felt it was disrespectful, I would stop. They encouraged me. They see the “O” the same as I do and I’m making it DC- and hockey-related at least.

I have also been told that part of the reason the yelling doesn’t bother them is that they fought for and defended our right to do so.
And while they won’t yell, they do not object and have even encouraged my yelling.

On a broader issue, I am still not convinced that: 1. - the Star Spangled Banner needs to be sung at every game. 2. - another song couldn’t be sung in its stead. 3. - the Star Spangled Banner should be the National Anthem.

someone connected just needs to have them make an announcement before the anthem about how stupid it is. do that for 4 or 5 home games in a row and i’m betting it disappears.

OH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!