Bob Cohn’s article on the Page A1 of today’s print issue of The Washington Times revisits the “O” controversy, with a couple quotes from yours truly, as well as D.C. area athletes like Washington Capitals captain Chris Clark. While I’m admittedly biased, the article is a good read and I recommend checking it out.
Longtime OFB readers will know my position (as well as the opinions my three OFB compatriots) on interrupting the National Anthem from this post and subsequent ones; it’s heartening to see that most others interviewed for the article agree.
Rather than restating my opposition at length here again, give Mr. Cohn’s article a read, and spread the word to stop the O!
24 Comments
Ive always liked it. I know its an Orioles (Baltimore) thing, but its one of those things that make it a “home” game. I much prefer the “O” to the fans who yell and scream and curse during the anthem.
In Dallas, much like our “O” they all shout out “Stars” when that word comes up in the anthem. And in Chicago, the whole crowd claps, yells, and makes noise throughout the whole anthem - a tradition that goes to the All Star Game in Chicago during the first Gulf War. The fans were “chering” for the USA during the anthem, and its something that stuck.
Jeez, we Canadians are often chided for not being as patriotic as our American cousins, but I know of nothing like this anywhere in Canada. In fact, we’re often dead silent during O Canada. I just can’t imagine anyone doing anything like this without getting serious skunk-eye (and possibly choice words) from other spectators.
BTW, just out of curiosity, does anyone at the Phone Booth ever shout “O!!!!” during O Canada, whenever the Leafs, Sens, or Habs come to town?
@Thunderweenie:
Thankfully no one shouts “O” during the Canadian anthem. Though looked at another way it’s odd that O Canada seems to get more respect than the Star Spangled Banner does in that regard.
How’s this for an idea. We skip the anthem altogether. I go to every game and I’m there to watch a sporting event, not take some loyalty oath. Besides in the NHL, where the majority of players are either Canadian or Russian, its kind of offesnive.
And for that matter, who cares what the Paper Moon has to say. Its the journalistic version of sewage.
And Thunderweenie:
Are you kidding, your country gets into fights over what language to sing in. But O Canada is a better song.
Well I, for one, have told people in Toronto, Ottawa, and other places to take off their hats–and to shut up!–during the Star Spangled Banner. Most Canadians are quite respectful of your anthem, of course, but the odd turd thinks its funny to boo it or something. Its not, and I tell said turds so when they do it.
That’s how I approach it. Its 45 seconds or so of your life. Just zip it for those 45 seconds. Its not THAT hard. If you really can’t, stay home and watch the game on TV.
Oh, not only do we get into fights over what language in which our anthem should be sung–we get into fights over everything from the language on Corn Flakes boxes to the announcements made on Air Canada flights.
We’re a goofy country that exists in spite of itself, and I’ve never pretended otherwise.
Fair point. I still think we should 86 the anthems. Its really a North American thing. The rest of the world thinks we’re nuts.
As for booing the anthem, yeah its disrectful, but let’s face it, sometimes we deserve it and if the odd foreign national wants to boo, then to paraphase Patrick Henry, I would fight for their right to do so.
And, frankly, if I happen to be pissed at a country (and I can’t think of one that qulifies right now), I’m not sure I’m going to sit idly by and respoect their anthem. The reason you don’t see booing in the states much is we don’t really hate any countries. But, what kind of reaction do think the playing of the “Al Quida national anthem” (if there were such a thing) would get? I’m going to suggest that you might not be able to hear it over the uproar.
We get booed. It sucks, but it comes with being the big dog. I let it go. And to tie it all back to the post, I let the O thing go too. I don’t do it because its a Baltimore thing, and therefore, low class and bad. But, I don’t feel like troops are going to die because the guy next to me is doing it.
Ted Leonsis succinctly states his opinion on the matter:
http://ted.aol.com/index.php?ID=1891
And last night, as the military group was singing so beautifully, I was silently chanting “please don’t do it, please don’t do it” - and was at least surprised that it was only a few who did.
Schultz,
You may be right that the rest of the world thinks we’re nuts for singing a national anthem. But hey, the rest of the world also riots over soccer. We had a mini-riot here in Toronto when Argentina and Chile played a very testy match during the FIFA Under-18 tournament last summer. I also saw rabid Celtic and Rangers supporters being restrained by police in Glasgow. A buddy of mine got caught in a doozy of a soccer riot in Italy last year.
So by what standard are we North Americans being judged as “nuts”, exactly?
I am personally pretty surprised that anyone is actually offended (on patriotic grounds) by someone yelling something during the anthem. I know some people are especially sensitive about these things but, as many pointed out, it’s not like the anthem has any actual relation to the game. However, I do think it’s stupid to promote the Orioles in any way…Peter Angelos has turned that team into the sporting equivalent of a toxic waste site, and DC has the Nats now anyway. There are sports-related reasons to dislike the “O!”, and between the two you’d think people would stop.
Finally! Just because those low-renters in Baltimore do this makes it a good idea? I would think a similar article would run in the Baltimore Sun if they had any pride. Does this not reek of a sixth grader acting out just to get attention?
Now let the beatings commence until we are rid of this scourge.
Ohh…”VECH-KIN!”
And in the years prior, I tacked on Ohhh.. “LIE”
Since it seems to be a lost cause to get people to not yell it (or *gasp* to sing along), I’ll do what I can to at least adapt it to:
1. the right city
2. the right sport.
As I’ve stated before, I checked with some of the military guys who I know and/or sit near me and while they will not yell, they wholeheartedly encourage me to do so. (They want it DC-related yelling. And afterall, they fought for our right to yell during the anthem.)
ThunderW,
The standard that asks why on earth are we listening to some patriotic song instead of watching the sport I paid good money to watch. We think they are nuts too, remember.
Generally,
About the only time people don’t yell much is when its a singing group. Its actually kind of funny to see an elementary chior get thrown by the few people who yell it.
My opinion is clear. Its a free country (ironic that I would have to remind people of that given the topic.) Yell whatever the hell you want. Or don’t if you so choose. Lay off people who choose differently than you do. Choosing to yell O or not neither makes country any weaker nor any stronger. All that said, don’t be a tool and yell “O” just because everyone else does.
And, it really doesn’t matter what Ted wants. He’s not the boss of us. (see “free country point.)
Geez I wonder if Shultz for Calder ever actually had to go out and defend this country. I’m insulted by some of the ignorance around here. This is a great country despite all of the apparent problems we may have here and to even think that it would be acceptable to disrespect another country by booing is just ignorant. Just because we live in a free country doesn’t mean it’s ok to insult others around you or to do whatever you please.
That’s the thing about a free country. Sometimes, people get offended. Get over it. That which does not kill you makes you stonger.
This is still a hot topic, apparently. There will be many differing views and being part of a free country means we have to allow others to have one…even if they are wrong. LOL The “O” is somewhat tacky, slightly disrepectful, and really is a Baltimore thing. I should know, born and raised there. Bottom line, do what you feel is right. As with anything else, one can’t control the actions of others. Just relax, enjoy our National Anthem and the game!
Well I wasn’t raised in Baltimore and have heard and yelled the O at every local sporting event I’ve attended…along with plenty of others. This stopped being about the Orioles long ago…I hate baseball and love this country. God forbid we have some sort of tradition here.
If people were doing this out of disrespect for the country, I’d be with you guys but I definitely don’t think that is the case. If you are seriously offended by it, you need to grow some tougher skin.
“On Sept. 14, 1814, Francis Scott Key peered through clearing smoke to see an enormous flag flying proudly after a 25-hour British bombardment of Baltimore’s Fort McHenry. Key was inspired to write a poem, which was later set to music.”
Good enough for me to yell “O” - a Baltimore thing - anywhere.
I’m glad to see you all think so highly of your neighbors to the north. Way to be open-minded! Not all people in Baltimore are “low-class.” Being a Balti”moron”, I take offense to be thought of as low-class and bad. Make fun of the O’s and Angelos all you want, we hate them, too. haha
I think the “O” thing has grown beyond being an Orioles/Baltimore thing. You can go to any sporting event in the Maryland/DC/Virginia region, and you will hear an “O” during the anthem. I heard a few the other night at the phone booth, and you always hear it at Comcastle. It’s just something that has become a tradition, and, like it or not, no newspaper article or blog post will change it, no matter how many people think it’s disrespectful.
The more people who don’t do it, the less people will yell it, and maybe eventually the tradition will pass. But for now, it just seems that we’ll have to deal with the “O” in the anthem as long as we go to sporting events in this area. It’s really not something that should or could be up for debate.
“Geez I wonder if Shultz for Calder ever actually had to go out and defend this country.”
Oh, please. Believing that the national anthem has as much a place at a ticketed sporting event as it does before a ticketed motion picture at the local cineplex is not an indication of anti-patriotism.
Yes, in a free society, people have the legal and constitutional freedom to shout “O”. No one here has questioned that. No one here has said that anyone who shouts “O” should be arrested or anything of the sort.
Just remember that, while some people have the freedom to shout “O” if they wish, others have just as much freedom to say, politely: “You know what? I really think that is inappropriate. Please knock it off.”
This has always been one of my pet peeves.
In addition to being disrespectful and obnoxious, the idiots who do this seem to forget that they’re IN THE NATION’S CAPITAL, not “Charm (as in cheap bracelet trinkets) City”.
If Herb Brooks or Bob Johnson of USA Hockey were still alive they’d cross-check the offender or, in Brooks’ case, “jam the f****** stick down your f******* throat”.
“When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” -
“Shut up and (/or) Sing!”
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