Is it rude not to stand for another country's national anthem?

DA7800 · 06-09-2015 09:24PM #1

I was at this international event once in the U.S. with a multitude of nationalities attending. At the main presentation there was a recognition of representatives of countries in attendance (of which Ireland was one) and after this the crowd (rough estimate is 20,000 people) were asked to stand for the american national anthem played by a U.S. army band.

Now usually I would, but where I was sitting was far away from the main crowd - with three of my colleagues and only those three, literally nobody around for a good few rows. One of those people has dual citizenship (Irish and U.S.). He remained firmly seated, and when I sort of hovered above my seat, beginning to stand, he told me to sit, saying it was "not our country, no need to stand". I decided to follow his advice. When we went to exit shortly after, some american muttered "assholes" in our general direction, which I assume stemmed from the fact that we didn't stand.

So, if the nice folks of AH would kindly oblige: Was it rude and/or ignorant? Or acceptable?

Sheep Lover · 06-09-2015 09:26PM

Not your anthem, why should you. I wouldn't get my jocks in a twist if some Spanish dude didn't stand for ours.

I wouldn't even stand for that abomination of an "Irelands Call"

darkpagandeath · 06-09-2015 09:27PM

Yes, The polite thing to do is stand you don't have to sing.

Witchie · 06-09-2015 09:31PM

Was at the Orlando City SC game vs West Brom. I stood for the American one coz was a visitor there and they have been good to the Irish but sat down for the British anthem coz fook them.

justchecked · 06-09-2015 09:37PM

For the US you're better off just standing, for the sake of dodging the inevitable and having a peaceful, sane and non ridiculous night without billy-bob jumping at his opportunity to tell you this is murka.

Dont worry Ireland will understand.

Anywhere else you're probably alright to just stay seated.

some things just aren't worth the effort.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 06-09-2015 09:39PM

It is protocol to stand for, and respect, the national anthem of any country. I would consider not doing so to be rude in the extreme. But, I'm a dinosaur nowadays when it comes to manners.

dudara · 06-09-2015 09:41PM

It's good etiquette and manners to stand and maintain silence another country's anthem. I would personally do so.

Turtyturd · 06-09-2015 09:47PM

Would stand for the anthem but have been at several events where it has been requested to stand and show appreciation for the US armed forces.

F*ck that.

Sunnyisland · 06-09-2015 09:47PM

I would and have stood for my many national anthems, no big deal really.

Birneybau · 06-09-2015 09:48PM

Ask James McClean.

osarusan · 06-09-2015 10:17PM

If people in general are standing, then I'd just go ahead. Stand up, shut up, get it over with. Much like our own anthem.

I was in a pub in Maynooth once watching Ireland versus England in rugby. Three English fans sitting at the table in front of me. After the Irish anthem, the staff turned the sound down so the English anthem couldn't be heard - embarrassing behaviour.

MouseTail · 06-09-2015 10:25PM

Sitting through a national anthem is a form of protest, and quite a politically charged one.

timthumbni · 06-09-2015 10:37PM

osarusan wrote: »

If people in general are standing, then I'd just go ahead. Stand up, shut up, get it over with. Much like our own anthem.

I was in a pub in Maynooth once watching Ireland versus England in rugby. Three English fans sitting at the table in front of me. After the Irish anthem, the staff turned the sound down so the English anthem couldn't be heard - embarrassing behaviour.

That is stupid indeed. That smacks of deep insecurity and incredibly bad manners on the part of the staff.

The Randy Riverbeast · 06-09-2015 10:48PM

I would stand. Dont really care about national anthems but it's easier to go along with it. Especially in the US where they turned patriotism into a type of religion.

Fukuyama · 06-09-2015 10:49PM

I stood at a baseball game in NY. I didn't sing or place my hand on my heart, obviously. But I'm a guest in the country and I had no reason to be rude, which is how I would interpret remaining seated when EVERYONE else is standing. It's a ceremony of sorts and showing some kind of social awareness is the least a guest can do.

Flags, anthems, symbols carry weight and meaning to a lot of people. It's illogical and silly, but they do.

I'm not religious, but I would address a priest as "Father" if I was in a church for some reason. Similarly, I would address the British Queen as Your Majesty if I ever met her or the US president as Mr. President. They know and I know I'm not submitting to them. It's just basic respect and manners.

gormdubhgorm · 06-09-2015 11:23PM

I would stand for most anthems happily but I always feel uncomfortable standing for the British/English one.

PirateShampoo · 06-09-2015 11:28PM

The bloody grief I used to get for not standing for the Irish national anthem, when pubs thought it was a good idea to play at kicking out time. I used to cringe at it.

1st, I personally feel I'm not a Twat.

2nd, I'm Welsh.

3rd, I'm not a Twat...

gormdubhgorm · 06-09-2015 11:57PM

PirateShampoo wrote: »

The bloody grief I used to get for not standing for the Irish national anthem, when pubs thought it was a good idea to play at kicking out time. I used to cringe at it.

1st, I personally feel I'm not a Twat.

2nd, I'm Welsh.

3rd, I'm not a Twat...

You should have done the decent thing and sang the Irish anthem in Welsh

efb · 07-09-2015 12:01AM

Standing for anthems I do. Not when I'm watching on tv- that's a bit OTT

PandaPoo · 07-09-2015 12:01AM

I was in a pub recently, they played the national anthem at the end of the night. I didn't stand, I'm 8 months pregnant and need a crutch to walk.

Some drunk woman came over and started grabbing my arm to get me to stand, and shouting at me when I said no. Mortified.

I couldn't give a crap if you stand or not, it's none of my business. Just wish the mad oul one thought the same.

efb · 07-09-2015 12:03AM

My fave was in MGM standing for The Star Spangled Banner and GSTQ.Dome of the Engish fans were less than courteous for TSSB - I was thinking to myself- big mistake!

chrissb8 · 07-09-2015 12:03AM

I think you should stand at least in respect of the opponent is all. No need to sing or anything but it's just nice to show that you'll stand to recognize an opponent country. That said I would not stand for the English one at all. People can tell me to get over it and move on but hey let's just not get into that.

efb · 07-09-2015 12:04AM

I didn't know they still played the anthems in pubs at closing time - weird

greenflash · 07-09-2015 12:09AM

I usually try to head off for a piss or a smoke when it comes to national anthems. Bollocks to the lot of them.

endacl · 07-09-2015 12:09AM

PirateShampoo wrote: »

The bloody grief I used to get for not standing for the Irish national anthem, when pubs thought it was a good idea to play at kicking out time. I used to cringe at it.

1st, I personally feel I'm not a Twat.

2nd, I'm Welsh.

3rd, I'm not a Twat...

I've had some experience of '3'. I used to go out with a girl from drogheda and have also garnered my share of dirty looks for not chucking change in the bucket for 'the prisoners families' in some of the pubs there.

timthumbni · 07-09-2015 12:12AM

gormdubhgorm wrote: »

I would stand for most anthems happily but I always feel uncomfortable standing for the British/English one.

Why, out of interest? Unless you are apparently the most oppressed person ever (aka James mclean) then it really shouldn't make a difference.

Coming from a unionist background in Northern Ireland I have stood for the Irish anthem a few times and to be honest it didn't bother me a jot. I obviously did not sing the words but respecting another country's anthem is basically just good manners.

newacc2015 · 07-09-2015 12:20AM

Depends. If its a baseball game I see no harm. But if its like Wet n Wild, with the whole "our troops fighting for freedom" BS, then cue to the national Anthem with videos of the troops, personally I think its too much.

When I was in Wet n Wild, none of the Europeans in the stands acknowledged the national anthem. WTF does our troops fighting for freedom ( and killing plenty of innocent in the way) and the national Anthem have to do with a whale show?

endacl · 07-09-2015 12:21AM

timthumbni wrote: »

Why, out of interest? Unless you are apparently the most oppressed person ever (aka James mclean) then it really shouldn't make a difference.

Coming from a unionist background in Northern Ireland I have stood for the Irish anthem a few times and to be honest it didn't bother me a jot. I obviously did not sing the words but respecting another country's anthem is basically just good manners.

In fairness, most of us don't sing it either...

:pac:

old_aussie · 07-09-2015 12:26AM

Sheep Lover wrote: »

I wouldn't even stand for that abomination of an "Irelands Call"

Nothing like a bit of national pride is there.

Junkyard Tom · 07-09-2015 12:42AM

timthumbni wrote: »

Unless you are apparently the most oppressed person ever (aka James mclean) then it really shouldn't make a difference.

You just couldn't stop yourself from trying to get a dig in at James McClean, could you? If the Irish state had massacred members of your community, covered it up, and added insult to murder by calling the victims terrorists then you too might have problem with the Irish anthem.

NachoBusiness · 07-09-2015 01:06AM

There was an NBA player in the states in the 90s who refused to stand for the American National anthem before games but eventually he agreed to keep his eyes closed and recite an Islamic prayer to himself instead.

As for ordinary folk, it would depend on the occasion.

Representing your country in some capacity and refusing to stand for your opponant's anthem is different than not standing when some DJ plays it at end of DJ set when you're on holiday in Ibiza.

Is it rude not to stand for another country's national anthem?

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