stupid kid at baseball game

[crzyred]

ok so last night a couple friends and i went to a local AA baseball game. so the announcer man asks everyone to please stand for the national anthem. well there is this kid in front of me ( and i don't mean a 5 yr. old, he was 16 because he was talking about his drivers liscence) and he wouldn't stand up. so i kindly asked him to please stand up for the singing on our national anthem. he looks at me says "bite me. i'm not standing up because i don't support this country." now at this point everyone around is looking, and i'm just speechless, i didn't know what to say to that. well the older gentleman sitting next to him litterally grabs him by the arm stands him up and proceeds to yell at him saying " i'm a veteran and i didn't fight just so some kid could have total disrespect for me." the older man said a few other things that probably cannot be mentioned here. the kid did remain standing and the older man took the kids hat off for him (which was funny because he knocked it off his head). what annoyed me the most, i think, was that the kids father was standing there the whole time not saying anything.

so during the national anthem i stole a glance at the veteran and i don't think i've ever seen anyone stand so proud. i had tears in my eyes.

please as parents teach your kids to have some respect. i know i don't support everything this country does, but by god do i support those in uniform!! and as memorial day is approaching i'd like to say thanks to the veterans. and to those currently in any branch of the military, you are thought of everyday...as are the rest of the families!!!

 

[KristiKelly]

I agree. I wish there was a little clapping smilie.

 

[nuttylawprofessor]

And here I thought one of the reasons people fight for this country was so that we could have freedom of speech.

I do not condone what the kid did, but the other man was completely out of line. You do not manhandle another person, yell at him, and knock his hat off as a way of teaching "respect." Instead of making his point, that veteran made the kid's point.

 

[momsal]

YEAH FOR THE VETERAN!!!!!!

I live across the street from the cemetary that holds the memorial services and I can't believe how FEW people attend
We all hear the excuses
We are having a pinic and will be busy
Well while you are enjoying yourselves think of OUR military I bet they would Love to be at a picnic with friends a family!

WE will be away
Yeah well they are away but they don't get to make the travel arrangments!
I'm sure there are services where ever you are going.

These men and women risked their lives for us!!!!!!!!!

Why can't people give up a small amout of time to THANK THEM!!!!!!!

Are YOU planning to Honor and Thank them this Memorial Day?

 

[Nancy]

Good for the older man and shame on the boy's parent for not having the guts to do what he did. Bravo.

Freedom of speech...that is exactly what the veteran was doing he was exercising his right to free speech by telling that kid off! And if the boy's parent didn't complain so obviously he agreed with the man, he just didn;t have the guts to do his job.

 

[grlpwrd]

ok so last night a couple friends and i went to a local AA baseball game. so the announcer man asks everyone to please stand for the national anthem. well there is this kid in front of me ( and i don't mean a 5 yr. old, he was 16 because he was talking about his drivers liscence) and he wouldn't stand up. so i kindly asked him to please stand up for the singing on our national anthem. he looks at me says "bite me. i'm not standing up because i don't support this country." now at this point everyone around is looking, and i'm just speechless, i didn't know what to say to that. well the older gentleman sitting next to him litterally grabs him by the arm stands him up and proceeds to yell at him saying " i'm a veteran and i didn't fight just so some kid could have total disrespect for me." the older man said a few other things that probably cannot be mentioned here. the kid did remain standing and the older man took the kids hat off for him (which was funny because he knocked it off his head). what annoyed me the most, i think, was that the kids father was standing there the whole time not saying anything.

so during the national anthem i stole a glance at the veteran and i don't think i've ever seen anyone stand so proud. i had tears in my eyes.

please as parents teach your kids to have some respect. i know i don't support everything this country does, but by god do i support those in uniform!! and as memorial day is approaching i'd like to say thanks to the veterans. and to those currently in any branch of the military, you are thought of everyday...as are the rest of the families!!!

Wow.

nuttylawprofessor, I agree with you.

 

[irishbosoxfan]

please as parents teach your kids to have some respect. i know i don't support everything this country does, but by god do i support those in uniform!! and as memorial day is approaching i'd like to say thanks to the veterans. and to those currently in any branch of the military, you are thought of everyday...as are the rest of the families!!![/QUOTE]

Thank you!! Being military it is drilled into you! It is par for the course to be out for a walk or playing when Reveille starts and you see every man woman and child stop what they are doing and face the main flag area.

Even in the movie theatre they play the National Anthem before the movie starts.

I remember one time DH's unit was playing baseball against a local prison when Reveille started. Those who were former military did what was appropriate but the others were yelling about continuing to play---After Reveille DH's team huddled up then WALKED OFF THE FIELD. They decided that the team wasn't worth playing---the ump called the game and said it could be made up which made the prison team mad because they wanted it to be a forfeit but the ump refused.

 

[JR6ooo4]

whatever happened to singing the national anthem instead of listening to someone sing it.

Wasn't the phrase "Ladies and Gentlemen, please rise and join in singing our national anthem!"

Now it is "ladies and gentlemen please rise and take this opportunity to put some pizza rolls in the oven..."

Mikeeee

 

[BelleBoo&AmisMum]

Good for the older man and shame on the boy's parent for not having the guts to do what he did. Bravo.

Freedom of speech...that is exactly what the veteran was doing he was exercising his right to free speech by telling that kid off! And if the boy's parent didn't complain so obviously he agreed with the man, he just didn;t have the guts to do his job.

Freedom of speech does not give you the right to grab someone and forcefully pull them up and knock a hat off their head. Should the kid have stood up - that's for him to decide. Did the vet have the right to be upset, sure. But he crossed the line when he touched the kid.

 

[crzyred]

whatever happened to singing the national anthem instead of listening to someone sing it.

Wasn't the phrase "Ladies and Gentlemen, please rise and join in singing our national anthem!"

Now it is "ladies and gentlemen please rise and take this opportunity to put some pizza rolls in the oven..."

Mikeeee

actually around here we all do still sing along. sorry i didn't specify that in my post.

 

[NotAmused]

Wow....some people I have never seen someone refuse to stand during the anthem. I guess there are some people out there who have not been taught how to be respectful. Even if you dislike the president, war, etc...the national anthem was intended to show support for our country and the troops (both are the reason you are given the privelage of getting your license, attending the baseball game, etc)

 

[agnes!]

Maybe what the older veteran did wasn't quite right, but that kid? If he hates the U.S. so much, maybe he should move somewhere else more to his liking.

agnes!

 

[Kath2003]

Wow, I can't believe someone would get that worked up about one person not wanting to stand up for the national anthem. That's his choice, and he doesn't have to justify it to you or anyone else! He wasn't causing any trouble until people took it upon themselves to ask him to do something he was actively choosing not to do, and then force him to do it.

 

[minniecarousel]

Are you sure that the Vet wasn't with the boy? Grandpa maybe?

As much as I agree with the Vet, he probably shouldn't have touched the kid.

When we go to baseball games, why do women feel it's OK to leave their cap on, unlike the men, who take theirs off?

 

[Toby'sFriend]

definately should not have touched the kid.

 

[lulugirl]

Wow, I can't believe someone would get that worked up about one person not wanting to stand up for the national anthem. That's his choice, and he doesn't have to justify it to you or anyone else! He wasn't causing any trouble until people took it upon themselves to ask him to do something he was actively choosing not to do, and then force him to do it.

I agree.
The kid sounds like an idiot but I think ignoring him would have been a better option.

 

[nuttylawprofessor]

Are you sure that the Vet wasn't with the boy? Grandpa maybe?

As much as I agree with the Vet, he probably shouldn't have touched the kid.

When we go to baseball games, why do women feel it's OK to leave their cap on, unlike the men, who take theirs off?

Women used to wear hats as a show of modesty and piety. You wouldn't ask a woman to remove her hat under such circumstances. Additionally, women traditionally wore hats that you couldn't whip off and put right back on. They were pinned in place. Manny fashionable hats are the same way today.

 

[chager]

I don't think the guy should have touched the boy, unless he was a relative (grandfather or such) I do think the boys Father should have demanded respect from him though! If he doesn't support this country then maybe he should go ahead and try it somewhere else. It is so sad the number of kids the have no respect for anyone or anything now adays!!

 

[basas]

Good for the older man and shame on the boy's parent for not having the guts to do what he did. Bravo.

Freedom of speech...that is exactly what the veteran was doing he was exercising his right to free speech by telling that kid off! And if the boy's parent didn't complain so obviously he agreed with the man, he just didn;t have the guts to do his job.

whatever happened to singing the national anthem instead of listening to someone sing it.

Wasn't the phrase "Ladies and Gentlemen, please rise and join in singing our national anthem!"

Now it is "ladies and gentlemen please rise and take this opportunity to put some pizza rolls in the oven..."

Mikeeee

A lot of people I hear still sing it. But I think too many don’t know all the words! All kids in school should know the national anthem by heart and know to face the flag, take off hat and place you hand over your heart when you hear it. (It makes me mad at Magic Kingdom during the Flag ceremony how some people don’t even stop when the anthem starts playing!!)

Wow....some people I have never seen someone refuse to stand during the anthem. I guess there are some people out there who have not been taught how to be respectful. Even if you dislike the president, war, etc...the national anthem was intended to show support for our country and the troops (both are the reason you are given the privelage of getting your license, attending the baseball game, etc)

Exactly

Freedom of speech does not give you the right to grab someone and forcefully pull them up and knock a hat off their head. Should the kid have stood up - that's for him to decide. Did the vet have the right to be upset, sure. But he crossed the line when he touched the kid.

Wow, I can't believe someone would get that worked up about one person not wanting to stand up for the national anthem. That's his choice, and he doesn't have to justify it to you or anyone else! He wasn't causing any trouble until people took it upon themselves to ask him to do something he was actively choosing not to do, and then force him to do it.

Sorry, but I think it is a pretty big deal. And I can’t believe anyone would actually support the kid over the Veteran

 

[Poohbear123]

I would have cheered him on, and told the kid to LEAVE if he didn't like HIS Country! Maybe he needs to be sent over to a third world country to see how lucky he is to be alive and living here. As far as the Vet being Abusive--HE HAD EVERY RIGHT to do what he did TO the KID! The kid deserved it and more!