women wearing hats during the Anthem

[DizBelle]

To show respect, that's why.

But why? What is disrespectful about a covered head? It seems like an outdated custom born from somebody saying "because I said so" but for no real reason that could be explained.

What if you're at a football game, it's 20 degrees, and the knit hat is keeping your head warm?

 

[cappygirl]

I never take my hat off because I cover my hair for religious reasons. I always feel self conscious about it and really wish they would do away with the announcement!

 

[pearlieq]

What if you're at a football game, it's 20 degrees, and the knit hat is keeping your head warm?

They you're just cold for the whole minute and a half it takes to play the national anthem. I don't think anyone will die before they can get back to their beer.

How hard is it to take off a hat? I can understand a church/derby hat that is pinned into place, but if someone seriously resents pulling off a ball cap or a knit hat for less than two minutes to show respect to their nation and its traditions then they're kind of a tool.

As for why one should take their hat off, I have no idea the origins of that tradition. I also don't know for sure why we stand, face the flag, put our hands over our hearts, etc. Even if it is arbitrary, it's part of our ritual and it's one of the things that binds us together as Americans.

 

[MouseketeerOvaHere]

But why? What is disrespectful about a covered head? It seems like an outdated custom born from somebody saying "because I said so" but for no real reason that could be explained.

What if you're at a football game, it's 20 degrees, and the knit hat is keeping your head warm?

One is to see your face/eyes when you are paying your respects to the Flag that so many men and women died for to allow it to stay flying today. What is it gonna hurt for someone to remove their hat for a minute to show your patriotism and honor those that have fallen to give them the rights they have today?

Guy or Gal, baseball cap, take it off.

Exactly. (I'm referring to sports games caps, not religious hats.)

What if I don't have arms?

Seriously, get over it.

Then how did you get it on your head? And yes, we expect you to stand even if you have no legs, as well.

 

[FireDancer]

Take it off if you want, wear it if you want. I don't care either way. I don't care what the "rules" say, free will over rides any rules that aren't laws as far as I'm concerned.

 

[olena]

There is no written rule as to womans hats during the National Anthem.
BUT, here is the rule nonetheless,

If the woman is wearing a formal hat ( a fancy ladies hat, part of her matched outfit, church type, formal occasion type ) she need not remove it.

If she is wearing a casual cap, baseball, knit, ect, she cannot claim the ladies exception and she should remove it.

That sums up my own policy.

 

[shrubber]

Take it off if you want, wear it if you want. I don't care either way. I don't care what the "rules" say, free will over rides any rules that aren't laws as far as I'm concerned.

wow, that's very sad that you don't care about the flag.

 

[DisMN]

I never ever understood how removing a hat from the top of your head equated respect.

Such a silly rule.

 

[DizBelle]

wow, that's very sad that you don't care about the flag.

FireDancer never said he didn't care about the flag.

Respect is about what is in your heart. Not about what is on your head.

Just because you take your hat off doesn't mean a whit about what you respect.

 

[shrubber]

I never ever understood how removing a hat from the top of your head equated respect.

Such a silly rule.

It is a sign of respect, good manners and polite society.
Along with opening a door for a lady, not eating until everyone is served, offering your seat to the elderly ect, these are rules that sadly,far to many people, like yourself, find silly these days.

 

[Tink_Or_Belle]

I always wondered why the color guard people who carry out the flags wear their hats are mens uniform hats ok too?

 

[shrubber]

FireDancer never said he didn't care about the flag.

Respect is about what is in your heart. Not about what is on your head.

Just because you take your hat off doesn't mean a whit about what you respect.

That's nonsense,

Would you wear a ball cap to a funeral? During a blessing?

 

[SpecialK]

FireDancer never said he didn't care about the flag.

Respect is about what is in your heart. Not about what is on your head.

Just because you take your hat off doesn't mean a whit about what you respect.

Agreed, but I also don't believe that "individual freedom" should trump long-held practices of civility. Taking off your hat has signified respect for centuries and acknowledges what is in one's heart.

Personally, I think that the loss of these small civilities has had a detrimental effect on social interaction as a whole. Don't take off your hat indoors, don't offer your seat to the elderly or infirm, don't modulate the volume of your voice for those around you, don't watch your language - it's not always the best choice for the individual to be placed before the group.

 

[DisMN]

It is a sign of respect, good manners and polite society.
Along with opening a door for a lady, not eating until everyone is served, offering your seat to the elderly ect, these are rules that sadly,far to many people, like yourself, find silly these days.

I practice good manners, I open doors for anyone who might be behind me not just ladies, I offer my seat to anyone who appears to need it more than me ect. I also don't pick my nose in public, I cough into my shirt sleeve, I don't fart in an elevator, you know, all those respectful, good mannered, polite things.

Still don't think removing or not removing a hat is a sign of much anything except that the wearer is having a bad hair day.

 

[shrubber]

I always wondered why the color guard people who carry out the flags wear their hats are mens uniform hats ok too?

If you are in uniform, you leave your cover (hat) on during flag ceremonies.

 

[blana]

There is no written rule as to womans hats during the National Anthem.
BUT, here is the rule nonetheless,

If the woman is wearing a formal hat ( a fancy ladies hat, part of her matched outfit, church type, formal occasion type ) she need not remove it.

If she is wearing a casual cap, baseball, knit, ect, she cannot claim the ladies exception and she should remove it.

That's the way I understand it, too. Always remove a baseball cap!

 

[MAKmom]

I found this. I am a stickler for having your hand over your heart.


Oh, say can you see? If not, the lady in front of you should remove her hat.
Congress has amazingly addressed your very question in their pamphlet on flag etiquette entitled Our Flag. When in civilian attire, men must remove their hats and hold them at their left shoulder with their right hand over their heart. If they don't have a hat, men should place their right hand, palm open, over their heart. Women (with or without a hat) also need to place their right hand, palm open, over their heart. When in athletic clothing, one is required to face the flag or music, remove any hat or cap and stand at attention; a hand salute is not given.
Emily Post, in her 1922 book Etiquette, says, "It is not necessary to add that every American male citizen stands with his hat off at the passing of the 'colors' and when the national anthem is played. If he didn't, some other more loyal citizen would take it off for him."

A lady's hat is considered part of her costume or ensemble, and as such need not be removed (for one thing, say etiquette experts, her coiffure could be badly dented and mussed when she removes her hat).
The only time a lady must remove her hat is when it blocks the view of someone behind her. According to Amy Vanderbilt''s Guide to Gracious Living (1963): "If there is any doubt about a hat obscuring someone's view at the theater, the movies, or a meeting, a woman should remove it promptly. If she's asked to remove it by someone having difficulty seeing beyond her, she should do it immediately with murmured apologies."
— Songbird

 

[Judy in Texas]

But why? What is disrespectful about a covered head? It seems like an outdated custom born from somebody saying "because I said so" but for no real reason that could be explained.

What if you're at a football game, it's 20 degrees, and the knit hat is keeping your head warm?

You must be in the 30 or under group. You don't see the need to stand, take your hat off and show respect for your country. Too bad...

 

[NotUrsula]

I never ever understood how removing a hat from the top of your head equated respect.

It comes from Medieval times, when knights removed helmets to reveal their faces (and make their necks vulnerable) and held up their hands to show that they were not armed. It has continued because doing those things still has exactly the same value in a potentially hostile environment -- you are less likely to strike at someone if he can see your face clearly, so removal of a hat fully reveals your face, makes you more vulnerable, and shows that you have no hostile intent.

The rule did not apply to women for two reasons: 1) women did not usually carry weapons, or enter the territory of strangers without male escort, and 2) female hair as an object of lust (and thus temptation) has been a theme in religious texts nearly since the beginning of time. It has always been seen as MORE respectful for a woman to keep her hair covered in mixed company, so as not to stir lust in some other woman's husband or son.

 

[legalsea]

Well, there actually is a written law concerning this, to wit:

Section 1: Definition: “Hat” includes any object worn on the top of the head, whether for comfort or style, and may include scarves, headbands, or dead animals. Live animals are not considered headgear.

Section 2: Law: During any rendition of the National Anthem of the United States of America, whether said rendition is played by a live orchestra, high school or college band, washed-up rock n’ roll bands, phonographic means (including compact discs and versions ripped off the old Naptser site) or other means, up to and including kazoos, and also regardless of whether there is a live singer or singers (save and except said singer is Barbra Streisand in which case all people shall simply stare in awe), or simply words bouncing across the digital scoreboard, and regardless of whether fireworks are shot off either before, during or after said rendition, then all people in said Stadium or other like structure, including but not limited to baseball diamonds, football rectangles or soccer quadrangles, shall remove his or her hat (see definition above) or other such head covering, for so long as said National Anthem is played, save for those times when the National Anthem is being sung by an ‘artist’ with ‘soul’ whom insists on dragging out said National Anthem to silly and/or abnormal lengths, in which case people may restore their head garment to the top of his or her head and resume social activities including but not limited to consumption of adult beverages.

A violation of this law shall subject the offender to repeated exposure to the singing of said National Anthem by Roseanne Barr.