Taking your hat off out of "respect for others" is lame. How about "out of respect for the flag and your country?"

Good thing that you are not around me when this happens. Wearing your hat while the national anthem is being played is disrespectful, period. Could care less where someone is or what they are doing.

There are other countries that are needing people, so if you are not happy in this one and do not respect this country have you ever thought about leaving?

Interesting...

You'd like to force me to accept your beliefs, but if I show respect to you and your beliefs, that's not good enough?

I'll never force anyone to believe as I do, but I can't tell you how happy I am if you are respectful to me.

I am honest about this.

KT

Perhaps the "out of respect for others" does not meet certain criteria but it can also include all those who have or are serving the country. They are "others" as well. Seems as if that is nit-picking and a form of deflecting the original argument. It is difficult enough on the internet to adequately explain one's POV. You guys should really cut each other some slack.

Joe: I am not certain, perhaps you can enlighten me but when "undercover", I do not know what the rules are on removing one's hat. I have attended a number of events at which the anthem has been played in an auditorium and those in uniform saluted with hats on.

In the words of Judith Martin

I agree.

Doug that is a neat quote. I feel i've actually learned something today!

I don't know who Judith Martin is or what she stands for but at least in regards to that quote, I couldn't agree more.

Trekkor if you have somehow managed to make respect for the country that you live in and enjoy the protections of a personal, "you-aren't-going-to-force-me-to-do-the-things-YOU-think-are-important" thing, all I can says is, What time is it in your personal Universe? This ain't about you brother.

Now, I'm pretty Left and that means I don't hold with a lot of the things that a lot of other guys here say/express, but even though I might disagree on this or that social or political issue, I BELIEVE in showing public and presonal respect for the country that adopted my grandparents and gave them and by extension - me a chance at a better life. I believe inthe country I live in, the men who fought under its flag and the sacrficies they and their families made for all of us. We can disagree, b!tch at each other all night and day, march here and there, wear droopy-azz pants, etc BECAUSE of this country and these men. Take your friggin hat off, is it asking all that damned much?

Reminds me of the Seinfeld episode where Elaine was at a Yankee's game courtesy of her boss's season tickets and wouldn't remove her Orioles hat.

Anything to piss off Yankees fans is perfectly acceptable under ANY set of rules. :)

I said I take my hat off out of respect for those that do.

I'd say about 25% of the other spectators don't.

People should be allowed to wear their hat if they want to.

Sideways or tag still on, never. :D


KT

Those spectators who refuse to remove their hats should be escorted out of the game and not allowed to return.

They can go to France and watch soccer but if they are going to disrespect the flag and national anthem then I could care less what happens to them...

Trekkor said he shows respect. More respect than so called "patriots" who keep their hat on during the anthem. So by his account he is being more respectful to the proceedings than 1/4 of the crowd there, but he has religous beliefs about "pledging allegiance" to a country of flag because of his religous convictions and you all are ready to throw him out of the game and lynch him?

I don't get it, go after the "patriots" that are talking and wearing their hats through the pledge and anthem. Not the guy who stood, solemnly and respectfully through the proceeding with dignity.

He said he took his hat off when in the stand with the crowd. If he was in the concession stand line or taking a piss, it seemed silly to take his hat off and I have to agree. I am willing to bet 90% of the people around him did the same.

Part of what makes this country great is the freedom of religion and the freedom to not pledge your allegiance to a flag or county but rather to God.

I can't stand the hats on in a restaurant thing either, sorry, just can't.
When I lived in Toronto it was mostly Baseball caps, now I live in Alberta its cowboy hats.

However.... the absolute worst thing, beyond any shadow of a doubt is SPITTING IN THE STREET !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Old people, young people, white people, black people etc, etc PLEASE STOP !!!!!