Posted on 08/03/2012 1:09:35 AM PDT by jdirt
Is it just me? I was watching the Olympics tonight in a restaurant. There was no sound. Gabby Douglas was receiving the Gold medal for her all-around performance in gymnastics. She did wonderful from what I saw.
BUT when she received the Gold, she did not put her hand over her heart when they played the National Anthem.
She was holding flowers in the middle of her body with her right hand and had her left hand behind her back.. I blew it off, kinda. But hubby saw it too and we both went into shock. I have never seen an Olympian not do this and I don't think I have ever seen someone not put their hand over their heart during the National Anthem.
Is it just me? Did anyone else see this and wonder the same thing? Has anybody mentioned it on the news? Should I give her a pass because of her age, nerves and the excitement of it all?
Source on the dad being in Afghanistan? Just seems like it would have been mentioned.
I remember as a kid a couple of atheletes in the late ‘60’s olympics holding their fist up during the anthem. Now that was controversial.
I know a few white African-Americans. They have a lot of fun with it.
On that note, if you didn’t see South African comedian Trevor Noah’s sketch on Leno from earlier this year, watch it.
He *really* has some fun with the whole African American thing.
Since her Dad is in the Army she gets a pass from me. She showed real class from start to finish. If she forgot to put her hand over her heart it was damn near her only mistake last night. :)
When I was in high school, I went to Boys’ State. This was in 1988. They taught us that the hand goes over the heart for the Pledge of Allegiance, but that for the national anthem, one was to stand in a state of reverence with arms at your side. Boys’ State is an American Legion event that takes patriotism very seriously. I don’t know when this changed, but the hand over the heart has not always been expected for the national anthem.
You are joking, right? You must be ... I can’t imagine anyone taking true offense about something so petty. The overwhelming excitement, life’s dream coming true, all the cameras and noise, the nerves ... and you think this 16-yr old child should have had the where-with-all to make sure her hand is properly placed over her heart during the anthem?
You are joking, right? You must be ... I can’t imagine anyone taking true offense about something so petty. The overwhelming excitement, life’s dream coming true, all the cameras and noise, the nerves ... and you think this 16-yr old child should have had the where-with-all to make sure her hand is properly placed over her heart during the anthem?
What I loved was she gave God the credit in her interview and I believed she was sincere and not just a pat answer. That respect to God is much more needed today then flag etiquette.
You guys all need to switch to decaf.
She is holding the flowers over her heart. She is pretty much standing at attention.
What do you “people” want?
IMO, it’s you. She wasn’t trying to make a statement. She’s 16 years old!...and hasn’t known what’s going on outside her gym. Looked to me she was hholding her flowers over her heart.
Look, folks, we should celebrate this talented, focused, determined Black American young lady, not bring her down. She is a winner and champion due to her personal dedication, hard work, competitive spirit and support from her family & friends . This what Black Americans need and do not have, due to the miserable leadership of their so-called leaders, starting with Barack Hussein Obama on down.
Some day, maybe Blacks will wake up and realize how badly they have been treated by their own leaders, who accept high unemployment, poor education, massive out-of-wedlock births, and assimilation of Blacks into general American society. Until that self assessment occurs, the overwhelming majority of Black Americans will remain adrift at sea, never moving forward towards real freedom, liberty and opportunity in America. Sad!!!
16-year old girl probably nervous out of her mind = PASS
President of the United States = FAIL
To tell the truth I never put my hand over my heart during the anthem, or almost never. I was brought up to place my hand over my heart during the Pledge of Allegiance but not the anthem. Plus for some reason I am always a little embarrassed at public displays of patriotism. Doesn’t mean I’m not pro-America.
I was taught to stand at attention for the anthem. The only time the hand goes over the heart is when you are holding your hat in it.
Good grief! You expect any of those MSM sports announcers to mention something like that?
Go Google “gabby douglas+afghanistan”. Her parents are apparently separated from what I can tell. Dad is in the Air Force and has been in Afghanistan. He would have been there about the same time my son (USAF) was there.
There are dozens of stories.
According to an interview this morning, she was so overcome with emotion she couldn’t remember the words to the national anthem. Towards the end of the ceremony, she was one deep breath from fully bursting into tears. She held the flowers up and in my opinion gave proper respect to the flag and our country.
We should be far enough now to where we should get over the skin color. The NBC announcers turned it into a Ken Burns documentary.
It was close but you are correct about Komova. Gabby was a delight to watch. They were all very fun to watch but boy those Russian women were poor losers. Both nights they cried like a baby when they didn’t get the first place. I would be embarrassed. That annoyed me very much.
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