Posted on 02/15/2014 2:52:19 PM PST by lowbridge
I have seen many Americans, particularly blacks, do nothing when the national anthem is played. And yet, here is a Jamaican sprinter who has the class to stop an interview, and pay tribute to Americans.
I an now an Usaniac!
(Excerpt) Read more at theblacksphere.net ...
Some folks have “class” and many don’t. Usain Bolt clearly has class.
I remember this. He’s more American than the potus.
I appreciate that he did this. I will admit to being a little confused why he did so. Does he do that for all national anthems, or has he become partial to our national anthem in particular?
Very nice of him to treat our national anthem with so much respect. Now, if only the current _resident could muster such courage.
Class act. I hope this get noticed by many.
Usain Bolt is an amazing athlete. If someone hasn’t watched him run; find a video of him. He is on a very different level; fun to watch him.
I suspect his show of respect was standard for him. And for many other truly good athletes. He is good, very good. Phenomenally good. Fastest man to ever live and has a right to be proud of that.
A very classy moment from 2012. Nice to see it again.
Two runners with more heart and class than all of Congress: Bolt and Felix Sanchez, 400m Gold medalist from the Dominican Republic, who is a REAL American.
I stand at “attention” for foreign national anthems and rather wish I could do the same for ours. The hand-on-the-heart business seems a little fru-fru to me. Yet I do it. Any advice from FRiends?
Truly, I prefer to stand at attention, heels together, 45 degrees on the feet, hands at the pantseams, chest out just a bit. The hands on the heart thing seems... Well... Gay. Anyone else get my drift?
The National Defense Authorization Act of 2008 contained an amendment to allow un-uniformed service members, military retirees, and veterans to render a hand salute during the hoisting, lowering, or passing of the U.S. flag.
A later amendment further authorized hand-salutes during the national anthem by veterans and out-of-uniform military personnel. This was included in the Defense Authorization Act of 2009, which President Bush signed on Oct. 14, 2008.
Yes it was a very classy moment. Being at the peak of his game, he still takes time to honor others. That’s one sign of an individual who has class money can’t buy.
With no cover or head-dress?
bump
What a class act. Thanks Usain.
I have heard some announcers say at some NASCAR races and some baseball games that retired veterans are encouraged to render the hand salute.
I used to be a protocol officer with the Royal Australian Navy (not the only thing I did, by the way, but they give you some weird jobs sometimes). Mr Bolt is a citizen of a Commonwealth country, and most of the Commonwealth shares the same protocol rules on this. You should stand silent and respectful when the National Anthem of any nation is being played as a gesture of respect to that nation and its people. Not everybody learns these rules anymore, but Mr Bolt apparently has.
In this case, I would guess it's also a matter of good manners towards a fellow athlete - it's being played because somebody has won a gold medal and it's their moment, not yours. Other athletes would definitely notice if he didn't do this.
Addendum to what I just posted - the protocol applies if you are aware what you are hearing is a National Anthem - most people are not going to recognise every anthem in the world, and some are obviously more recognisable than others. But if you know, you stand respectfully.
Simply where have good manners gone? They used to be ‘universal’.
No.
That's how it's done in America, unless you're a veteran. The salute of any type is to the flag.
A couple of years ago I noticed a lot of guys in civvies at our veterans day memorial saluting and I was curious because, like golux, I've always felt a little uninspired with my hand over my heart. I asked a friend and he told me about the trend towards always saluting. I've done so since and no one will change my mind.
Usain Bolt is also a devout, Bible believing, Christian.
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