NHRA What Is Wrong With You

[Greg Reimer 7376]

Originally Posted by Carguy49

WE THE PEOPLE..........

GOD BLESS AMERICA

ONE NATION UNDER GOD

Need I say more.

And that's where we start. That's not being an overly religious right wing kook. That's called being thankful and appreciative.

[Lenny5160]

Didn't take long for many to go from just being grateful to go racing again to complaining about not hearing a song.

The reasoning behind not playing it is dumb, but I've never understood what the national anthem has to do with sports anyway.

[Casey Miles]

Originally Posted by Lenny5160

Didn't take long for many to go from just being grateful to go racing again to complaining about not hearing a song.

The reasoning behind not playing it is dumb, but I've never understood what the national anthem has to do with sports anyway.

If you served, you'd understand. You are racing because people laid down their lives so you can now race in a country built on freedoms.

[Lenny5160]

Originally Posted by Casey Miles

If you served, you'd understand. You are racing because people laid down their lives so you can now race in a country built on freedoms.

I understand that, but that same logic can be applied to just about anything we do. Why don't we do the anthem at the beginning of every work day?

I love a good rendition of the anthem; if there's a game on TV I've seen my kids stop what they are doing, stand up and put their hands on their hearts. I know my statement will be taken as lack of respect for the anthem and what it stands for, but that isn't it. I just don't see the connection to sporting events.

[Bob Mulry]

Originally Posted by Lenny5160

I understand that, but that same logic can be applied to just about anything we do. Why don't we do the anthem at the beginning of every work day?

I love a good rendition of the anthem; if there's a game on TV I've seen my kids stop what they are doing, stand up and put their hands on their hearts. I know my statement will be taken as lack of respect for the anthem and what it stands for, but that isn't it. I just don't see the connection to sporting events.

My guess would be that you never volunteered to serve or heard Taps played when burying a friend...

[Lenny5160]

I took this from a post that Bob Unkefer has going on Facebook. He made this post personally:

"Short version, technical difficulties in the tower (my bad) and drivers already strapped into Alky dragsters on a 100 degree day. The pledge has been said before to Honor our Country and reciting the Pledge TOGETHER pays the honor to our country that it is due. Like I said, not a HMP or NHRA decision, trying to pay Honor and keep the race moving along."

[novassdude]

Originally Posted by Lenny5160

I took this from a post that Bob Unkefer has going on Facebook. He made this post personally:

"Short version, technical difficulties in the tower (my bad) and drivers already strapped into Alky dragsters on a 100 degree day. The pledge has been said before to Honor our Country and reciting the Pledge TOGETHER pays the honor to our country that it is due. Like I said, not a HMP or NHRA decision, trying to pay Honor and keep the race moving along."

So is that the real story or is the quote from Mr Evens on this site correct? Acording to him it was ready to go no mention of technical difficulties.

"First, let me say it is great to see the passion coming through in this debate and peoples feelings on something that has become so routine in public sporting events.
The decision over the pledge and/or anthem was among people in the tower. I was prepared either way to play or not play the anthem. The cue for saying the pledge comes from the example set at the Chili Bowl which also says the pledge in lieu of playing of the anthem. To hear thousands of people engaged and actively participating in the opening act of the event can be very powerful - especially if they believe in the words they are reciting.
Not playing the anthem was not in any way intended to be disrespectful to anyone in attendance or watching on the feed, and not an effort to be "politically correct". It was also not a directive from Glendora. It was simply to get people to engage and participate.
In person, the majority of people that expressed an opinion to the staff in the tower were good with it, although some wanted to understand the logic behind it.
I am sure this will be discussed moving forward and may or may not happen again. But again, there was no disrespect intended at all by anyone involved."

[david cron]

[MR DERBY CITY]

This OFFENDS the hell out of me...I am with JULIE, SHAME on you D5 and NHRA for allowing this to happen ??? We are racing at a DRAGSTRIP, just who would be OFFENDED by playing our glorious anthem.

[Larry Hill]

I just talked to Rob Park and he said it was technical difficulties in the tower, he really made it clear it was not a political decision by anyone or organization to disrespect our Nation. He seems to be very Red White and Blue.

Thanks Rob in letting us non facebook races know what happened.