NHRA What Is Wrong With You

[BobbyH]

Originally Posted by david cron

What Patriotic Angels..........

[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.

[Bracket Vermin]

Originally Posted by Bob Mulry

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

Or at my dad's funeral... last week.

Go to any VA cemetery for a funeral, and the respect shown by the Honor Guard will take your breath away.
The VA cemetery in Dixon, Ca. is a beautiful place.

Jeff


Thanks all for the clarification on what happened.

[jmcarter]

Appreciate your point Tony but having seen the sacrifice of many first hand, having zipped up plenty of body bags, having gone to most of the war memorials in DC, having watched the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier I am just thankful for any venue that plays the National Anthem. Adding the Pledge of Allegiance is altogether fitting as well, if you stand there and utter those words in my mind you’re professing you have skin in the game. Think if I attended church and we didn’t say the Apostles Creed I would have lost the opportunity to reaffirm what I believe. Same for the National Anthem, I want to hear it again over and over. I harbor no animosity toward those who take a knee or whatever, at least they show some sort of conviction. To those who leave their hats on and horse around or retreat to the locker room I’m repulsed by their cowardice. I freely admit that our country has plenty of flaws but even those that kneel are still in the game to help make us better. As for me and mine, we will stand and we will pledge and we honor those who have gone before us. If someone hides or avoids the simple courtesy of honoring them then they should have the courage to admit it and seek somewhere else to live.

Just saw your post Larry, and from everything I’ve heard Rob is a stand up guy but in the future he’d be better served to request anybody to come up and sing it even if no music is available. Rosanne Barr is the only person I’ve ever heard butcher it and there are plenty of seven year kids that can stand up there and do it justice.

[novassdude]

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.

Served or not it is not just a song it is so much more than a song.

[ALMACK]

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.

^^ this

I served in 2 different branches.

Every time the National Anthem is played, the entire time I cannot help but think about all the service men and woman that lost their lives while defending this great nation.

[CMcAllister]

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.

Really? No words. For once.

[Warren Evans]

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.

[63corvette]

Originally Posted by CMcAllister

Really? No words. For once.

When I saw that picture the first time it brought tears to my eyes.
This time same thing.
A young man who gave so much still stands with his arms because he has no legs for the anthem.
So Right - No Words
With tears in my eyes.
Rick Cates
Canyon, TX