NHRA What Is Wrong With You

[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.

[Julie Jordan]

The National Anthem was played at the Sonoma LODRS for both events. I was walking down to the lanes when it started playing and stopped walking. I looked all around the pits and racers everywhere had stopped what they were doing, took off their hats and honored our flag. It was a beautiful sight to see.

Shame on you, Topeka!

[Chuck Gallagher]

Are we overlooking the words "with liberty and justice for all"?
Oh, and have a nice day.

Chuck Gallagher
354th TFS
USAF 1963-1967

[CMcAllister]

The 'climate' is wrong, misguided, destructive, against everything good and decent about America and being financed and run by enemies intent on destroying the country. Why would you participate and give legitimacy to that?

I avoid doing business with companies who support this $#!& as much as possible. NHRA is not exempt, as hard as that decision may be. I hope this was a one time "mistake".

Simple fix - don't pull out of the lanes until the Anthem is played during opening ceremonies. They going to send everyone home in order to kiss the asses of a bunch of looters and pillagers? Track owners going to stand for this?

Again, I hope this was caused by extenuating circumstances and everyone got their panties twisted up over nothing.

[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.

[House of Darts]

Playing the Pledge of Allegiance before the racing begins, whether its a TNT, weekend bracket format, divisional or national event is what separates us, drag racers, from the rest of the spinless units out there that live in this country for whatever reason. There is no better sound than to hear "Our Pledge", followed by the starting of engines. Waiting for someone from corporate california or the divisional directors to make a decision, usually late and half-assed,well... it is our responsibility to ask at the gate or someone in the tower to NOT TO FORGET "THE PLEDGE" !

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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...