Is it dis-respectful for someone to NOT remove their ballcap during the national anthem

Question

Ok, so I have heard it is, Why?

I think of it like putting your elbows on the table, you know your not supposed to but its just someones rule, its not something that MUST be followed.You can do as you please type thing.

Answer 1

I could care less if they take it off or leave it on.

Answer 2

its really just made up rules

Answer 3

It's called respect for the flag and what it represents.

Many people made huge sacrifices so that you could have the freedom to be at that game.

Answer 4

The general rule of thumb is that men should remove their ballcaps during the national anthem.  I think it's more of a tradition of respect.  For example, men would remove their hats before entering a house or when they sit down at a picnic table to eat.  Women are traditionally "allowed" to wear their hats during the national anthem.  

Answer 5

Yes, yes, yes!!!  Not2bese got it all right!!!  So sad that you should even have to ask this question, so very sad!!!

Answer 6

It should be removed as a sign of respect, especially if the person IS an American.  All "headgear" (hats, ball caps, etc.) should be removed inside any building.

Answer 7

There isn't a hard and fast rule about it; but it's considered rude or disrespectful for a man not to uncover his head during the national anthem.  I never understood why this doesn't also apply to women who wear baseball caps.

Answer 8

Traditionally men remove hats unless in some type of uniform.  Then they salute.  Exceptions would be sports uniforms.

Traditionally women never remove hats.  It's a Christian tradition.  It symbolizes a woman's hair as a covering.  The hat is a type of covering.  men don't have long hair by that same tradition and remove hats in honor and respect for that tradition.

People don't remember these things.  I guess it's because of the religious aspect.

Answer 9

Elbows on the table are bad manners

Honoring our country is completely different.  Males always remove hats/caps as a sign of respect when the national anthem plays.  Females do not have to.  

It is not appropriate to applaud after the national anthem, either.

"R-E-S-P-E-C-T, find out what it means to me!"  xo Your National Anthem

Answer 10

Man, just take a look at our history - how the people who signed the Declaration of Independence were practically signing their own death warrant. Read up on the POWs at the Hannoi Hilton - they used scraps of material to make a flag and passed it around, and it actually boosted morale while they were being tortured.

It's all in our history, man - a lot of people gave a lot to uphold the ideals of our flag. Yeah, it didn't always go so well (Vietnam, even OIF) but we're trying to spread the freedom based ideals, not religion.

You just gotta respect the sacrifices our parents/grandparents/ forefathers made so we could have freedom of speech, and all these other liberties we're are so incredibly entitled to that we don't even realize we have them - we take them for granted.

That's really a freedom - the freedom of not knowing how crappy life could be (Palestine, Bosnia, Sudan. We have confidence knowing we won't walk outside our front door and possibly die while going about your day.)

Anyway, official source for flag protocol:

Title 36 of the U.S. Code:

During a rendition of the national anthem, when the flag is displayed (A) all present except those in uniform should stand at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart; (B) men not in uniform should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold the headdress at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart.

Answer 11

It's only disrespectful if the person is from the country whose anthem is being played.  It's similar to not saluting the flag while the anthem is being played.

Answer 12

If Obama does not have to face the flag and put his hand over his heart,  why should anyone have to remove their hat?  

Maybe they are not Americans and feel they do not have to show respect to our flag.  

Answer 13

Custom

United States Code, 36 USC Sec. 301, states that during the playing of "The Star Spangled Banner" (United States National Anthem) when the flag is displayed, everyone except those in uniform should stand at attention while facing the flag with their right hand over their heart. Those in attendance who are not in uniform should remove any headwear with their right hand and hold it at their left shoulder, with their right hand held over their heart. Individuals in uniform should show the military salute during the first note of the anthem and stay in this position until the last note. If the flag is not displayed, people in attendance should face the music and respond as if the flag were present. The US Code was amended in 2007 to state that US armed forces personnel not in uniform, and veterans may also salute during the playing of the national anthem