Our National Anthem Deserves Respect, Mrs. Gordon!
by Becky Davidson ~ February 14th, 2008 @ 1:00 am. Filed under: Becky's Thoughts, Misc. Columns. 1,622 readsI have read only a few comments on the Internet since the running of the Bud Shootout about Mrs. Gordon, who was standing by Jeff and playing with his hair during the singing of our National Anthem.
I have read more comments in groups of NASCAR fans that I am a member of who this upset more then the news media it seems, including long time Jeff Gordon fans.
I have nothing against Jeff Gordon but Mrs. Gordon needs to be educated on the do’s and don’ts when the National Anthem is being sang or played instrumentally. I could not believe she was rubbing his curly head this past Saturday night while the National Anthem was being sung. The keyword is RESPECT. We all need to remember our troops and Veterans all over this world who fight and fought to keep us safe and to allow each of us to enjoy racing and our freedom. I can’t imagine anyone, even Jeff’s fans thinking that was something his wife should have been doing while Sister Hazel was singing our National Anthem.
There are a few more who also need to be re-educated on what every American should be doing when they are hearing our National Anthem sang or played. Most drivers remove their hats but there are a few who stand there with them on. That also shows lack of respect. Having ongoing conversations with their family members and/or friends standing with them in the opening ceremony is also wrong. I saw enough of that last year and in prior years being done in every race.
We are blessed with freedom in our everyday lives. This would not be possible without our troops who fight to protect our country and it’s people. This also allows our drivers to race and do things they enjoy. More respect needs to be shown. We will see Thursday during the opening ceremony for the running of the Sprint Cup Gatorade Duels, the twin 150’s and next Sunday at the 50th running of the Daytona 500 if they have learned to display respect.
NASCAR fans are the most patriotic fans in the world to me. Up in the grandstands they stand with their hats off, right arm across their heart and many holding American flags. Many of them are active duty or veterans but most of all, they are American’s and respect our National Anthem. Okay, enough of this that has been bugging the heck out of me since Saturday night.. I hope that is the last time we see our National Anthem so disrespected any further this season.
I can’t go without saying kudos to Michael Waltrip for doing what we have seen him do so many times, singing each word of the National Anthem as it plays. Also, kudos to those crew members of some drivers who each hold an American Flag as they have their hands across their heart or those who at least remove their hats out of respect. My hubby who is in the Army says crossing the heart is called a silent salute for those not in a military uniform. I’ve never attended a race or any event where the National Anthem was being played that as an American, let alone the wife of a soldier that I did not do the ’silent salute.’
I could not let this first week of racing and prior to the 50th Anniversary running of the Daytona 500 go without expressing my feelings. Perhaps some driver or drivers family might read my comments about the lack of respect shown by some when the National Anthem is played and tell these drivers racing is a privilege. Too much in life is taken for granted. As we say, “if you think freedom is free, ask a vet,” and I add, ask anyone wearing one of our military uniforms of our service men and women how they feel when they see anyone disrespecting our National Anthem or our flag.
Editor’s Note: Please respond with comments below, or to Becky directly by e-mail at LuvsNscr88@aol.com.
February 14th, 2008 at 8:16 am
Give me a break! the man is about to go and race at 190 mph in a shoot out and his wife, mother to his child is touching in a very adoring way because she probably has had less then 10 minutes with him without interuption. There was no disrespect, that is the last few seconds before her husband climbs into a racecar and could possibly be killed(racing has been known to be DANGEROUS)and if she wants that time give it to her…
I am sure there are a many of wifes/husbands that wish they would have had those last few minutes with the person they loved before they jumped into a racecar (or whatever) to never see alive again…
Lighten up or get a clue there are better things to talk about.
February 14th, 2008 at 8:30 am
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February 14th, 2008 at 8:33 am
Becky, you’ve hit the “nail on the thumb” with this column.
I am a Veteran of the U.S.M.C.(many, many years ago) and you would not believe the pride and emotion that our National Anthem evokes eash week during the opening ceremonies. I feel that if I miss this part of the ceremony, I’ve missed a major part of the telecast. These feelings are all part of the respect I feel for our flag and great Country.
Our National Anthem was written and meant to be presented in a spirited and straightforward tempo from which “performer license” is commonly taken, detracting from the whole spirit and somemnity of the anthem. It grates my nerves when, at the passage “O’er the land of the free, and the home of the brave”, some “yayhoo” who frequently has the singing talent of my Golden Lab, elevates to a high C, on the word “Free”. To me, That is the ultimate disrespect to a wonderful piece of music and it’s Country! It was NOT written this way and Francis Scott Key would probably be doing a pirouette in his grave. And most definitely, LARGE thorns to all of the High School and College bands that have picked up on this habit and have perpetuated it. You’ll NEVER hear a National or U.S. Military Service band, orchestra, or chorus present it, in this fashion!
February 14th, 2008 at 9:13 am
We have observed this on several occasions during the playing or singing of the National Anthem, its not only Jeff Gordon, we have watch Jimmie Johnson as it seemed his mind was on something else besides the National Anthem, I have tapped different people on the shoulder and pointed to their hat during the Anthem at a couple races, some don’t care, and some don’t know that is the proper procedure. I am sure the drivers and their wives know the camera is panning them during this event, so lets try to put a little more respect back in the National Anthem, and while we are on it, NASCAR where do you get some of these people that perform the Anthem ? One last thought, could it be, in Holland, during the National Anthem you play with your escort’s hair?
February 14th, 2008 at 9:39 am
Come on, now. The man is in the early stages of male patent baldness, so his wife needs to massage the area to promote good circulation. She could be adding years to his hair life.
Otherwise, though, you’re probably right.
RM
February 14th, 2008 at 10:50 am
Mr. Provost…you tell your reply to me to the men and women like my husband who put their lives on the line all over this world 24 hours a day, 7 days a week who do not have the privilege of having their family stand by their side as they walk the streets of Baghdag, etc in combat uniform. Apparently you are not a Veteran nor have family that is wearing one of the uniforms of our military……..Becky
February 14th, 2008 at 11:03 am
To Tim:
[Webmaster's note: Some portions of this comment were removed. This is a stock car racing website, and not a place for political arguing, debate, or mudslinging. Thanks for your consideration.]
I agree %100 with Dave Robinson’s opinion. The National Anthem should be played, sung, and HEARD with pride, honor and dignity. Not like an audition for reality TV. Great column, Becky!
February 14th, 2008 at 11:13 am
I gotta agree with ya Becky, it does not matter how many times I hear the National Anthem or see the flyover, to a Vet that is the most humble feeling ever. Evidently Mr. Provost has never experienced that feeling. There are a lot of our military who also would have loved to have their loved one next to them before they crawled into that Humvee and got blown to pieces on a road in Iraq, but that person would have been standing next to their loved one, possibly squeezing their hand, not playing with their hair. I believe Mr. Provost maybe has never suited up to protect his country.
I am sure there are some military who are reading this, what is your take on playing with your escorts hair during the National Anthem ?
February 14th, 2008 at 11:52 am
Pointing out someone else’s bad behavior does not justify Mrs. Gordon’s. But, no, she’s not alone. It’s pervasive, these days.
We are privileged to live in the greatest country in the world, with freedoms others can only dream of. Freedoms that men and women fought and died for. Showing proper respect for our flag, and our national anthem is not too much to ask.
Great column.
February 14th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
Great column! I agree with you 110%. Drives me nuts to see lack of respect with all the opening ceremonies. Our sport is the only one that televises an invocation every week. I was raised that hats are off even during prayer. As much as Michael Waltrip grates on my nerves, every week he is respectful. I don’t know if he can sing a note, but he’s singing our anthem. When I’m at a race live, off with the hat (even being female) and hand over heart. As I tell people all the time, like it or not, we have freedom in this country that was and is paid for by human blood and fighting. RESPECT!!
February 14th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
It was embarrasing to see Jeff’s wife playing with his hair during the National Anthem. However, to be fair to Jeff, what could he do at that given moment but make things worse? I feel sure that by now Jeff has spoken with Ingrid and she will know better in the future. Personally, what has bothered me for many years of having our National Anthem sung before races is the attempt by all these supposedly famous singers to “make the song their own”. The National Anthem was written one way yet all these people insist on rewriting it in their own style and NASCAR and the tracks continue to allow it. To me this is just as disrepectful as anything Mrs. Gordon did, maybe even more so.
February 14th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
While on the subject of what is and isn’t appropriate regarding our national anthem: It is INAPPROPRIATE to applaud the playing of the national anthem. All those hick nascar fans who start applauding as Shania Twain is wrapping up the song, are just as guilty as Mrs. Gordon, believe it or not!
February 14th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
I do believe Mr Hallwood that most of us (Redneck hick NASCAR fans) are applauding because we want to go racing, we are not applauding (well a few may) the singer or player of the Anthem, we just wanna get to racen, grab a cold beer, yell some obscenities at other fans and chew our tobacco.
February 14th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
As a Marine combat veteran who fought for “freedom” in Vietnam, I think you ought to worry about something else other than what Jeff’s wife is doing during the Anthem, which is played so many times these days at every event imaginable that it has truly lost its impact on this nation, especially when someone “makes it their own” by singing it differently than the way it was written. Try to be positive about fixing some of the problems we have instead of being negative about a dead-horse subject. I’m sure you would’ve enjoyed Sen. McCarthy in the 1950’s, when he was finding Commies under every bed.
February 14th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
Thank you for your service gordy, but as a Vet myself, I will worry about what I want,, could it be that your a Jeff Gordon fan ? I do agree with you on how the Anthem is sung.
February 14th, 2008 at 6:01 pm
Sorry Al, I wasn’t referring to you; it was the author Becky I was addressing. I agree with you all the way. Hope no one takes offense, but if there wasn’t some sort of invocation and the Anthem before the races, if they just did “Gentlemen, start your engines”, it wouldn’t hurt my feelings. I could holler and muss up the hair of whoever was standing beside me,and no one would object (except if I maybe didn’t know whose hair I was mussing.) This is supposed to be fun, folks. Does everything have to nitpicked? Maybe that’s what Ingrid was doing, picking nits out of Jeff’s mop.
February 14th, 2008 at 6:18 pm
The National Anthem is a time to be retrospective. Not only do I feel patriotic and proud to be an American but I say a prayer, also. I feel that this is a typical anti- driver whoevever rant. I find that this article was a complete waste of bandwidth.
And Michael Waltrip? Yes he sings the National Anthem. I’ve also seem him lift one of his kids up and the air and play with them while doing that. Funny THAT didn’t get mentioned……….
February 14th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
Why is everyone making a big fuss about Mrs. Gordon playing with Jeff’s hair, but NOBODY is saying ANYTHING about Jamie McMurray giving his girlfriend a fairly intense shoulder massage during the national anthem? Everyone is just making a big deal because they are Gordon haters.
February 14th, 2008 at 8:04 pm
I don’t think Becky was pointing a finger only at Jeff Gordon, this was just the lastest driver whom the tv panned on while the Anthem was being sung. Had it been Michael Waltrip or Jimmy Johnson, or Dale Earnhardt Jr., the feeling would have been the same, I noticed today when the Anthem was being sung, Joe Nemechek’s little girls had their hand over their heart, Joe drove a couple years for the U.S. Army, and even those two little girls know what it means during singing of the National Anthem I am not picking on any particular driver, I am just stating the facts, some people do not respect the National Anthem, and I think that comes from never having served in the Military, or coming from a Military family.
February 16th, 2008 at 7:37 am
How you can focus only on the negative , little things, makes me wonder if that`s not the real reason you watch at all!! replace your hate with appreciation of all of the good things and enjoy your life!!
February 17th, 2008 at 1:42 am
Wow! Lot’s of feeling out there! It definitely made me reflect a bit on my own feelings…THANK YOU! It seems to me, that it really does boil down to respect. Respect for our National Anthem, our Flag, and our Great Country…by the way, God Bless all of our military men and women, active and inactive, (including Coast Guard)…we ALL owe our greatest debt of gratitude to you!…back to our Anthem, Flag, Country…There are those who don’t seem to show respect. Possibly it is because they don’t understand why they should…they may not have been taught respect, as a common courtesy. Let us be teachers of respect. They may not know that this is the greatest Nation on earth, or how that came to be. Let us be educators of this Nation’s history, instilling pride, patriotism, and RESPECT for the next generation. Then there are those who just don’t care. Let us be SORRY for them! They have, in this country, every right to be disrespectful to our Anthem, Flag, and Country…and even to the men and women who have fought for that freedom.
As for me, I will RESPECT the Flag and our National Anthem…perhaps when the Anthem is being performed at ANY televised sporting event, etc., the cameras should also be RESPECTFULLY focused upon our Great Flag, not panning the crowds, seeking out competitors, famous folks in the crowd, and anybody who may or may not be showing a proper level of respect, intended or otherwise.
Thanks for the opportunity to respond, even being a bit long-winded. I love this Country…Hats off, and God Bless America!
February 17th, 2008 at 11:26 am
I doubt she meant any disrespect. I can understand the annoyance, though. It seems that some folks don’t feel the need to stand at attention, salute, remove the hat, etc. I remember removing my hat when I entered a building. Like THAT happens anymore. Right or wrong, times they are a changin’. While we’re sweating the small stuff, can anyone tell me the difference in the meanings of the words ‘then’ and ‘than’? Reading some of these articles, I sometimes think not!
February 17th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
Thanks to so many of you who replied to my commentary whether it be negative or positive. I would like to reply back to the individual seemed to be sending a grammatical jab to me with the words, then and than. I put all articles I write on VISTA Microsoft Works. I changed a few things when it told me to do so or gave me suggestions. I guess V MS works is incorrect as you state I am for it did not change any of the then’s and that’s in my commentary.
To another individual who replied to me personnaly. Right or wrong whether or not times have changed as you told me they have, soldier’s still die or get injured almost on a daily basis. You tell me as a wife of a soldier who has been in harms way and has family and friends there now that it is OKAY not to respect the National Anthem and American flag (whether or not others are so ignorant then not to do so), as I said, tell that to a soldier. I believe they will suggest you move to a country where freedom is not free and see how you like it or anyone else for that matter.
February 26th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
WHOEVER IT IS! That can’t stop what they are doing for 60-90 seconds, and “silent salute” the flag and realize what it represents, and understand that because of THAT flag, we are all able to be doing our own things today. (raceing,sports). And sadly I really think most people are ignorant to the proper way to act towards the flag. It’s not taught in schools anymore and I bet if you asked the teachers in yours area they don’t know the proper way to display the flag vertically or to discard a tattared flag, the # of red stripes? the # of white stripes? what each stand for? I agree I HATE to see the flag disrespected! Maybe WE should help educate!