h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

What would you do in this situation?

Let's assume you don't on principle stand for your country's National Anthem.

On arrival with a friend for their childs school awards evening, you are given a program of events. You notice that near the end the National Anthem is going to be played, what would you do?

a) Go against your principles and stand.

b) Remain seated and embarress your friend.

c) Leave just before it starts.

one more thing, your sitting in the front row.

Move to a country where they don't play the national anthem evertome someone wipes their nose.

remain seated- I'm going to an England football match next month, and I'll remain seated during "God Save The Queen" then, and would in any situation when it's played.

I always stand and sing the National Anthem. I disagree with the way my country is run, I don't much like the words of our National Anthem, but I am proud to be a citizen of my country, so I sing.

But I'm talking about a different Nation and a different Anthem.

now, just a moment

<>

...why do you assume this ??

alec.

It's just a condition of the theoretical question I think, IF you disagreed with your national anthem (as I disagree with mine, incidentally), then what actioin would you take? If you had no issue with the anthem, this wouldn't be much of a dilemma would it?

I would stand. A child's award ceremony is not the place to demonstrate against your national anthem.

It was just a way to phrase the question Alec.

I left just before National Anthem started.

when the national anthem is played at, say, a football match, the best way out of the decision is to go to the toilet

How about just stand up and who cares? It's only a song, you're not signing anything.

Oh Flower of Scotland....

It's the *principle* of it Zagreb.

If you can't be honest with yourself, what hope would you have to be honest with anyone else.

...stay seated, more obvious demonstration of the principle, probably...

Hmm, I'd probably stand at an event like that, but not if it, say, is played on TV. Except in exceptional circumstances may they never happen.

I don't like the UK's one though, it's sooooo boring!

The Banner was always sung at the basketball games I played at (I played in the pep band, not on a team), and me sitting would be incredibly conspicuous, and likely get me a talking to from my boss. I did not, however, sing along or put my hand over my heart or anything. Respect, yes; I'm a patriot in a very base sense. But devotion? Nah, not with everything else that the flag has come to "stand" for. Just stood there with my hands behind my back.

i'd embarrass my friends and sing like sid vicious did then for the nearest exit

I sit, as I do during Christian funeral services.

Why do you go along to Christian funeral services, if not to comfort the bereaved? Do you think you are comforting them by sitting when everybody else is standing?

I don't like our national anthem because it's about the queen. I wouldn't bow to the queen either. She's no better than me. She was just in the right womb at the right time. I'm proud of my country though. Though I think excessive pride is probably the cause of many wars.

Stand. Why not? I don't care that much either way - in the UK we don't often play the national anthem, in other places they play it more.

It's just different cultures.

I wouldn't stand if I'm just watching the rugby in my living room though.

Sprout