The National Anthem

BluesBrother

Recent controversies in America brought this to mind , although I don’t want this to become a political thread , rather to discuss the WTS rules that stop a JW showing respect for the National Anthem.

The Watchtower says that doing so is an act of idolatry, giving worship to the State or its icon. As such Witnesses remain seated when the anthem is played. In Britain people simply stand quietly to show respect, there is no hand gesture.

When I was a boy, every cinema show and theatre concluded with the anthem,being played .Usually it was orchestrally with no words sung. Therefore every time we went out we had to skidaddle out quickly or we would be caught in a difficult situation. The alternative was to brave it and sit tight feeling the eyes of everyone glaring at you.....

What about you? Have you suffered difficulties as a dub due to this issue. Is it the same in other countries?

fulano

When I was about 20 and living in the Netherlands, a jw friend and I decided to go on holiday to the Torquay region and walk in Dartmoor and Exmoor. We saw a advertisement that Tommy Cooper was giving a show in Torquay. We went and it started with the Anthem. We never saw anything like that and staid seated..

I have never felt so unwanted as at that moment.😬

millie210

Ah, you are bringing back forgotten memories Blues!

As a witness child I got used to killing time standing around waiting for an event to start so I would ALREADY be standing and thus could remain standing until the anthem was over.

Such a to-do about nothing.

phoenixrising

The left is working hard and has been to destroy America so they can rebuild it as a communist socialist nation. Occupy Wall St.,, BLM terrorists, ANTIFA terrorists, and others are all in on it or useful idiots to the Marxist radicals. they started by pushing things like its OK to burn the American flag, Take a knee and protest the NA. Now its out and out America is an has been an evil place. LOL These idiots want to tear down and most don't know crap about what they are asking for and will wonder why if they get their way they can not have an Iphone because no more oil and can not drive because of no cars and why they were living the high life and now they are not. They are stupid educated stupid by radical Marxist college professors who have had this agenda for years.

DesirousOfChange

Worship. That's right! When the National Anthems are played at the Olympics or at baseball games when opposing teams are from different countries (US vs Canadian), the players and fans stand for both (all) Anthems because they worship their opposition team's nation.

What a crock!

Finkelstein

Anthems are a way or vehicle for people to express respect and pride for their country, it also creates an identity for people connecting them with their homeland.

The WTS hates that they want people to show honor, loyalty and respect to their organization and the top GB leaders and give them some money as well so they can continue to lie and deceive people.

The WTS is a power cult where have built up a semblance of power around themselves by proclaiming they are god's select chosen ones.

Disgusting cult.

dozy

I remember at school ( in UK ) once the national anthem was played at some event we were watching and I stayed in my seat when everyone else was standing & singing - I was maybe about 10 years old. A teacher was sitting behind me and literally pulled me to my feet - I'm guessing she didn't get the memo - she wasn't one of my teachers - so I stayed standing and pretended to sing & never told my parents about it as they would have gone crazy and made a big fuss! Thankfully generally in the UK it is rarely played nowadays in that kind of setting.

truth_b_known

This is such a convoluted subject for Witnesses in the U.S. Public schools K-12 start the day by standing and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Most professional sports leagues start their games with the national anthem.

As a Witness we were taught - for the Pledge of Allegiance it is alright to stand out of respect, but for the national anthem one must remain seated. The simple act of standing for the national anthem is an act of worship.

This made no sense to me. Like others, when I attended sporting events I would just head to the concession stands during the national anthem. As a kid I went with my friends and their father to a professional soccer (football) match. We sat during the national anthem. My friends' father was reading the newspaper while it played. We were heckled the whole time.

truth_b_known

This is such a convoluted subject for Witnesses in the U.S. Public schools K-12 start the day by standing and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Most professional sports leagues start their games with the national anthem.

As a Witness we were taught - for the Pledge of Allegiance it is alright to stand out of respect, but for the national anthem one must remain seated. The simple act of standing for the national anthem is an act of worship.

This made no sense to me. Like others, when I attended sporting events I would just head to the concession stands during the national anthem. As a kid I went with my friends and their father to a professional soccer (football) match. We sat during the national anthem. My friends' father was reading the newspaper while it played. We were heckled the whole time.

Biahi

I love this thread. I was told by my parents that I would DIE AT ARMAGGEDON if I said the pledge or stood for the national anthem at school, so I complied, feeling like an UTTER ASS and wanting so badly to stand and sing or recite the country that I loved. Because Jehovah reads hearts, at age 6, I knew I would die anyway, because big J would read my heart and kill me. No way for a kid to grow up. It’s child abuse.

The National Anthem

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