Disrespecting This Country | Teen Ink

Disrespecting This Country

November 1, 2009
By mcelronej BRONZE, Harrison City, Pennsylvania
mcelronej BRONZE, Harrison City, Pennsylvania
1 article 0 photos 0 comments

Favorite Quote:
To be the best you have to beat the best


The sky was dark, the moon shined bright, and the lights glistened off the turf as the Friday night game was about to begin. The band started to play “The Star Spangle Banner” and I could not believe what I was witnessing. A group of kids continued on with their business not even paying attention to the flag or the song. It seemed like they did not care. It literally meant nothing to them.

As the song continued, their conversations got louder and you could understand them more vividly. They started to yell and used fowl language. It could have waited until the end of the song, but they thought otherwise. The adults around me started to stare. Their stares soon turned to glares. I felt as if I was shrinking. It was a true disrespect to this country.

The flag is a symbol of America and it deserves respect. People give their lives everyday for that flag defending America. People have always given great respect to the flag. Watching those kids made my generation look bad. They needed to learn how to treat the flag. Respect for the flag should never be something that is lost.

We, young and old, need learn to treat the flag with dignity. It is one of the greatest symbols of our country. The stars and stripes of the red, white, and blue deserve the utmost respect during the national anthem.


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This article has 10 comments.


on Apr. 4 2012 at 1:14 pm
i've come across this comment a lot if you dont like this country then just leave but what people just dont understand is that maby this person cares enough to stay and try to take care of the problem rather then run away from it plus do you know how exspensive it is to start a new life in another country?

Anonymous said...
on May. 23 2011 at 6:05 pm
So true! Thank you for being brave enough to post this. I have been witness to this many times, and am sick of it.

on Feb. 1 2011 at 9:05 pm
TheBirdman1014 SILVER, Coxsackie, New York
6 articles 0 photos 11 comments

Junebug, many of those people who died "defending the flag" have, in actually, died defending the interests of large multinational corporations who use war and conflict as a means to gain greater control on the natural resources of a nation.

The flag is a piece of fabric. Nothing more, nothing less. We should not respect inanimate objects. What we should do, however, is to actively search for acts and events that highlight true bravery and true courage, acts that allow people (regardless of nationality) the right to live a free life.

My personal views toward the flag do not infringe upon others. I would suggest you take your own advice and "think about others" when you try to convince people to act as you do.


on Feb. 1 2011 at 8:46 pm
xJuneBugx BRONZE, Plymouth, Massachusetts
1 article 0 photos 14 comments
this is a whole country that were talking about, a country that has seen plenty of tradedy and triumph. were not asking you to WORSHIP the flag, only show some respect for the many people who haved died for it. do you laugh or curse when a hearse drives by?? no. so smarten up and think about others for once.

on Dec. 20 2010 at 8:05 pm
spiritualrevelationrevealspainandrevolution PLATINUM, Eugene, Oregon
23 articles 0 photos 212 comments
its great to feel pride in your nation/flag, ect. but what i hate is when people walk around with attitudes of nationalism, wearing america #1 tee shirts and the like. its kinda like religion, feel pride but dont let it cloud your better judgement

on Nov. 28 2010 at 8:05 pm
TheBirdman1014 SILVER, Coxsackie, New York
6 articles 0 photos 11 comments

Don't force your beliefs on others. I see no reason why every man, woman, and child has to obey your rules and regulations when a certain song is being played, or a symbolic object is waved about.

A flag only has meaning to those that endow it with such. It's fine if you have inner reverence for a piece of cloth, but it's rather rude for you to assume others should have the same.

You can privately do whatever you want to the flag or a song. Dance, jump, sing, pray, anything you like. However, there is no reason why others should have to follow your same customs.


whatever... said...
on Sep. 1 2010 at 7:38 pm

Disrespect is so popular these days. Why are there so many people that show disrespect? Family life, i believe is a part of it. Even not talking about the flag...there is lots of disrespect.

In schools, for example. Some parents will do anything for thier kids. Others will do ANYTHING. If a teen gets in trouble in school what happens? Often the teens gets kept after school. The parents are contacted.ISS. OSS.

The parents are contacted?

Yes.

Why?

If your kid got in trouble wouldn't YOU want to know? I know I would if they were mine. Some parents yell at teachers because THEIR KID got in trouble....Is that right? NO! definately not! It is not acceptable either. It may in part be because of how many teachers and principals even get in trouble a year. That makes parents wonder, but if you have no trust in a school why put your child into it? there is such thing as homeschool.


on May. 14 2010 at 10:35 am
Enjoy-The-Silence SILVER, Middletown, Ohio
7 articles 0 photos 7 comments

Favorite Quote:
"May He Who Is Sinless, Cast The First Stone"- Jesus Christ

I agree here, teenagers, and even some adults show no respect these days. 

 

I don't care about freedom of speech, if you hate this country, then leave. 

People need to respect our flag, heritage, and our president whether you agree with him or not,

because it is the right thing to do, according to the Christian morals this country was founded on.


Raspo said...
on Nov. 20 2009 at 9:15 pm
It's great to see some parents are raising kids that have the values that this country was built upon. Thanks PARENTS.

unocal76 said...
on Nov. 20 2009 at 6:47 am
There is hope for the future when some young people understand values like this.There are so many values lost because people don't stand up for what they believe in. Thanks Josh.