Do you stand for our National Anthem?

My children play basketball for a local Upward league.  Because I have three children with three different playing abilities, I am often forced privileged, on game days, to sit through three hours of basketball.

Don't get me wrong, I adore the "watching the kids play basketball" part of the three hours.  The part that is somewhat...um...challenging is enduring the two hours that the other two children are not playing.  For some reason, watching his siblings race up and down the court just doesn't hold the same thrill for Z-man as it does for his Momma. To be fair, his sisters aren't exactly "in to" his games, either.

 This leads to my having to enjoy tolerate a minimum of one complaining/fidgeting/asking-for-something-from-the-snack bar child for approximately 1.5 hours of the three-hour tour.


(Kindly send your 'how to better discipline your children to sit through boring stuff' advice emails to: yourchildrenarenotminesoyoudonothavethefirstclue@gmail.com)

Another part of the day that can become a bit tiresome is the opening events.  They are always fun and refreshing the first time; the church we play at does a GREAT job with them!  However, even the most enthusiastic Europe fan can become a bit jaded at the third playing of "The Final Countdown" during the team announcements.

One saving grace during these opening rituals is the playing of the USA National Anthem.  They have chosen a particularly good rendition for this year. It is Lee Greenwood's.  It starts with a stirring drum rhythm, and then Lee sings in a key low enough for me to follow along and actually hit the "land of the free" part with gusto!

What I have found interesting, especially by the third time through the song in the day, is to watch people as they prepare to listen to or sing along with the Anthem when it starts playing.

I find it beautiful to see the WWII-aged gentleman "uncover", and place his 'ARMY' ball cap over his heart.

I find it precious to see Mothers (and Fathers) instructing children to stand up and place hands over hearts.

I find it interesting when others stand, but hold hands clasped behind the back.

But I mostly, especially, tear up when I see that everyone stands.

Now, I have no way of knowing the hearts and minds of the people who are standing during the song.

I wonder who, like me, becomes overcome by a wave of patriotic emotion and tears up during "oh say does that star spangled banner yet wave?"

I wonder if some, unlike me, would prefer to sit, arms crossed, in an attempt to send a message about what they "really" think of our country.

I also consider: it could be that many find no significance whatsoever in the song; maybe some have simply always stood for the Anthem.  To them, it is possibly "just what's done".

But, no matter what the motivation/reason/implication, everyone stands.

Everyone stands, and no one is forced to stand.

We who stand are standing in a state of liberty, not out of a fear of repercussions.

We who stand do so out of a patriotic duty, perhaps, but it is a duty we choose to commit ourselves to.

Even if a man should choose not to stand, he would be expressing, no...he would be the embodiment of the liberty we citizens of the USA posses, which  is something he is exhibiting a disdain for.

His protest would be turned into silent irony.

I think about the freedoms I enjoy as an American all too infrequently.  I am thankful that our Upward league has chosen to offer this small, yet meaningful salute to these freedoms, three times a week, every week, all season long.