What is the proper etiquette to show respect for the flag?

[Ecofarm]

What does the flag have to do with the national anthem?

US:

On September 3, 1814, Francis Scott Key and John Stuart Skinner, an American prisoner-exchange agent, set sail from Baltimore aboard the ship HMS Minden flying a flag of truce on a mission approved by President James Madison. Their objective was to secure the release of Dr. William Beanes, the elderly and popular town physician of Upper Marlboro, and a friend of Key’s who had been captured in his home. Beanes was accused of aiding the arrest of British soldiers. Key and Skinner boarded the British flagship HMS Tonnant on September 7 and spoke with Major General Robert Ross and then-Vice Admiral Alexander Cochrane over dinner, while they discussed war plans. At first, Ross and Cochrane refused to release Beanes, but relented after Key and Skinner showed them letters written by wounded British prisoners praising Beanes and other Americans for their kind treatment.

Because Key and Skinner had heard details of the plans for the attack on Baltimore, they were held captive until after the battle, first aboard HMS Surprise, and later back on the HMS Minden. After the bombardment, certain British gunboats attempted to slip past the fort and effect a landing in a cove to the west of it, but they were turned away by fire from nearby Fort Covington, the city's last line of defense.

During the rainy night, Key had witnessed the bombardment and observed that the fort’s smaller "storm flag" continued to fly, but once the shell and Congreve rocket[4] barrage had stopped, he would not know how the battle had turned out until dawn. By then, the storm flag had been lowered, and the larger flag had been raised.

Key was inspired by the American victory and the sight of the large American flag flying triumphantly above the fort. This flag, with fifteen stars and fifteen stripes, came to be known as the Star Spangled Banner Flag and is today on display in the National Museum of American History, a treasure of the Smithsonian Institution. It was restored in 1914 by Amelia Fowler, and again in 1998 as part of an ongoing conservation program.

Aboard the ship the next day, Key wrote a poem on the back of a letter he had kept in his pocket. At twilight on 16 September, he and Skinner were released in Baltimore. He completed the poem at the Indian Queen Hotel, where he was staying, and he entitled it "Defence of Fort McHenry".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Star-Spangled_Banner

Verse 1 of 4, generally the only sung:

Spoiler :

O! say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
O! say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

So, what's up with Canada's anthem?

 

[Flying Pig]

God save our gracious Queen,
Long live our noble Queen,
God save the Queen:
Send her victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us:
God save the Queen.

O Lord, our God, arise,
Scatter her enemies,
And make them fall.
Confound their politics,
Frustrate their knavish tricks,
On Thee our hopes we fix,
God save us all.

Thy choicest gifts in store,
On her be pleased to pour;
Long may she reign:
May she defend our laws,
And ever give us cause
To sing with heart and voice
God save the Queen.

Best national anthem ever. It actually sounds as if you should stand up when someone plays it. It has, however, nothing to do with our flag whatsoever

 

[Shadylookin]

If I'm at an event and the national anthem is playing and the flag is there I'll get up and put my hand over my heart. Same if the flag is displayed at a parade. However I won't just do it for random flags I see flying across town. Also if I happen to be wearing a hat I'll take it off.

It's pretty standard etiquette at least in my experience.

 

[Rossiya]

Best national anthem ever. It actually sounds as if you should stand up when someone plays it. It has, however, nothing to do with our flag whatsoever

I think that anthem is disgusting. So many better pieces of music, lyrics, meanings, everything.

 

[Lillefix]

Lyrics are bad, but the melody is excellent in my opnion.

 

[TheLastOne36]

Polish anthem is the best

Poland has not yet perished,
so long as we live.
What foreign violence has taken from us,
we will reclaim, Sabre in hand.

March march, Dabrowski,
from the land of Wlochy(Italy) to Polski(Poland)!
Behind your leadership,
We will reunite as a people.

March March Dabrowski,
From the land of Wlochy to Polski!
Behind your leadership,
We will reunite as a people.

We'll cross the Wisla
We'll cross the Warta
And We shall be Poles,
Bonaparte has shown us how to be Victorious.

March March Dabrowski,
From the land of Wlochy to Polski!
Behind your leadership,
We will reunite as a people.

March March Dabrowski,
From the land of Wlochy to Polski!
Behind your leadership,
We will reunite as a people.

As Czarniecki to Poznan
After the Swedish occupation,
To save our country,
We will return across the sea.

March March Dabrowski,
From the land of Wlochy to Polski!
Behind your leadership,
We will reunite as a people.

March March Dabrowski,
From the land of Wlochy to Polski!
Behind your leadership,
We will reunite as a people.

A father was saying to his Basia,
With tears in his eyes:
"Listen now, those are our boys beating the drums"

March March Dabrowski,
From the land of Wlochy to Polski!
Behind your leadership,
We will reunite as a people.

March March Dabrowski,
From the land of Wlochy to Polski!
Behind your leadership,
We will reunite as a people.


Link to video.​

 

[ParadigmShifter]

Poland has not yet perished? That's a teensy weensy bit negative isn't it?

 

[Lillefix]

Yes, it's really really good. Among the best I've heard. And a very good and rather humble text, which I like(compare it to the british). Although, without context, the first line is hilarious. It's like: Happy days. We haven't died yet(which is a bit too humble).

edit: no, I wasn't first...

 

[MagisterCultuum]

Maybe not much in some countries, but in the US the anthem is about the flag. (Specifically about the US flag that still flew over Fort McHenry in a War of 1812 after a battle that most people assumed the British would win.)

O! say can you see by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watch'd, were so gallantly streaming?
And the Rockets' red glare, the Bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there;
O! say does that star-spangled Banner yet wave,
O'er the Land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines on the stream,
'Tis the star-spangled banner, O! long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more?
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave,
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave,
O'er the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave.

O! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand,
Between their lov'd home and the war's desolation,
Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the Heav'n rescued land,
Praise the Power that hath made and preserv'd us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto—“In God is our trust;”
And the star-spangled Banner in triumph shall wave,
O'er the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave!

Edit: Nunja's by...well, a whole page of posts.

 

[Ecofarm]

Poland's is very good. It sounds a little imperialist, no? And a bit vengeful...

After the Swedish occupation,
To save our country,
We will return across the sea

Does that mean they will seek vengeance across the sea to "save their country"?

Anyway, it doesn't have any god or monarchy stuff and I'd rather have some good ole fashion revenge than either of that crap on my record.

So far, Poland wins lyrics. Not sure about melodies, etc.

Poland has not yet perished? That's a teensy weensy bit negative isn't it?

Yes, it's really really good. Among the best I've heard. And a very good and rather humble text, which I like(compare it to the british). Although, without context, the first line is hilarious. It's like: Happy days. We haven't died yet(which is a bit too humble).

edit: no, I wasn't first...

Dear Russia,

Thanks for not exterminating us.

Signed,
Poland

 

[Ai Shizuka]

What's with Italy in the Polish anthem?
But yes, it's very good. Never paid much attention to it.

Actually I like pretty much every Euro anthem, with UK and France (pretty hardcore lyrics there) being my favorites.
Now, after a quick trip on youtube, I realize the most popular versions of the Italian anthem are terrible.

So, good version (can't find a good version with English subtitles):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7pmy-u1awI&feature=related

 

[ParadigmShifter]

wait for it... wait for it... getting quote...

Wait for what?

British National anthem sucks btw.

 

[Ecofarm]

I think it was worth it, check back.

Edit: There should be a bumpersticker in Poland:

POLAND!
We don't ask for alot.​

 

[ParadigmShifter]

I saw it.

 

[TheLastOne36]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poland_Is_Not_Yet_Lost

This anthem was made during when Poland was occupied by foreign forces, (following the paritions) and seeked independence through aligning ourselves with Napoleon. That is the explanation of the 'We have not yet Perished" part. (interesting fact, the first line was originally "Poland has not yet died" it was later replaced with the word perish to make it sound more gloomy, and was more or less a trick to spark nationalism. ) The anthem was used to set future generations nationalistic role models in hopes of gaining independence, such as Tadeusz Kosciuszko, Dabrowski twins, Napoleon Bonaparte, Simon Bolivar, George Washington, Czarniecki etc. and kinda became a symbol of Poles during the times of occupation.

The song was sang by Polish soldiers fighting with the French revolutionary army, in the conquest of Italy. Those soldiers were singing 'March March Dabrowski, To Poland from Italy' because after Napoleon's campaign in Italy, they will go with Napoleon to Poland and regain Polish independence.

Here are the original lyrics:

Spoiler :

Poland has not died yet
So long as we still live
That which alien force has seized
We at sabrepoint shall retrieve

March, march, Dąbrowski
To Poland from Italy
Under thy command
Let us now rejoin the nation

Like Czarniecki to Poznań
Returned across the sea
To free our fatherland from chains
Fighting with the Swede

March, march...

Cross the Vistula and Warta
And Poles we shall be
We've been shown by Bonaparte
Ways to victory

March, march...

Germans, Muscovites will not rest
When, backsword in hand
"Concord" will be our watchword
And the fatherland will be ours

March, march...

Father, in tears
Says to his Basia
Just listen, it seems that our people
Are beating the drums

March, march...

All exclaim in unison
Enough of this bondage
We've got scythes from Racławice
God will give us Kościuszko

 

[ParadigmShifter]

The Italian anthem has the best tune of the Euro anthems I think.

 

[Ai Shizuka]

Learned something new today.
When I saw that Italy reference in the Polish anthem I went searching in the more obscure stanzas of the Italian anthem.
Surprise: there's Poland in there, in the last stanza.

Son giunchi che piegano
Le spade vendute:
Già l'aquila d'Austria
Le penne ha perdute.
Il sangue d'Italia,
Il sangue Polacco,
Bevé, col cosacco,
Ma il cor le bruciò.


This . .. .. .. .. . is hard to translate, but I'll try:

The mercenary swords are like broken bulrushes:
the Austrian eagle already lost her feathers.
She (Austria) drank, with the cossacks, Italian and Polish blood.
Our heart burnt them (the feathers).

So apparently we share a common anti-Austria hatred from the mid 800s.


EDIT: ninja'd bigtime. So Italy and Poland have different references to each others in the respective anthems, related to different events. That's pretty cool.

 

[Ecofarm]

The "our people" is definately better than "our boys". Too bad they changed that. I'll have to add sexism to the Polish anthem, but it's still the best lyrics so far. I dislike glorifying religion and monarchy more than casual unintentional sexism.

 

[TheLastOne36]

<snip>


EDIT: ninja'd bigtime. So Italy and Poland have different references to each others in the respective anthems, related to different events. That's pretty cool.

I like Italy, if it wasn't for them, i probably would be here.

The "our people" is definately better than "our boys". Too bad they changed that. I'll have to add sexism to the Polish anthem, but it's still the best lyrics so far. I dislike glorifying religion and monarchy more than casual unintentional sexism.

Do be fair, most armies of that time were made of men.

 

[Ecofarm]

Do be fair, most armies of that time were made of men.

The drums of war require female support as well. Their commitment to the cause should not be overlooked, even if the most visable contribution is limited by prejudice.