Unfettered Letters

Pro athletes should honor flag

What is it with all of our overpaid athletes who refuse to honor the playing of our national anthem by removing their helmets and placing their hands over their hearts? Do their enormous salaries exempt them from paying homage to the flag?

I would think that the owners of the teams would make sure that each player pays proper respects. If some of the players are not citizens, they would be exempt until they became a citizen, and one of the clauses in their contracts should that they become an American citizen within a couple of years, or the contract would be void and they would have to go back home.

Ron McKinney
Overland Park

Apology doesn’t remove stain

Josh Howard says, “This is not the way I carry myself, not how I want to be portrayed,” (10/1, Sports, “Howard apologizes for anthem antics”) If what he did and said at the charity event is not his daily mindset or thinking, then why did it come out of his mouth?

Too many think they can spout off things and get it out in the public then apologize and make it go away. Wrong!

C.D. Rinck Sr.
Mission

National anthem isn’t sacred

Please tell me you’re joking, J.W. Dennis (8/24, Letters, “Bad behavior at Arrowhead”). Changing the lyrics to the national anthem is sacrilege? My dictionary defines the word as 1. misuse or violation of that which is consecrated to God or religion or 2. desecrating of anything sacred. Sir, there is nothing sacred about a nation’s theme.

Look at the words to the verse sung at all sporting events. There is no mention whatsoever of anything even remotely connected to God. Because this is the “land of the free,” fans can substitute “Chiefs” for “brave” in the national anthem if they choose.

There may be countries in the world where changing the words of a national anthem is a crime punishable by arrest and imprisonment, but America isn’t one of them, thank God.

Oh, and I think the Lord’s Prayer is safe. Last time I heard, no one was reciting it at sporting events.

Karen White
Hamilton, Mo.

Altered anthem

In response to the events at Shawnee Mission West with regard to the singing of the national anthem (2/6, Local, “.‘Home of the Vikings’ isn’t welcome at West”): As a graduate of the school, I am well aware of the tradition of shouting “Vikings!” at the end of the anthem. I was also a member of the choir that sang the national anthem at many games.

Although I find the school spirit of the stands to be great, I have to agree with the principal on this issue. I don’t feel that students’ rights are being violated.

If you look at the doctrine of in loco parentis, which states that institutions like schools can act in place of the parent for the best interests of the students as they see fit, you’ll see that the protesting students have no standing.

The students may get mad that they can’t show their “spirit” the way they want to, but by no means are their rights being violated.

I think a lot of kids (and even some parents) don’t understand the position and authority the school has over students while they are there, which leads to confusion and protest.

Mike McNulty
Lenexa

Respect our anthem

In response to “.‘Home of the Vikings’ isn’t welcome at West” (2/6, Local): It is wonderful that Principal Charles McLean took issue with his students being disrespectful when singing the national anthem.

Officials at Shawnee Mission West kicked out students who chose to exercise their “free speech” by changing the last few words to “Home of the Vikings” rather than “Home of the brave.”

Singing the national anthem is a sign of respect. I’m so glad Mr. McLean saw this as a perfect example to impress upon this lesson up on his students (and adults as well).

Show respect when attending sporting events for those who have served in the military past or present. Show respect for those who gave their lives in service for their country. Show respect for the freedoms you are lucky enough to enjoy each and every day.

Principal McLean saw a teachable moment and made sure he didn’t waste the opportunity. I want to thank him. I only hope more adults and young people will follow his lead.

Dianna L. Scalf
Raymore

Don’t mess with anthem

In response to the letter by Cecil Graham (11/27, “Lighten up on anthem”), whatever the origin of “The Star Spangled Banner,” it is our national anthem, and should not be changed or disrespected at a sporting or any other event.

Based on his stated qualifications and the fact that he says the Pledge of Allegiance every day, I assume that Graham is a teacher or in the military, which we all should be thankful for. But based on his letter, I guess he would also not object if the group that he was with were fans of our local team and changed the wording when reciting the pledge to “One nation, under the Chiefs.”

David Magnuson
Kearney

Lighten up on anthem

Chiefs fans are “pompous...uneducated and disrespectful" (11/21, Letters) because some sing “home of the Chiefs” at the end of “The Star-Spangled Banner”?
Because this is so important to them, I wonder if letter writer Greg Graeff and columnist Yael Abouhalkah, who discussed this issue in his column, respect their country enough to have served in the military as I and others have?
I have a master of education degree, so my education is not lacking, and I say the Pledge of Allegiance to start each workday — do they?
“The Star-Spangled Banner” was originally a four verse, 311-word poem titled “Defense of Fort M’Henry” written in the War of 1812.
If Graeff and Abouhalkah have problems with this one-word substitution, then versions by Jimi Hendrix, Marvin Gaye and Roseanne Barr must really agitate them! Lighten up a little.
Cecil Graham
Lenexa

‘Home of the brave’

I would like to thank Yael T. Abouhalkah for once again bringing to the surface the ignorance of some Kansas City Chiefs fans (11/18, Opinion, “Excerpts from the Midwest Voices blog”).
It is embarrassing that so many people from this city are so uneducated and disrespectful to “The Star-Spangled Banner” to sing “home of the Chiefs” rather than “home of the brave.”
This ignorance was emphasized even more during the game with Denver when this country was supposed to honoring our noble veterans and not some mediocre football team.
My suggestion to those pompous Chiefs fans is to either grow up or shut up.
Greg J. Graeff
Raytown

National anthem gripes

Those Indianapolistas who are outraged by Chief fans yelling “... home of the Chiefs” during the national anthem at the AFC playoff (1/10, Letters) game need to get a broader perspective on things.

First, why is the national anthem sung prior to events where a group of overpaid men plan to play with a ball while people yell at them? What does sports have to do with patriotism?

Besides, if the national anthem is so sacred, why is it that most Americans don’t even know all the words, let alone the rest of the verses we don’t sing?

How many people just move their lips or don’t even sing at all when the anthem is played?

The anthem belongs to all of us. After all, as the words say, this is “the land of the free,” and, like it or not, that includes freedom of speech, no matter how stupid the words that come out of your mouth might sound to somebody else.

Isn’t that one of the freedoms the military personnel on the field that day have sworn to defend?

P.S. I looked up “couth,” as suggested. Sure enough, the dictionary said “See Indiana.” Thanks.

Thomas E. Dodson
Kansas City

Respect national anthem

The thousands of Chiefs fans visiting our city and attending the AFC playoff game made a mockery of our national anthem by screaming “home of the Chiefs” instead of “home of the brave,” the way it was written.

This may be “tradition” in Kansas City, but in Indianapolis it is disrespectful and disgraceful. Turning our nation’s anthem into a team chant, especially while Colts were honoring members of our military on the field, turns my stomach.

Chief fans, shame on you.

P.S. How about that Larry Johnson!

Paul A. Hurley
Beech Grove, Ind.

I thought some Chiefs fans were very “bush league” in their actions during the national anthem at the Colts game Saturday. On the field were men and women from all branches of the military. When we sang “...and the home of the brave,” your fans yelled “Chiefs” instead.

How disrespectful.

Try to show some couth in the future.

Look it up if you don’t know what couth is.

Jerry Mace
Noblesville, Ind.