What is wrong with this picture ?

[Newcomer]

Senator Barack Obama, Governor Bill Richardson, Senator Hillary Clinton and Ruth Harkin stand during the national anthem.
Barack Hussein Obama's photo (that's his real name, yes he is muslim)......the article said he REFUSED TO NOT ONLY PUT HIS HAND ON HIS HEART DURING THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, BUT REFUSED TO SAY THE PLEDGE....(and you probably remember how he refused to wear a flag pin on his lapel). How can a man like this expect to be our next Commander-in-Chief????

Click on picture to Enlarge

[Patagoniamaniac]

HE's OUT!!!!!! That is SO unpatriotic! it sickens me! what an upsetting picture!

[Mysteefied]

In my opinion it looks like he was "placed" into that picture.
just my 2 cents

[Iris]

I am out of research time at the moment, but what I have been able to determine so far is that photo was taken by Time Magazine during the playing of the National Anthem (not during the Pledge), and that there is a email currently circulating with the Muslim and Pledge misinformation. Gotta go...

[Lacey]

No, it's a real picture. I looked it up when I got this in email. Here is a Snopes link that tells about it. http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/anthem.asp There is a video you can play that shows this episode. Snopes said they could find no evidence that he refused to recite the pledge. And, in this particular photo, the pledge was not being said. They were singing the National Anthem. I never put my hand on my heart when the National Anthem is sang. I didn't know that was something that was supposed to be done.

I am not sticking up for the guy! I don't really know anything about him. I just think people should know the 'actual' events rather than accept everything that is presented as gospel on the Internet. :)

[Newcomer]

That seems to make sense, how would a guy ever expect to be elected if he would not pledge alegence to our country??? I guess it shows how they can spin things. This was probably orignated by one of the other politcal parties camps. Oh Yeah, I forgot to mention, I saw a Sasquatch Yesterday also LOL. I have a picture of him and me below.

[Patagoniamaniac]

That seems to make sense, how would a guy ever expect to be elected if he would not pledge alegence to our country??? I guess it shows how they can spin things. This was probably orignated by one of the other politcal parties camps. Oh Yeah, I forgot to mention, I saw a Sasquatch Yesterday also LOL. I have a picture of him and me below.

LMAO! too funny!

[jakobscalpel]

I'd never vote for Obama anyway but why would it matter even if this picture had been true? Pointless gestures like reciting the pledge or standing during the anthem do not a patriot make. I stopped reciting the pledge in second grade and make a point of not acknowledging the anthem because I don't pay money for a ball game to listen to one of the most irritating songs in history. Rituals for patriotic purposes are group behavior control techniques, designed to coerce an individual into a particular mode of thought via fear of group condemnation. It works really, really well.

[Ironhorse]

I don't get too offended by people not saying the Pledge, or not singing the anthem (let's be realistic, most people CAN'T sing it without offending your eardrums, LOL). Some religions don't believe in saying the pledge, like Jehovah's Witnesses, and that's fine by me, as long as they show respect when those who want to are saying it, or singing the anthem. And as long as they don't try to stop those from pledging allegiance, etc. if they want to. I have heard Obama say many times that he is a patriot who believes his words and actions, rather than a pledge to a flag, show he is a true American. Can any of us truly say that he is not??? In spite of all the rumors, I haven't found anything that proves that he is not.

[CatdaBrat]

When I am at an event where people are told to stand and say the pledge or sing the anthem, I will at least stand up, but I can't remember when I actually went any further than that. I would not deny others their right to rekindle their feelings of patriotism en masse, but it doesn't feel right for me to participate.

Even though I feel an allegiance to the USA, I don't see or feel a need to join in a sing-along. I used to do it anyway, just so I wouldn't stick out like a sore thumb or feel embarrassed, but that's not how I am now. Maybe I just take my own patriotism too seriously to worry about whether or not I join the crowd in a public proclamation. I sorta feel like it's being forced upon me, and if I make a public display of allegiance for the wrong reasons, then what good does it do?

I also don't go in much for symbolic gestures, such as holding my hand over my heart. At this point, it's like an elevated gang sign to me (without the negative slant). But if it has special meaning to someone else, I fully respect and understand their point of view. I don't wish to make it seem that I am against it or that it is somehow wrong; it's just an individual choice.
I feel that everyone needs to remain true to their feelings. I would be a hypocrite to stand up and sing or recite or make gestures. The feeling of patriotism is there, but I keep it inside and don't wish to perform on command. I am not much of a crowd person!

Given his famous profile, though, Obama probably doesn't have the luxury of picking and choosing public displays of his patriotism or allegiance, like I do. He is on constant display and if I were him, I'd just resign myself to the fact that if I am seeking to represent the American people, I will need to appeal to the majority. And in politics, that usually means acting in a manner that the majority expects, or even demands. I think his refusal to put his hand over his heart will hurt his campaign efforts.