Every sport

One of the signs of fascism.

I've long thought of writing a science fiction sort of story about this country being invaded during a Superbowl. Too bad I don't know more about the sport or this specific game, as well as the military. Done right, it could be somewhat amusing.

Though that was about a college bowl game as I recall.

I remember a Jon Stewart joke from the first post-9/11 superbowl. During halftime, they listed the names of victims, but they ran out of time, and Stewart said "a very touching gesture for 9/11 victims whose names begin with the letters A through J".

Not exactly relevant to your point, but I thought it was funny.

Same purpose, as far as I can see.

Play the game.

Now I don't even do that. Between the nationalism, and the cruelty in the commercials, I can't enjoy being in the same room.

that way I can skip the opening and half time BS.

Huh?

Did somebody show up at your house and make you stand for the national anthem?

but the twenty minutes or so of singing the National Anthem, of a very strong military presence, the entire show of patriotism simply has no place in secular games like this. It's creepy, and completely out of place. Okay, so my core problem is that I only follow any sports rather casually. I don't consider them truly important, and so I am probably missing a lot of cultural cues here.

I not only believe in separation of Church and State, but I believe with equal ardor in the separation of Church, State, and Sport. Given that many fans honestly believe God is on the side of Their Team, I think a rereading of Mark Twain's "The War Prayer" might actually be appropriate here. http://warprayer.org/

As an added personal note, I have lived in several cities with major league teams, and have been around for my share of various championship games, and while I get civic pride, I honestly don't get the importance that many people place on the outcome of a game. One of the things I honestly like about living in New Mexico, a state with no major league ball teams at all, is that there's a very diminished attention paid to such things. Although I must admit, many people here are Broncos fans, understandably, and earlier today when I was out at the grocery store it was much like being in Denver when the Broncos are in a Superbowl.

the "separation of church and state" have to do with patriotism?

There have been color guards at sporti g events of all levels for decades. There have been flybys at open air stadiums since long before 9/11.

"God and country" is a common invocation.

If God is equated with patriotism, then we need to notice that. And we need to separate that conflation with reality.

Patriotism is one thing, Enforced patriotism is another.

Religion, and the calling of God to bless what we do is yet another thing. In a secular country, which this one is intended to be, the invoking of God should not occur in secular arenas.

I ask again, how was any of this fotced upon you? The NFL is not a public institution. They made an agreement with the owners of the 49ers facility. Take it up with them. I did not see or hear anyone invoke 'God and country' in the Super Bowl pregame activities. The 1st Amendment guarentees freedom of religion, not freedom from religion.

We never turned it on, instead we streamed Better call Saul. A lot more fun and entertaining.

an evangelist church service. they probably had the same person who choreographs celebrations at the nations capital. way, way, way over the top of nationalism fervor.

called Fields of Fire with Bryant Gumble - a useful sociological analysis of Sport in America.
Nixon and the Vietnam War.

Are you sure of the title? I'm trying to find it on the internets, but it doesn't seem to be showing up. Of course, even with the right title, it may not be available to watch.

I am actually totally fascinated by sociological or anthropological analysis of ordinary things, and that would be absolutely right up my alley. Plus, I love the history of almost everything, and I can almost always be drawn into the history of something that otherwise I have zero interest in.

Cool

Too bad. I'd enjoy watching.

But since 9/11, it's gotten real bad.

the superbowl started way after WW II.

And this is not just exclusive to the US.

That said you are correct re this not being exclusive to the US

I get what you're saying. I've also been hearing a lot about it being a sort of forced exercise in heteronormativity and embracing that culture.

All sports are increasingly red white and blue, it's just that football's always been a little more so, and at the Super Bowl, it's just . . . . that way.

or American sports. Nationalism goes hand in hand with it.

.......but you object to other people standing and singing the national anthem at sporting events.......?

OK then.

I might be interested in watching, or even attending a sports event. But does that mean I should have to stand at attention, pay tribute to our military, and sing the National Anthem? Really?

If I'm going to attend a sports event, I want it to be about the sport. Not about honoring our military -- all of whom have been volunteers for some decades now, I must point out, and many of whom have therefore willingly participated in our illegal and immoral wars. So I'm supposed to honor that? Really?

Before the game starts, there is a 1 minute rendition of the National Anthem, a 2 second flyby, and maybe 10 seconds of airtime devoted to soldiers watching the game at some foreign station.

Every year this topic comes up here on DU, and we sound more than a little indignant and authoritarian about it.

There aren't cops around watching for those who don't stand. Just don't stand up. Who give a shit? It's 3 minutes in an all day event.

The Superbowl is not a government activity, nor is there any government compulsion to watch the game, act in any way, or official penalty for not singing the National Anthem, paying tribute to the military, etc. (and those activities literally compromise a few minutes of a multi-hour game). If you don't like the cultural aspects of the Superbowl, don't attend, turn-off your television, or just start watching a few minutes later than everyone else.

It is a private sporting event that is culturally significant and enjoyable to a great many Americans. No more, no less. If the tens of millions of fans didn't like or want the displays that have you "gobsmacked," they wouldn't happen.

If people look at you oddly or treat you poorly because they believe you acted disrespectfully or don't agree with your perspectives, it's really just too bad. No one has a right against private social opprobrium.

The now expected and never-ending complaints about sporting events with patriotic themes, a phenomena which occurs all over the world (and notably Americans don't usually resort to the near certain nationalized, drunken violence in connection with these events like our purportedly less nationalistic and militarized friends in Europe), does nothing but make some Democrats look overly sensitive and eternally offended, culturally out-of-touch, if not actually anti-American, and along with other fringe and related ideas like "safe spaces" and demands for "hate speech" restrictions, actually result in Democrats losing elections.

Simply, you don't have to "honor" or participate in anything. You should, however, not be surprised that others find these displays and ideas important and enjoyable, and you're not protected from such ideas in our diverse and free society.

.......where I.......or anyone else.......was forced, or even so much as gently coerced, to stand or "pay tribute to the military" (whatever that means) or sing. Not once.

Really.

Ever seen an NHL game in Canada?

until they actually get to a superb owl!!

Everything you don't like about the NFL, plus a prayer.

Even though a lot of you disagreed with me, I appreciate the feedback.

graft and price gouging are ALWAYS best hidden under shrouds of nationalism and "patriotism"

Football, religion, sexism, patriotism, militarism, corporate dominance. Bleah, bleah, bleah, bleah, bleah, and bleah.

The only thing I like is the Kitten Bowl, and even then the second-best Puppy Bowl gets a lot more attention.

maybe the nfl?

My lack of enthusiasm for the whole football thing makes me feel like I'm not a patriot. Hmmm, maybe I'm not. Either way, it's the best-defended event in the USA USA USA...

for the national anthem. Someone said to me, stand up.. really? It's a fucking game on the teevee.. give me a break. I sat it out. Gaga was wonderful. She's one of the best ever.

patriotism, or at the very least a public display of patriotic fervor, I don't know what is.

I tend to be very bothered by certain rituals of behavior that are expected in certain places. Like The Wave. The last time I went to a pro baseball game -- and this was sometime in the '90s -- I found the pressure to do that stupid thing made me very uncomfortable. There's a mindlessness, a giving up of some rational thought and behavior that is very disturbing. I know, The Wave or the singing of the National Anthem or the presence of the military at various games seems sort of benign, because as several here have pointed out, no one seems to be forcing anyone to participate -- although reread mountain grammy's post just above.

If I go to a game I want to see a game. Not a dog and pony show.

but standing for the national anthem in someone's living room at a party? When the friend on my right stood up, I figured, go for it, then he looked at my sitting husband and got him to stand, but I sat. When I looked around, almost everyone was standing. Am I missing something? I don't remember ever doing that at a football party or anything like it. Hell, my taxes are helping to pay for that militaristic display and against my wishes , I'm not standing too.