Muslim family is asked to leave theatre for refusing to stand for national anthem

seven wrote:It's our moral duty to stand up. Not legally required to stand up. So the law is not forcing anyone to (display) respect the flag. 

People here got emotional n maybe one or more of that family annoyed some people in other ways too like spilling soda n popcorn on someone. 

Mentioning the family was Muslim was unnecessary.

Seva Lamberdar wrote:

seven wrote:It's our moral duty to stand up. Not legally required to stand up. So the law is not forcing anyone to (display) respect the flag. 

People here got emotional n maybe one or more of that family annoyed some people in other ways too like spilling soda n popcorn on someone. 

Mentioning the family was Muslim was unnecessary.

If people think that it is their right in a workplace (at office or in factory where they get paid by someone else to do work) to get up and start praying, then what is wrong in standing up during the playing of national anthem in a movie (in the beginning or at the end of the movie)?

Merlot Daruwala wrote:That is one stupid ritual they should do away with. Just when you have settled in comfortably with your popcorn and soda, they play the national anthem.

seven wrote:It's our moral duty to stand up. Not legally required to stand up. So the law is not forcing anyone to (display) respect the flag. 

People here got emotional n maybe one or more of that family annoyed some people in other ways too like spilling soda n popcorn on someone. 

Mentioning the family was Muslim was unnecessary.

confuzzled dude wrote:

Merlot Daruwala wrote:That is one stupid ritual they should do away with. Just when you have settled in comfortably with your popcorn and soda, they play the national anthem.

I'm surprised Maharashtra still practices this ritual. Wonder how many other states in India play national anthem in movie theaters. *ahem* In MH, Do they play national anthem before they show Malayalam noon shows?

Merlot Daruwala wrote:

seven wrote:It's our moral duty to stand up. Not legally required to stand up. So the law is not forcing anyone to (display) respect the flag. 

People here got emotional n maybe one or more of that family annoyed some people in other ways too like spilling soda n popcorn on someone. 

Mentioning the family was Muslim was unnecessary.

The real disrespect to the National Anthem was shown by the self-righteous pricks who instead of simply standing in attention when it was being played, were busy heckling, abusing and even manhandling these folks.

Playing the national anthem in a casual environment like in a movie hall, sandwiched between advertisements and trailers of forthcoming releases, is itself disrespectful. It should be reserved for solemn occasions.

Seva Lamberdar wrote:According to the ex-NewYork mayor Gulliani on CNN today, when some Muslims in NewJersey/NewYork area started celebrating (dancing etc.) following the 9/11 attacks World Trade Center, some non-Muslims youths in the projects retaliated by cursing and shouting etc. at least against the celebrating Muslims.  Was this an act of intolerance (trying to suppress the freedom of expression / celebration) on the part of these youths against Muslims, which perhaps should have been condemned by the American (New York etc.) authorities including the police?

Merlot Daruwala wrote:

seven wrote:It's our moral duty to stand up. Not legally required to stand up. So the law is not forcing anyone to (display) respect the flag. 

People here got emotional n maybe one or more of that family annoyed some people in other ways too like spilling soda n popcorn on someone. 

Mentioning the family was Muslim was unnecessary.

The real disrespect to the National Anthem was shown by the self-righteous pricks who instead of simply standing in attention when it was being played, were busy heckling, abusing and even manhandling these folks.

Playing the national anthem in a casual environment like in a movie hall, sandwiched between advertisements and trailers of forthcoming releases, is itself disrespectful. It should be reserved for solemn occasions.

seven wrote:

Seva Lamberdar wrote:According to the ex-NewYork mayor Gulliani on CNN today, when some Muslims in NewJersey/NewYork area started celebrating (dancing etc.) following the 9/11 attacks World Trade Center, some non-Muslims youths in the projects retaliated by cursing and shouting etc. at least against the celebrating Muslims.  Was this an act of intolerance (trying to suppress the freedom of expression / celebration) on the part of these youths against Muslims, which perhaps should have been condemned by the American (New York etc.) authorities including the police?

CNN reported factcheck denied any such celebration took place in NJ. They called it unverified and unattributed. 

Freedom of expression can go so far n then it loses its value when it interferes with other people's sentiments. Like we can't criticize islam for its atrocities because it hurts moderate Muslims.

But what if I choose to sit as the national anthem plays at the start of a commercial potboiler? What if I decide that playing the anthem before the film titles roll denigrates the grandeur of the anthem? What if I don’t stand to attention when the national flag is being hoisted before a cricket match, or when the national anthem is played after an Indian wins a medal at a tournament? I mean no disrespect to either the team or the flag or the anthem. What if I choose not to cheer the Indian cricket team and my surname is Khan? Does the solution lie in sending me to Pakistan?

“Playing the national anthem before a film takes away the gravitas. Standing up becomes a tokenism. And why should it be a measure of patriotism?” says Bhaskar Hazarika, director of the recent Assamese film, Kothanodi. Adds acclaimed director Anand Patwardhan: “The national anthem should be played only on very special occasions. By doing this at every show every day, they are robbing it of meaning.”

A reading of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, passed by Parliament after the Bangladesh War and amended in 2005, actually reveals that it was not the person who kept sitting but the man/men heckling him who were creating a law and order problem. Section 3 of the Act says, “Whoever intentionally prevents the singing of the Indian National Anthem or causes disturbance shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.” (See — What the law says and what the courts ruled)

Government’s stand
The Central government’s stand on the issue was made clear by the General Provision of Order of January 5, 2015 when it said, “Whenever the National Anthem is sung or played, the audience shall stand to attention. However, when in the course of a newsreel or documentary, the Anthem is played as a part of the film, it is not expected of the audience to stand as standing is bound to interrupt the exhibition of the film and would create disorder and confusion rather than add to the dignity of the Anthem.”

confuzzled dude wrote:

But what if I choose to sit as the national anthem plays at the start of a commercial potboiler? What if I decide that playing the anthem before the film titles roll denigrates the grandeur of the anthem? What if I don’t stand to attention when the national flag is being hoisted before a cricket match, or when the national anthem is played after an Indian wins a medal at a tournament? I mean no disrespect to either the team or the flag or the anthem. What if I choose not to cheer the Indian cricket team and my surname is Khan? Does the solution lie in sending me to Pakistan?

“Playing the national anthem before a film takes away the gravitas. Standing up becomes a tokenism. And why should it be a measure of patriotism?” says Bhaskar Hazarika, director of the recent Assamese film, Kothanodi. Adds acclaimed director Anand Patwardhan: “The national anthem should be played only on very special occasions. By doing this at every show every day, they are robbing it of meaning.”

A reading of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, passed by Parliament after the Bangladesh War and amended in 2005, actually reveals that it was not the person who kept sitting but the man/men heckling him who were creating a law and order problem. Section 3 of the Act says, “Whoever intentionally prevents the singing of the Indian National Anthem or causes disturbance shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.” (See — What the law says and what the courts ruled)

Government’s stand
The Central government’s stand on the issue was made clear by the General Provision of Order of January 5, 2015 when it said, “Whenever the National Anthem is sung or played, the audience shall stand to attention. However, when in the course of a newsreel or documentary, the Anthem is played as a part of the film, it is not expected of the audience to stand as standing is bound to interrupt the exhibition of the film and would create disorder and confusion rather than add to the dignity of the Anthem.”

http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/national-pride-and-prejudice/article7949584.ece

Hope this clarifies the confusion of few SuCHers on national anthem etiquette.

southindian wrote:

confuzzled dude wrote:

Merlot Daruwala wrote:That is one stupid ritual they should do away with. Just when you have settled in comfortably with your popcorn and soda, they play the national anthem.

I'm surprised Maharashtra still practices this ritual. Wonder how many other states in India play national anthem in movie theaters. *ahem* In MH, Do they play national anthem before they show Malayalam noon shows?

uh? Surprised! I have seen no one complaining when US national anthem is played in football games, baseball games, events in US. And yes people will be heckeld if they show disrespect for national anthem in USA. Off there are "progressive" morons who think its not good in India but love for country in USA.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick refused to stand for the playing of the national anthem before the team’s Friday night preseason game against the Green Bay Packers, and on Saturday, he explained why.

“I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” Kaepernick told NFL.com’s Steve Wyche. “To me, this is bigger than football, and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.”

Merlot Daruwala wrote:That is one stupid ritual they should do away with. Just when you have settled in comfortably with your popcorn and soda, they play the national anthem.

Ponniyin Selvan wrote:


 I won't stand up and I guess many would do the same.