Antone's Nightclub
Being a Patriot....
RECEIVED Mon., Oct. 11, 2004
Dear Editor,
Something happened at Yankee Stadium that typifies what is happening in America today. My uncle and I went to the game and landed some great seats behind home plate thanks to his connections from the old neighborhood. Being a retired NYC cop doesn't hurt. During the seventh inning stretch we stood to sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame." They changed the song to "God Bless America" after 9/11, don't ask why. Some of us sang. Some just stood. Some sat. The young man in front of us, being a super patriot, took it upon himself to chastise a family of four for not standing. "How dare they insult our great nation!" he exclaimed ( I translated from unprintable Yankee Stadium speak). The crowd said nothing. His friend told him to shut the f**k up; "They can do what they want, it is a free country." Which are you? The person exercising his right not to participate in such a sappy patriotic display, the super patriot who makes sure everyone is marching in line, the silent bystander, or the guy who speaks up for others?
Something happened at Yankee Stadium that typifies what is happening in America today. My uncle and I went to the game and landed some great seats behind home plate thanks to his connections from the old neighborhood. Being a retired NYC cop doesn't hurt. During the seventh inning stretch we stood to sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame." They changed the song to "God Bless America" after 9/11, don't ask why. Some of us sang. Some just stood. Some sat. The young man in front of us, being a super patriot, took it upon himself to chastise a family of four for not standing. "How dare they insult our great nation!" he exclaimed ( I translated from unprintable Yankee Stadium speak). The crowd said nothing. His friend told him to shut the f**k up; "They can do what they want, it is a free country." Which are you? The person exercising his right not to participate in such a sappy patriotic display, the super patriot who makes sure everyone is marching in line, the silent bystander, or the guy who speaks up for others?
Russell Norberg
P.S. p.s. The family was there visiting their son who was pitching that day - they are from Venezuela and don't speak English.