Fined for bungling national anthem
Published by MadMan November 16th, 2004 in Culture and SocietyI thought Maharashtra’s compulsory playing of the national anthem in movie theatres was outright silly (forced imposition of “respect” has always rubbed me the wrong way), but this story beats that hands down:
Mexico Fines Woman For Bungling National Anthem
A woman who fumbled a few phrases of Mexico’s national anthem while singing the song before a soccer game in Guadalajara has been fined $40 for the blunder.
…
Madrigal, who could not immediately be reached for comment, could have been fined as much as $880 under Mexican law regarding the national seal, flag and hymn.
Officials decided to apply a $40 fine after taking into consideration Madrigal’s economic situation — and the fact that thousands of spectators from across Mexico witnessed the performance.
26 Responses to “Fined for bungling national anthem”
- 1 Pingback on Jun 29th, 2008 at 12:28 am
According to The Economist, it is a crime punishable by 10 years in prison to say that Turkey committed “genocide” by killing Armenians during World War I, to advocate withdrawing Turkish troops from Cyprus, or engage in other “anti-national” activities. It is also a serious crime to say anything bad about the founder of modern Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.
In terms of compelling patriotism in a semi-free country, I would say Turkey beats Mexico or India hands down. And this is a country that hopes to join the EU eventually.
…And with respect to the Indian National Anthem, it’s all the more tragic, since it is basically A**-kissing some British King. All those goose pimples that people get on their collective skins, all for nothing! If Nehru really approved of this song as the National Anthem, he must have had a really twisted sense of humour.
Nandan, the moot point is whether “vidhaata” in the Indian National Anthem points to the Lord above or King George V.
But I sympathise with poor Jawaharlal Nehru on this point. What choice did he have? Vande Mataram with it’s outright Hindu symbolism (India as Godess Durga?) or Saare Jahan se Achcha, written by Iqbal who became the Pakistani national poet after partition.
Tagore was the least controversial choice. And the Jaya He has a very Vive Le France touch to it!
Mark, the irony is that Turkey may use that law to prosecute members of a human rights commission set up by the Turkish government! I quote from the Economist article you mention.
Unfortunately, the article is “premium content” and not available to non subscribers. If anyone would like to see a text version, mail me and I’ll send it to you.
Would you consider Laloo and Rabri sitting through a rendition of our national anthem a disrespect to the nation? Just curious.
Niket, I don’t even subscribe to the concept of “respect to the nation”, so your question is immaterial to me. ;)
Thank you YJ for getting into this discussion. The national anthem during films is among the more absurd measures of so-called patriotism I’ve run across, almost as absurd as pretending that sitting down during the playing of the national anthem is automatically disrespect. And that, if you even concede the point that MadMan isn’t willing to concede (and good for him): that a nation somehow must automatically command respect.
But about Lalu and Rabri: Niket, I’ve seen that famous photo too, and the first thing that struck me is, there’s no obvious sign anywhere in it that it was taken during the playing of the national anthem. It’s only the say so of the Lalu/Rabri haters, clutching at yet one more straw to flay them with, that we have to tell us the anthem was being played. And I’m sorry, I’m somewhat sceptical of such say sos.
You should be too.
A little harmless patriotism never hurt anyone. Even in the US they sing the national anthem before every baseball game and everybody stands up, puts their hand over their chest and sings along. Now I wasn’t born in the US and am not a US citizen but I still stand up - just as a sign of respect to the Americans. I don’t sing and put my hand across my chest and I stand only as a sign of respect and acknowledgement to the country and its traditions.
I agree that this token of respect should not be made compulsary - but on the other hand in highly fragmented countries like India (I refer to all the states who want to break away fromt the republic) it is nothing but a little bit of planned social engineering - kids who grow up singing the national anthem extolling the virtues of a united India are less likely to want to break away from it when they grow up.
Ck: respect is fine. Only, it can’t be forced, or it turns into disrespect.
Is it a virtue for India to be united?
nothing but a little bit of planned social engineering - kids who grow up singing the national anthem extolling the virtues of a united India are less likely to want to break away from it when they grow up.
Judging by the more than one million people of Indian origin in USA alone, I’d say it ain’t working too well. ;)
I sang the national anthem all through school as well, but it was just a matter of routine for us - a “let’s get this over with” thing, rather than a moment of great patriotism.
In the early 90’s Roseanne Barr sang an atrocious version (screaming the lines) of the Star Spangled Banner before the start of a baseball game and then proceeeded to rub her crotch and spit on the ground to mimic the actions of the players.
She soon became public enemy #1.
Yazad wrote, “Nandan, the moot point is whether “vidhaata” in the Indian National Anthem points to the Lord above or King George V.”
The controversy stems from the word “Adhinaayaka” and not, iirc, Vidhaata.
I am sure in the private sector one can find many examples where employees are forced to show respect to their company founders or the company itself. Since, employees are on the private property of the company, company has a right to demand certain behavior from its employees.
Thus, the real question is not whether respect should be forced or voluntary but whether the Govt. has the right to tell people what to do on their private property. Answer is obviously no!
Ironically, in case of Maharashtra, if a cinema hall owner had voluntary decided to force his/her patrons to sing National Anthem then his/her business would been reduced. But if, after Govt. makes it compulsary, any cinema hall owner sues the Govt. or violates the law then public will crucify him!
Ck,
You stood up in a ball game because you did not want to be booed down or beaten up or who knows - even gang raped.
Using “Respect” to explain fear is fascinating ;)
Nilu I can assure you that I was not and am not in the least bit frightened. The US is one country where you are definitely not required to be patriotic - even in these troubled times. In fact it is famous for people cutting up the flag and wearing it as a bikini and G-string so believe me I have no fears in that regard.
It was truly respect - there has never been any fear living here as most other Indians living in the US will attest to.
Ck: The US is one country where you are definitely not required to be patriotic .. I do not subscribe to this. You are either with them or against them. ;-) What will you choose?
Don’t confuse the US foreign policy with the personal freedoms. Despite the recent incursions on freedom by the Patriot Act - you can still do pretty much what you want and there is no requirement to conform to the norm.
It is this strong beleif in personal freedoms and the right to disagree that has made the US powerful.
Administrations come and go as do foreign policies - but the core essential remain the same.
I have quaint rememberances of some TV channel asking leaders to sing the anthem. Some of them tried singing sitting, many don’t know the national anthem at all.
I’d consider running behind politicians with a camera as a profession, if what whapened in Mexico was possible in India ;)
Madhu, that is why you are a libertarian, I am not :-)
I stand up whenever ANY national anthem is sung (provided I know that it is a national anthem). I stand up even while watching a TV. May be I am being absurd, but thats just me. I don’t think I demand the same from others. So, I am cool with Laloo and Rabri incident, assuming it happened.
(I wasn’t until I started reading AnarCapLib… so Yazad, you do have an effect on people :)
Ck,
That’s the funniest you have been in a long while, though I have known you only for a day ;).
And What’s with this….It is this strong beleif in personal freedoms and the right to disagree that has made the US powerful.
Are you actually Carl Rove is disguise?
- but Rove is a goddamn genius even when he fakes ‘dumbness’………am clueless ;)
I think I remember Madhu getting up for the Anthem when Yazad, he and me were at Regal cinema watching Troy :).
Yes he did, grudgingly though — and I think it was because I said I was going to sing along — off key.
A man arrested for “insulting” the National Anthem in Maharashtra.
As being a citizen of the country why couldn’t one respect its National Anthem ? or for any country, their feeling should be respected as being a civilized individual. It is pity that some one ever need to force it. Thousand of people gave up their life to attain the kind of freedom you and me are enjoying. Thousand of soldiers die every day to protect their country men from insecurity. Then is it a big sacrifice for one to stand up for 2 minutes while before enjoying even a movie. I believe the feeling of patrotism for one’s country is the only medicine to unite people in a country of different religion, cast, region and custom. Else we could disintegrates to the erra of humans where one hunt another for securing his own life and live in fear all their life.
A todos los estadounidenses aqui chignen su madre, mexico vale mucho pero nunca seremos parte de estados unidos, ustedes seran parte de nosotros.
estados unidos necesita a mexico, ya veran que mexico pateara su trasea
fuck you U.S.