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Capt Lugwash · Joined: 14 Aug 2014 Posts: 346

But did you pay homage to the standard?

Non Sequitur · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China

I was sitting on the bleachers. All the students were standing throughout so there wasn't an 'all stand' moment.
If I had been part of the ceremony I would have stood at appropriate times.

Capt Lugwash · Joined: 14 Aug 2014 Posts: 346

As far as I know the etiquette should be to stand and observe a silence to show respect but I would baulk at standing to attention for anything other than the Union flag and God Save Our Queen.

Of course your fellow countryman who posted shortly before you sees no problem in saluting so it's difficult to tell who is right.

Non Sequitur · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China

Points noted Captain.
However I'm not from US. The ref to Arlington was to sheet the point home to someone who seems to be from there.
Had I stood, I would have just been arms at sides - not strictly at attention. As I am not nor have ever been in service I would not salute and don't know how to.
I tend to go with the idea that if invited it was a gesture of friendship.
That said, I've been invited to functions where city officials or Party people were visiting and I felt clearly that I was a a token.
I felt that way even more so when I found out next day that the FAO goon who insisted I attend, pushed off early to catch his bus home!

Capt Lugwash · Joined: 14 Aug 2014 Posts: 346

Haha! That's China for you. Nothing wrong with showing due respect to a host country albeit without paying homage.

Saluting as far as I know can be interpreted as simply standing to attention (I do for my own flag but none other) or saluting militarily but that can only be done when in uniform AND wearing a cap/beret etc and not bare headed.

I know that if my university was asking me to do it every Monday I would be asking why, and more importantly if all the Chinese teachers would be doing likewise. If they were then then that is a different matter. It's what we used to call back in the day "assembly".

Non Sequitur · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China

Pretty much sums up my views Captain.
One day I'll write about the debate in my elective 'That Flag raising ceremony is a waste of time'.
This was at Dalian M.

litterascriptor · Joined: 17 Jan 2013 Posts: 360

Wear a full on American flag T-shirt, american flag pants, and 'Murican flag loafers.

That'd be the last time they 'invite' you to such a ceremony.

wangdaning · Joined: 22 Jan 2008 Posts: 3154

kev7161 · Joined: 06 Feb 2004 Posts: 5880 Location: Suzhou, China

All 40+ teachers were required to be there on the first day of school last week. We then were set free halfway through, after the obligatory photo ops. For the rest of the school year, we can choose whether or not we'd like to attend. I choose not as those 20 minutes or so they spend out there is 20 minutes I can use for lesson prep or checking homework. Besides, it's all in Chinese so it means nothing to me.

I agree with others. If the school says you MUST attend, then you probably don't have a choice. If other teachers are not going, then you shouldn't need to either. Asking us here at Dave's is an exercise in futility as we don't call the shots at your school.

Alien abductee · Joined: 08 Jun 2014 Posts: 527 Location: Kuala Lumpur

Bud Powell · Joined: 11 Jul 2013 Posts: 1736

If the school gives me a holiday and Sports Day schedule, I'd consider it. Otherwise, I'd show up for the first one, stand in the back of the crowd, then not go to the next one.

wangdaning · Joined: 22 Jan 2008 Posts: 3154

I was kind of putting it in the context of being an expat. Of course at multinational events it is more natural as it is showing respect to one another before competing.

Kind of like it would be off putting to be required to shake with all the members of an opposing team while deciding if you want to switch to their team, but it is natural to shake hands after a game.

If we were immigrants moving here, again, that would be different.

This is an employee/er relationship which involves the foreign employers pushing someone to honor their nationalism. If I got a job in any country that required me to pay homage to their flag I would feel strange and a bit upset. Has nothing to do with my feelings towards their country, people, government, etc. I usually don't even do it for my own country. The idea of holding nationalistic sentiment at a symbol for a nation other than one's own is very strange.

If it was actually a situation of mutual respect, they would also raise the flags of all the foreign teachers, that might be different.

kungfuman · Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2014 2:40 am Post subject:

wangdaning · Joined: 22 Jan 2008 Posts: 3154

Shroob · Joined: 02 Aug 2010 Posts: 1339