Here's an example of Antonio's point:
Of course, everybody is flying a flag today - it's a national day of remembrance and every channel on TV has been reminding people for weeks. And everyone at sporting events today will remove their caps and pay the proper respect to the national anthem and the flag.
Back up to August 2001. The Star Spangled Banner at a game was accompanied by many people leaving their hats on and chit chatting during the song. Just another part of the game, like the announcement of starting lineups. Nothing to see here; let's get to the game we paid for.
Fall 2001 (post Sept 11) - nothing but solemnity (and some tears) during the national anthem (or God Bless America) at the start of the game. I'll admit that I cried during the anthem at the first sporting event I attended (in November).
I went to two baseball games this summer (Baltimore and Philly). What did I see? The same lack of respect that was the norm before Sept 11, 2001. Not to the same degree as before, but significantly worse than just following the attacks last fall. And this is from people who can't be more than 4 or 5 degrees of seperation from somebody that died in the WTC, the Pentagon, or United 93.
It seems to me that everybody is a patriot when it is convienient or expected. People with true pride in our country behave the same way all of the time - August 2001, September 2001, June 2002, or 9/11/02.
