Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Viral TikTok Of Entire Restaurant Dropping Everything For The National Anthem Sparks Debate

TikTok screenshots from @paulinappa_0
@paulinappa_0/TikTok

TikToker @paulinappa_0 claimed the moment at Rainbow Oaks Country Market in Fallbrook, California, was 'the most dangerous situation I've ever been in.'

A video on TikTok showing patrons at a California restaurant dropping everything and standing for the national anthem has gone viral and has also sparked a heated social media debate.

The creator of the video @paulinappa_0 documented the moment when—as she and her breakfast mate were enjoying their meal—"The Star-Spangled Banner" blared through the speakers at Rainbow Oaks Country Market in Fallbrook, California.


Immediately, patrons stopped eating, put down their utensils and stood to face flags on TVs in the restaurant.

The creator and mate appeared to be the only ones still seated.

@pauinappa_0 captioned the TikTok:

"By far the most dangerous situation I've ever been in."

She completed the post with the hashtags #godblessamerica, #getout, #illegal, and #whitepeoplethings.

You can watch the video below.

People on social media had many differing opinions on the video, especially considering the American flag has become somewhat of a party-separating symbol in recent years, its prominence in many areas commonly associated with the far-right.

Many who grew up and attended public schools in the United States have been conditioned to adhere to the once-mandatory expectation that the national anthem and pledges to the flag are sacred vows to the country we should be so grateful to inhabit.

Historically, this included standing, putting one's hand over the heart and professing love, respect and honor through memorized lines, just as displayed in the video.

However, in recent years, many have chosen not to adhere to prior social norms, mostly due to the anthem's—and symbolically, the flag's—racist roots and the nation's systemic inequities.

Many have chosen not to acknowledge the patriotic symbols in protest to injustices and violence, most prevalently toward people of color.

Francis Scott Key, the author of the national anthem itself, was a slaveholder and even referenced slavery in the third verse of "The Star-Spangled Banner."

So, it's not surprising that the creator of this video was extremely uncomfortable—and that viewers engaged in sparring discourse.

Some claimed that standing for the national anthem is common and not doing so is disrespectful for those who fought to defend the country.





But other viewers sided with the creator, noting they, too, would have been uncomfortable in that situation.





And several just wondered about the situation itself.



One thing we can all agree on is that this country has a long way to go.

More from Trending

Lynda Carter; Screenshot of Donald Trump
Stephane Cardinale/Corbis via Getty Images; Newsmax

Lynda Carter Hilariously Channels Wonder Woman In Response To Trump's Claim About 'Undetectable' Planes

After President Donald Trump touted the U.S. military's "stealth" planes that he described as "undetectable," Wonder Woman star Lynda Carter responded to his claim with a funny quip sure to delight fans of her iconic character.

Earlier, Trump boasted about the military's capabilities in remarks to reporters in the Oval Office amid heightened concerns about the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict that is sending shockwaves throughout the Middle East and around the world:

Keep ReadingShow less
red flag with pole on seashore
Seoyeon Choi on Unsplash

People Break Down The 'Silent Red Flags' Folks Tend To Ignore In Relationships

A red flag has come to mean any warning sign in life, in addition to the literal red flags that are placed on beaches or industrial sites to warn people of danger.

People will respond to situations by saying, "That’s a red flag." But before that language evolved, they'd just call them "warning signs."

Keep ReadingShow less
Ted Cruz; Tucker Carlson
The Tucker Carlson Show

Tucker Carlson And Ted Cruz Get Into Shouting Match Over Iran In Bonkers Interview Clip

Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz—a harsh Donald Trump critic-turned-MAGA minion—sat down with fired Fox News personality Tucker Carlson for the conservative influencer's self-produced online content,The Tucker Carlson Show, for the Tucker Carlson Network.

On Tuesday, Carlson shared a 1.5-minute clip revealing that things got contentious when the pair touched on the Trump administration's escalating tensions with Iran.

Keep ReadingShow less
Donald Trump; Barack Obama
Suzanne Plunkett-Pool/Getty Images; Scott Olson/Getty Images

Resurfaced Trump Tweet Criticizing Obama Over Iran Comes Back To Bite Him

Amid tensions with Iran, President Donald Trump was criticized for hypocrisy after social media users resurfaced a 2013 tweet in which he accused former President Barack Obama of planning an attack on Iran because of his "inability to negotiate properly."

Trump has declined to clarify whether the U.S. is edging closer to launching strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, following a warning from Iran’s supreme leader against any attack and a rejection of Trump’s demand for surrender.

Keep ReadingShow less
​​Elon Musk
Allison Robbert/AFP via Getty Images

Anti-Elon Banner at Stanford

Stanford University graduates were given creative advice from above as an airplane flew over the graduation ceremony with a banner reading, “CONGRATS! DON’T WORK FOR ELON.”

The moment was captured last Sunday during the university’s 134th Commencement ceremony, where the Class of 2025 received their degrees at Stanford Stadium.

Keep ReadingShow less