Star-spangled hoops: not all schools salute the flag

Christian Century, March 8, 2005 by Rich Preheim

AT THIS TIME of the winter countless high school basketball teams are trying to dribble, pass and shoot their way to a state championship. Glamorized in small-town lore and big-budget movies, reaching the state tournament is a dream shared by most any student athlete who has put on a basketball jersey (or soccer cleats or football pads or a wrestling singlet or softball glove). It takes hard work, dedication, commitment, teamwork, preparation, sacrifice.

And in Iowa and Pennsylvania, the pursuit of state basketball supremacy is also supposed to include unquestioning pride in and homage to the U.S.

In the wake of the terrorist attacks of three years ago, the Iowa High School Activities Association declared that sites hosting postseason playoffs for most sports must display the American flag and play the "Star-Spangled Banner." In this move the IHSAA, which oversees boys' athletics, joined the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union and the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association, which had enacted similar measures. As a result, some gyms and fields have become arenas where centuries-old religious beliefs and post--September 11, 2001, nationalistic fervor have been forced to opposing sides.

State championships are often held at large neutral sites, but many playoff games leading up to them are played at smaller high school gyms and fields. The new provisions, which do not apply to regular-season contests, are not problematic for most athletic association members, since all public and the vast majority of private high schools display the flag and play the national anthem as a matter of course. But at least two church-affiliated schools in Iowa and Pennsylvania do not, indicating not disrespect for this country but an acknowledgment of God's reign over all nations.

In each state, one school--both Mennonite--unwittingly prompted the measures. Christopher Dock Mennonite High School in Lansdale, Pennsylvania, and Iowa Mennonite School in Kalona, Iowa, both founded in the years after World War II, have never flown the U.S. flag or performed the national anthem before athletic events. (The schools initially didn't even play interscholastic sports.) This practice, born out of a historic Mennonite emphasis on noncomformity and pacifism, caused few problems until the events of 9/11 spawned a flood of hyperpatriotism.

Athletic association officials in both states said they were hit with complaints about the schools' perceived lack of national loyalty in the wake of foreign attacks. IGHSAU executive director Troy Dannen said his association has had a flag policy for 50 years, but it wasn't included in its handbook until 2002. "Quite honestly, we didn't know anyone was not complying," he said. "And we received a rash of complaints [about Iowa Mennonite School]."

Also in 2002 the PIAA moved a soccer tournament from Christopher Dock and its new playing field after receiving criticism. The association adopted its flag-and-anthem requirement on the basis of "the particular stance many of our schools and school administrations were taking, as well as the general public," said assistant executive director Mark Byers. "Not only is it tradition at sporting events, it recognizes those who went before us and fell defending our freedom."

According to the state associations, criteria for hosting postseason playoff contests include seating capacity, locker-room facilities and parking availability. The presence of a flag or the playing of the national anthem would seem to have little connection with the ability to host a game. But notions of patriotism are just as pertinent to athletic competition, said IHSAA executive director Bernie Saggau. Citing the emphasis on citizenship mentioned in the organization's M-year-old motto, he said, "Citizenship means the 'Star-Spangled Banner' played at state games."

Another view of citizenship is the reason for the absence of the flag and anthem at Christopher Dock and IMS. School officials said they are not traitors or subversives but are glad to be Americans. "We're very happy to be here and be positive contributors," said Christopher Dock principal Elaine Moyer. However, their identity isn't bound by borders or politics. "We don't want to distract from our loyalty to God and our context of being world citizens," Moyer said. "We believe God's spirit is pervasive in all lands." Said IMS athletic director Ron Swartzendruber: "Our allegiance to Jesus transcends any nation."

The Iowa and Pennsylvania athletic associations rent school facilities for postseason playoffs, which technically makes them neutral sites, even if it is the home court or field for one of the teams. If a school wants to be considered for a playoff site, it can try to meet association criteria. Dannen noted that some schools usually say a prayer before games. "They don't do that when we rent the facility," he said. "We have places we don't go because the PA announcer refuses to remain neutral." But changes are not required of schools. "It's voluntary on their part to open up their doors for our use, and it's voluntary on our part to use those sites," Byers said.