New laws in India call for compulsory patriotism – the forced loyalty to one’s country. This law requires all cinematic films to play the national anthem, and for citizens to respectfully stand during the anthem. However, in a “country that produces more than 1,000 films a year, that’s a lot of standing,” reports Julie McCarthy, live on NPR.

One citizen has professed that he would be glad to celebrate his patriotism, but in a movie theater, a place for entertainment? The man believes that if in this unlikely place was to be a nationalist shrine, if it may be called that, then what could be next? Enforcing more patriotic views in all areas, regulating an institutionalized belief? This may very well be the beginning of a fatal slippery slope.

However, another citizen believes that this law is beneficial because more people need to recognize the importance of the national anthem in the “motherland” and teach political correctness or awareness to all Indian citizens.

Here in the United States, no law requires citizens to stand for the national anthem – but it is undisputed that Americans acquire a lot of patriotic spirit for the red, white, and blue. When San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick refused to stand during a national anthem, because he lost faith in the country’s ability to provide equal protection and liberty for all races, a fire of controversy took the United States by storm. Was he ungrateful for all of the opportunities offered to him, and was he being insensitive to the hundreds who have been saved by American freedom? Or did he have a well-meaning opinion that he wanted to express through using his own free will?

On our great American soil, all citizens have responsibilities to make an effort to give back to the country. Aside from establishing public amenities such as bathrooms, street lights, and fixing roads/infrastructure, to maintaining hundreds of courts to uphold our nation’s freedoms, to establishing a separation of powers and limiting dominance over the people, the government has ensured freedoms and equality for all to come. All we are asked to do in return is pay taxes as required by law, serve jury duty, vote, respect and pay loyalty to America, and help to promote the well-being of the country for future generations.

To read the live broadcast of events, visit: http://www.npr.org/2017/01/03/508075306/indians-divided-over-law-requiring-cinemas-to-play-national-anthem