The status quo anthem

So this morning after a horrible slog through interregional Texas IH35, a pleasant jaunt around Austin via the expensive 130 Tollway in order to avoid the sad misery of south and downtown Austin traffic, only to endure a hellish trek back into the city across some side roads around a hopelessly clogged 290 West, I finally arrived at the office early enough to get settled at my desk about half past eight.  After collecting my thoughts and meditating for a few moments I began to read my e-mail, when at around a quarter to nine, I heard the sounds of music playing, very loudly, from a desk about 100 meters north from my desk.  The music spilled out into the office, and I noticed several individuals standing up at the same moment that I recognized the music as the National Anthem of the United States of America.

I stood up, and grabbed my empty cup of coffee, and began walking in the direction of the filling station which happened to be a bit closer to the anthem's broadcaster.  I could see a very large American flag hanging from the ceiling in the vicinity of the speakers from which the song was blaring.

I noticed many more individuals standing up at their desk, some with their hands over their hearts, as the music played on and I filled my cup.

I returned to my desk confused.  I have worked in government contracting agencies.  In my capacity as a civilian software developer, I have worked with men and women dressed in military uniforms.  I have never seen the national anthem played as a matter of course in a private office building before.

As I returned to my desk in my lonely anti-nationalist, pro-globalist depression, I contemplated the utter misery I experienced during my commute into work this morning.

Do I love my country?  Nope.  Not a bit.

Do I love my fellow citizens?  Yup.

But I hate them on the road, because they (my fellow countrymen, my nation) refuse to pay for roads and infrastructure sufficient to prevent an entirely miserable existence for most of us.

And yet we display our reverence for the status quo, in our office, with a soundtrack.