Of patriotism and national flag

A man in India is arrested for insulting the National Anthem "32" years back. The guy who is 56 was 24 at that age and has a case against him in 1972. Read the original article in rediff
http://us.rediff.com/news/2004/dec/18anthem.htm

I found it rather ridiculous. I was thinking about this subject of patriotism, respect for national symbols for some time and how much we make a fuzz about it. I have a small point, Is it ok to Demand respect? Can you demand someone to repect you and make them show that respect by standing or sitting all the time? The respect is shown to someone who deserves it. Nobody can make someone respect them, but if somebody respect them, they will willingly show it. The same with the nation too. If you respect your nation, which is because of the surroundings that you live in as a society, then, you appreciate it, you understand the value of it and then indeed you will respect your country and the respect towards your nation is shown in so many ways. Not just standing up when the national song is going on. There are so many duties that you have, to make your nation command respect.

Nobody can demand respect, but command respect, even the nation.