And the unverifiable Silent Majority always agrees. And then there’s the Dead who would no doubt agree? Would you thus deny the noble Dead their sacred rights?
America’s so-called “National Anthem” is basically a celebration of war and the “killing machine” that was the British Navy – when the sun comes up, everyone in the fort under siege might be dead or horribly wounded and in terrible agony, but, by George, that ‘banner’ was till waving at the top of that pole! And THAT’S what we celebrate at the beginning of EVERY American sporting event!
We need to change our National Anthem. I would suggest “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” but some might object to a reference to God and Christ. How about “This Land Is Your Land” by Woody Guthrie? Oh, some might complain that Guthrie wrote protest songs and was a Communist sympathizer. And his son, Arlo, wrote and performed “Alice’s Restaurant.”
There were great songs about America written for American Musical Theater by American Writers. A few of them were actually proposed to be our national anthem. But they were overridden. Because like Ben Franklin’s turkey they weren’t considered dignified enough to be our national symbol. HA! The bald eagle is a carrion eater. As Ben Franklin said the turkey was much more representative as being a more useful animal. Somehow this anthem song when read in today’s light is so inapropos and yet we are stuck with it. I still listen to songs by George M Cohan and others that I am too mentally weak to remember. But I can hear their songs in my mind and wish one of those was our Anthem instead.
What exactly is a national anthem meant to achieve? If it’s meant to get young people drunk on emotional patriotism and willing to die in irrational military actions, maybe we shouldn’t have one. Or at least call it honestly “The Human Meatgrinder Song.” “Over There” by Cohan would be a rotten choice, of course, if you remember the words. Maybe something obviously ironic by Bertholt Brecht. I think of the short poem by Edgar Lee Masters in SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY, the dead soldier’s spirit speaking from under a headstone inscribed with “Pro Patria.” “‘Pro Patria’ — what does that mean, anyway?”
emptc12 over 6 years ago
And the unverifiable Silent Majority always agrees. And then there’s the Dead who would no doubt agree? Would you thus deny the noble Dead their sacred rights?
Masterskrain Premium Member over 6 years ago
But this is the part none of the Trumplings wants to admit! THEY think it’s some great, noble hymn to wonderfulness!
drivingfuriously Premium Member over 6 years ago
So, white people getting offended don’t count?
wellis1947 Premium Member over 6 years ago
America’s so-called “National Anthem” is basically a celebration of war and the “killing machine” that was the British Navy – when the sun comes up, everyone in the fort under siege might be dead or horribly wounded and in terrible agony, but, by George, that ‘banner’ was till waving at the top of that pole! And THAT’S what we celebrate at the beginning of EVERY American sporting event!
Charlie Tuba over 6 years ago
We need to change our National Anthem. I would suggest “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” but some might object to a reference to God and Christ. How about “This Land Is Your Land” by Woody Guthrie? Oh, some might complain that Guthrie wrote protest songs and was a Communist sympathizer. And his son, Arlo, wrote and performed “Alice’s Restaurant.”
Sadandconfused9 over 6 years ago
There were great songs about America written for American Musical Theater by American Writers. A few of them were actually proposed to be our national anthem. But they were overridden. Because like Ben Franklin’s turkey they weren’t considered dignified enough to be our national symbol. HA! The bald eagle is a carrion eater. As Ben Franklin said the turkey was much more representative as being a more useful animal. Somehow this anthem song when read in today’s light is so inapropos and yet we are stuck with it. I still listen to songs by George M Cohan and others that I am too mentally weak to remember. But I can hear their songs in my mind and wish one of those was our Anthem instead.
emptc12 over 6 years ago
What exactly is a national anthem meant to achieve? If it’s meant to get young people drunk on emotional patriotism and willing to die in irrational military actions, maybe we shouldn’t have one. Or at least call it honestly “The Human Meatgrinder Song.” “Over There” by Cohan would be a rotten choice, of course, if you remember the words. Maybe something obviously ironic by Bertholt Brecht. I think of the short poem by Edgar Lee Masters in SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY, the dead soldier’s spirit speaking from under a headstone inscribed with “Pro Patria.” “‘Pro Patria’ — what does that mean, anyway?”
ursen over 6 years ago
Wanna see people get worked up? Watch a performance of Lee Greenwoods God Bless the USA.
sjsczurek over 6 years ago
“Thoughts about runaway slaves…”
ROT AND RUBBISH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
pam Miner over 6 years ago
Way too Much Jingoism!!