Cleats by Bill Hinds for June 11, 2023
Transcript:
Woman: ...And when he saw that big, beautiful flag still waving, Francis Scott Key was so proud he composed a poem, "The defence of Fort McHenry," right there on the deck of that sloop. When he got back to Baltimore, he had handbills printed with the poem, and handed them out to everyone he could. Soon, someone put the tune of an old, English tavern song to the poem, and people everywhere in the country sang the new song, which became our national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner." Katie: Cool! The song's a story! Woman: And Katie, when it's time for you to sing the national anthem, remember that story and you won't forget the words to the song. Katie: A story with explosions!
Ellis97 over 1 year ago
Nowadays, someone will call out that story and point out how inaccurate and messed up the history of our nation truly is.
Ellis97 over 1 year ago
Since people are now becoming more aware of revisionist history, I wonder how this storyline would be adapted into an episode.
Tetonbil Premium Member over 1 year ago
Very, very good Mr Hinds! Thank you for this incredible bit of our history that you have woven into your arc. I for one really appreciate you giving the story life. Thank you!
Jefano Premium Member over 1 year ago
Here’s the tavern song:
https://youtu.be/3l-n64NWHS4
Jefano Premium Member over 1 year ago
The British had recruited a number of enslaved African Americans to fight on their behalf in this war, on the promise that they could thus secure their liberty. But Key himself was a slaveholder, and his third stanza glories in the routing and destruction of those rebel slaves who dared to fight for the sake of freedom: “No refuge could save the hireling and slave / From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave.”
Katie won’t be asked to sing that verse, I trust, and doesn’t need to know about it at her age. But it’s something that Americans ought to learn about “the land of the free and the home of the brave” by the time they grow up, and something they should never forget. There are things to be proud of, and things not to be proud of, about the US, as there are about any country. But if you’re going to revel in everything that’s good about a country, you should also face up to and come to grips with what’s bad.
Miguelito52 over 1 year ago
Never a disappointment with the comments…..it is a comic strip. History is history. But let’s be sure to show our brilliance and tell everyone…”there is bad history out there and I am just the one to tell you.”
4 million recent illegals tell you anything?
I'm Sad over 1 year ago
I would say change it to “God Bless the USA” by Lee Greenwood but then there would be all of these people who claim God doesn’t exist or don’t want to hear about God. Therefore, forget that we have a national anthem since most people don’t care about their country anymore nor will stick up for it.