ACOT Message Board

 This woman was asked to sing the National Anthem  (The Star Spangled Banner) for the US at a function.

She substituted words from the black national anthem.   She was trying to be 'creative'.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,375164,00.html

How do you feel about this?

 How do you feel about it?

How do you feel about the National Anthem in general?

Did you know that the National Anthem has grown in popularity since the 1980's and it wasn't considered "as important" before then; that it wasn't played at most sporting events, except baseball and Olympic events, before then? President Reagan is the one who popularized the National Anthem and the flag pin in the 80's and made "patiotism" a litmust test for good citizenship.

Since you and I were both alive well before '80's, what do think about it all?  Well, not "well" before, but you know what I mean - LOL!!!

 I am all for singing hte National Anthem.

However, I am against someone adding the words to another country's anthem to ours.

IF she were singing at an all black function it might be different.

BUT!  She is an American who was asked to sing the Star Spangled Banner at a politically based function so adding creativity was out of line.

If you want to get technical, I'm Italian American - in that my ancestors came to this country from Italy.   However, I choose to say that I am an American and leave off that part of my ancestry.

Don't even get me started on that Black American thing

Gosh, I, too, was alive well before the 80s, but I was always taught that the National Anthem was very important.  Do you mean that it wasn't played at PROFESSIONAL sporting events other than baseball?  I'm pretty sure it was played at all the high school and college football games I attended. 

That being said, I dislike the idea of ANYONE changing up the words to the Star Spangled Banner.  I think it's disrespectful.  If anyone wants their own anthem, they can have a totally new song composed for that very purpose.

[quote="Queen Mum"] I am all for singing hte National Anthem.

However, I am against someone adding the words to another country's anthem to ours.

IF she were singing at an all black function it might be different.
[/quote][quote="Queen Mum"]BUT!  She is an American who was asked to sing the Star Spangled Banner at a politically based function so adding creativity was out of line. [/quote][quote="Queen Mum"]
I agree 210%
[/quote]

 She was asked to sing the National Anthem not the Star Spangled Banner specifically.

I think some times, as Americans, we place more emphasis on "things" like songs and lapel pins than we do on the objects they represent, like patriotism.

The Star Spangled Banner wasn't even the National Anthem until the 1930's. It ranks up there with "under God" to the pledge to the flag.(1954) It's important, yes, but it's not something on which my love of country or my respect or beliefs rest. It's a song. Period. I feel just as proud, if not more so, when I hear or sing America the Beautiful. Perhaps because it's talking about our wonderful and great country and its assests rather than warfare and bombs.

Besides, it's been a long time since I've seen or heard any one, including George Bush, get the words to The Star Spangled Banner correct  - and that's just to the first verse, must less the entire song.

  Apparently the National Anthem is not just a song.  There's a law about it.  Found this on Wikipedia, and I double-checked it in the US Code.  The quote is from Wikipedia:  "United States Code, 36 USC Sec. 301, states that during the playing of 'The Star Spangled Banner' (United States National Anthem) when the flag is displayed, everyone except those in uniform should stand at attention while facing the flag with their right hand over their heart. Those in attendance who are not in uniform should remove any headwear with their right hand and hold it at their left shoulder, with their right hand held over their heart. Individuals in uniform should show the military salute during the first note of the anthem and stay in this position until the last note. If the flag is not displayed, people in attendance should face the music and respond as if the flag were present." 

To me, giving the National Anthem its respect is a form of patriotism.  Obviously the government thought enough about it that they passed a law about it. 

Just because others don't know the words, even to the first verse, doesn't make it any less important.

What pisses me off to no end is that everyone wants to be treated equal. Equal - meaning the same.  But nobody wants to ACT the same.  We have ONE national anthem.  ONE.  You are asked to sing your national anthem.  Sing it.  Sing the anthem that means something to ALL your countrymen.  Don't sing something meant to glorify only a portion of the population.  I didn't even know there was a Black National Anthem.  WTH kind of nonsense is that?  If you don't want segregation, don't segregate yourself.