CHANGE THE NATIONAL ANTHEM?

[seagill]

I just read an article about how some folks think we should change from "The Star Spangled Banner" to "America The beautiful". Their argument is that most folks can't even hit the notes in our national anthem and it's topic is a long forgotten naval battle from the war of 1812. Plus it wasn't even selected as the anthem until 1931. While "America The Beautiful is a celebration of the beauty of our great nation, and people can actually sing it. What do you think?

 

[Jellybean]

Well, first of all...America the Beautiful has that three letter word that makes sinners, and liberals, cringe at the very mention of it. And it's in every stanza, which many people don't know the words to either, which is second.

And thirdly,... I deleted this one so we don't get sidetracked from the original post.

 

[Muley Gil]

I vote for "Dixie"!!!

 

[venomballistics]

Star spangled banner ... cause we invented the electric guitar

 

[Engine 21]

I vote "America the Beautiful" - It's more reflective of our country and all of us. The "Star Spangled Banner" has been in the used and abused long enough.

 

[sar4937]

I'm worried that if change does happen Lady GaGa will get to write us something catchy. Besides, "America the Beautiful" has the phrase about God shedding his grace.

 

[Jim Kuykendall]

May I suggest you Google the Star Spangled Banner and read ALL four verses before you vote. I can't sing a note, but those words are pretty meaningful to many of us. I'll just hum-a-long. Some of us aren't meant to sing aloud!

 

[sipowicz]

Watching people try to sing the SSB is half the fun...

 

[DeadAye]

Not enough choices....
How about We Want To Teach The World To Sing?
Or - God Save The Queen (oops - sorry, there's that G word)
Or - Or - Or -- Oh, what's that song they played as the Titanic sank?

 

[NFrameFred]

Leave it as it is. We don't need another excuse to interject political correctness and start a national argument about what should be used so 'everyone is included and no one is offended'. If that's the standard, a purple dino would be singing "I love you, you love me . . ." . . . . don't make me retch.

As far as the poll goes I'd have no real issue using either, but it won't stop there. As has been noted, too many references to the Higher Power many of us ascribe to for the "masses" to let it go at just that any more. And both have violent, bloody imagery that isn't "suitable for small children and those of tender sensibilities".

These days any song chosen would have to pay homage to Africa, Mexico, Canada, and just about every other country in the world specifically to avoid offending someone. I think the original in it's scope and intent does that quite admirably. I, for one, do not intend to stand, remove my cover, place my hand on my heart and sing "We Are The World", no thank you.

 

[keith44spl]

Ah what the hell,
let's just all sit around in a circle holdin hands and
smokin rope, a singin kumbaya...Gees

This is a joke, right?

I know the words!
And know enough to remove my cover in respect.
Can't hit no notes, but what the heck.
It ain't about that...

Why don't we just use Francisco Gonzalez Bocanegra poem? *G*

Rant over, What a bunch of **** ****


Hope y'all are havin a great 4th & May God Bless America again.

Su Amigo,
Dave

On a lighter note...I friend of mine was takin on a new job with this British company.
They were discussin' holidays that the company reconized, etc...

My pard quizzed, "Y'all take the 4th?" The Englishman's reply,"Oh, no...You won ya know!"

 

[deadin]

What image would you rather project?.......
Mess with us and we will wave grain and throw fruit at you
or
Mess with us and you will see "The Rockets Red Glare"?

 

[BE Mike]

I'm a sucker for tradition, so I think we should "leave with the one what brung us". There are a lot of vets who tear up every time the "Star Spangled Banner" is played, because they laid their lives on the line for what that piece of red, white and blue stands for. "America the Beautiful" is a great song, and we are lucky to have it as our own, but not as our national anthem.

 

[vytoland]

anything written by chuck berry, little richard or buddy holly will do just fine.

 

[btruman]

Star Spangled Banner. Leave it be. We don't need to change anything except maybe choices of some performers with their own outlandish renditions. JMO

 

[P&R Fan]

They better not change it.
Most people have no idea the story behind the song. Last July 4th was a Sunday. At the start of the service in my church I was allowed to give a presentation about the origins of the song. Most people don't know the original song was not a song at all, but a poem by Francis Scott Key he entitled the Defense of Fort McHenry. It described a turning point battle of the war of 1812, actually occurring in 1814. Early in the 20th century it was put to music, ironically a British tune, and renamed the Star Spangled Banner. It is a stirring story, and the crowd at my church was spellbound. Please Google it and read the account yourself if you've never heard the story, it is very inspirational. At the end I did something I haven't done since I was a small child, I sang onstage solo, leading the crowd in the song. The other patriotic songs are very good indeed. They don't measure up to the star Spangled Banner though.
Just my opinion.
Jim

 

[8thring]

dixie

I vote for "Dixie"!!!

boy are you really asking for trouble; another civil war, death threats, fired from job, blackballed etc. LOL

 

[The Last Standing Knight]

If it isn't broke, don't fix it....

...and that is my take on changing the National Anthem. I will not go further as anything else I'd write might get political.

I will say that many of the performers who sing it at various events treat it with disrespect by "putting their own spin" on it, as it were. If you can't sing it as it was meant to be, then you shouldn't sing it at all and should just play an instrumental version of it instead.

There are many who sing the song as it was meant to be. ANY chorus of ANY of our armed forces as well as other groups such as the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

 

[mkk41]

Why not?

We're changing the Constitution , the Bill of Rights , the Pledge of Allegience , so why not the anthem.

Plus the way todays so-called 'pop artists' butcher the Star Spangled Banner before events on TV , it's hardly the icon it once was.

 

[Nico Testosteros]

Yep. This ain't a country ruled by religion. Hopefully never will be