Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr Winston O Boogie jr
What exactly about the Star Spangled Banner is not inclusive? Why would any citizen of this country not feel that it's their country as well. Read up on the story of the Star Spangled Banner.
There is nothing remotely racist, sexist or exclusionary about it.
|
This is only inclusionary if blacks are slaves, and not free people:
Quote:
And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country, should leave us no more?
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave,
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
|
That's the third verse of the song. Bold underlined emphasis mine.
In 1931 when this song was made the official anthem, another song was being considered: My Country 'Tis of Thee. It was a new set of lyrics applied to the British anthem, "God Save the Queen." This seems to me SO much more profound and significant, than the lyrics -or- the melody of the anthem we have now. It has more meaning: we were formed from settlers who left Britain in protest of England's religious restrictions. So My Country 'Tis of Thee is a serious statement: "We came here to get away from you, and we are in a much better place now."
Unless of course you don't feel that we are in a better place now, in which case - might want to see if England will let you back in, during the pandemic.