I've heard a number of people over the years complain that this was the national anthem instead of "America The Beautiful" or even "This Land Is Your Land". I know I can't carry a tune with a bucket and parts of "The Star Spangled Banner" are WAY beyond my poor capabilities. And judging from many people I've heard sing it, it was beyond theirs as well.

Ohiobuckeye
 

Well they better check what bills they have in their bill folds! They better get rid of them. Why doesn't our govt. step up & tell them just don't have soccer games. Can't believe that we're bowing down to these racist blacks! I'm not saying that all black people are bad, some of my very best friends are black. Just can't believe our govt. is so wishy washy or maybe it's our legal system. We'll be communist America in 3 yrs. & our legal system is bowing down to this.

In reply to Fdpaq0580

I didn't want to waste my time debating with an old, stuck in the past citizen but I guess I'll waste it anyway.

You say the meaning you come away with is that the slaves were not American slaves and that makes the song ok. American blacks shouldn't mind having this song as their national anthem. You did leave out the verse "From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave". From what I've read, this means that the slave is running scared and they will eventually be killed.

You also state that I'm unable or unwilling to understand the context/circumstances of the times in which those things happened.

You go on to talk about destroying the evidence of history, radicals, extremists destroying temples and educational materials that show the truth of history.

You close by saying you're more reasonable and your interpretation is more likely the truth. You want me to think about it and not to dismiss it because it doesn't fit the narrative.

You think you know me and that I'm too stupid and unwilling to learn the truth as you see it. I'm an extremists and I want to destroy history to fit my narrative.

You got all of this data from my comment that supports black Americans wanting to change the national anthem that was written by a slave owner. A man that spent his life going after blacks and anyone that supported their freedom. A song that in a verse glorifies hunting down and killing slaves.

I wonder how the Jewish feel about anti-semitic songs? I already know that answer, they exist and they hate them. I wonder if they wouldn't mind a national anthem that said "gas all the jews" or "cut their throats". I guess if the song was old then, it's their history and it would be considered "extremists" behavior to object to it. Or, a national anthem written by Hitler that had a verse about killing Jewish people. Even if that verse was not sung anymore I think they would still object to it.

My "narrative" is not defined by you. I don't want to change history, I want to change the present. I don't want to destroy temples or educational materials. I don't see myself as an extremist with radical views. I see myself as a person with compassion for anyone that feels like a second class citizen.

I am willing to change my opinion as the facts come in and grow as a person.

Well... I've been to most Smithsonian museums, Battle of Little Big Horn, Holocaust museum in DC, walked the Freedom Traill, etc. Not sure what else... but I may have been there too.

You can't judge history by today's standards. If we do, then we pretty much have to erase every "leader" (political and business) up until about 20 years ago.

Washington, Jefferson, etc. all owned slaves. So we have to change money, tear down the Washington monument and Jefferson memorial. Close Mount Vernon and Monticello.

Do we ignore everything they contributed to our history because they were victims of their time in history?

If I see a statue of Jefferson Davis, I understand his place in history. I don't admire or revere him. But I guess we have to "erase" him.

If so, we also have to erase every business leader up to 20 years ago, because women, minorities and LGBTQ pretty much hit that glass ceiling and weren't promoted to senior positions.

Do we "erase" it? Or do we just understand the positive and negative of what happened in the past?

Agreed. How about God Bless America, or better yet, America The Beautiful?

I have banished NFL years ago. If I choose to go to a college football game, (which I LOVE to do!), if they play anything else... I will be taking a knee, and sing our National Anthem right along, with my hand over my heart, and I will take my small flag out of my purse when I do. I think that's called freedom of speech, which is totally in these days, on many subjects and fronts, yes??

The Accurate Story Behind the Star Spangled Banner - YouTube

I like this one best. If you don't care for it. Tough Toot's! :boxing2:

"A song that in a verse glorifies hunting down and killing slaves."


You are correct. Further research of a missing verse in his poem, also shows what Key thought about slaves and black people.

The Missing Verse of The Star Spangled Banner That May Change Your View Of Our Anthem. - YouTube

Thank you.
 

Thank you for wasting your time debating (educating) an old (I am) stuck in the past citizen like me.
You are correct when you say that I don't know you. I just went back and re-read the post that you responded to. It seems that you interpreted my "you can't change history" as "you" specific when it was intended as "you" generic. I was never attacking you personally, and I apologize for not making myself more clear.
As to my alternative interpretation, it was intended to demonstrate that by reading the same thing twice one can sometimes see things from a different perspective and come away with a different meaning.
As it was back in the 1960's and 1970's, this is a another pivotal time for us in this country. We all need to be willing to listen and learn from one another. It is my belief and my hope that someday this will be a nation that includes and values all of its people, a true melting pot where all cultures are celebrated.
As to me not defining your narrative, only you can do that. I also don't want to debate with you. To me a debate is fighting with words. I prefer to discuss. Discussion is an open and honest exchange of thoughts and ideas. You have much to share with others who have had life experiences different from yours. Keep learning and keep teaching.
Your last sentence, "I am willing to change my opinion as the facts come in and grow as a person" really resonated with me. That is how we all should be.

Stay safe. Stay well. Peace!

Isn't the Black National Anthem racists? I know for sure if they played a White National Anthem, which there is none, that would be racist.

Hummm. I won't watch Woody Allen movies because he is a pedophile. With that being said, I feel the SSB is a good song with appropriate, thoughtful lyrics and I would like to believe that in this era, Francis Scott Key wouldn't promote slavery. Changes do need to be made as people become more educated. I don't know the answer. I do know the Confederate Generals lost the war for good reason. They do not need statues in their "honor". I don't remember seeing a "Hitler" statue anywhere in Germany, while I was there.

Thank you.
 

Thank you for the link to another view. Although I am generally sceptical of you tube as a good source for information, I was willing to give it a try. Several attempts and all I got "site not available" on my tablet. So, I went to dictionary.com for the forgotten verses and read all the verses. Trying to take what (admittedly) little I remember of the history of those times, I could see , depending on ones perspective, it could be taken either way.
I then went to Intercept.com to see what they had to say. They said that the words "hireling and slave" has been interpreted in both ways, depending on ones perspective. They then go on with further information that "hireling and slave" may have referred to a group of former slaves who joined the British and fought against the Americans, but more likely referred to America slaves and wage earners. They continued with a history of Fancis Scott Key, showing first how he was portrayed in history, followed by another and darker portrayal of him. Key himself never spoke of his poem, thus never explained the actual meaning of his usage of " hireling and slave".
Many artists don't feel the need to explain their work and prefer to let the viewer make their own conclusion. I cannot say for certain that he felt that way, but I can see that, while there seems to be some ambiguity here, if one accepts the darker portrait of Key there would be much evidence to support that he was referring to America slaves and wage earners. I am always open to information in hopes of finding truth and common ground.
So, where do we go from here? Earlier, I had suggested striking all but the first verse so that the anthem that the rest of the world recognizes could still be played at venues like the Olympics. If dumping all but the first verse is not acceptable, what song might you recommend?
What now? I believe further discussion is necessary, by those willing to listen as well as speak, and have the power to actually make the changes.
Again, thanks for the info.

Stay safe. Stay well. Peace!

It's not about diversity or change. It is about destroying our history and you are willingly being sucked in by this anarchy. So sad.

I'm not sure what happened to the other link, so try this one.

The Missing Verse of The Star Spangled Banner That May Change Your View Of Our Anthem. - YouTube

it is from the Thom Hartmann Program.

Sorry about that.

There is nothing historic about any of these statues.

Do you know who built them? Do you know anything about them, other than who they represent?

The statues themselves are NOT historical. You could easily remove the statues, and put the explanation plaques down on the ground (as many historic places have), so when people walk by, they can see the plaque and read it if they wish, to know what happened in that spot.

Except in MOST cases - nothing happened in that spot. In MOST cases, the only thing that "happened" in that spot, was that a statue was erected to honor someone who promoted slavery.

It's not that they *had* slaves. It's that they *promoted* slavery, and fought to protect the right to continue owning them. Yes, Washington had slaves. But he didn't use slavery as a campaign promise, he didn't fight over the right to own them. Slavery was not on his political agenda.

Statues that honor slave-promotion heroes don't belong in prominent public places. They shouldn't be destroyed, but they should be in museums, which is where all other artifacts depicting or representing the darker side of humanity belong.

Respectfully disagree.
 

Without mentioning which post you are referring to, I assuming it is mine.
As to being sucked into anarchy, I respectfully disagree.
Just because one wishes to learn something does not automatically change there entire point of view. Take religion for example, just because if I was Christian it and wanted to learn about my Jewish friends Faith does not mean I would covert. Same with trying to understand the anger felt by my friends in other communities.
Therefore, sucked in, I think not. Trying to understand, yes.

Stay safe. Stay well. Peace!

I struggle with understanding this type of thinking. Are there really those that believe that accurate history books, first-hand accounts, scholarly thesis, etc. will magically disappear, should a monument or statue be removed or taken to a different location? If so, that seems to me to be a legitimate basis for condemnation of the education, or more accurately the lack thereof, that those types of people received.

No more history to be taught in schools. Evidently some think America's history isn't correct and offensive. So just teach english, reading, writing, science and math. Especially in college.