[billethkid]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

Things were said "all these years." But no one in authority ever listened. This is nothing new. It's just being brought to your attention via internet media, which most people actually participate in.

That's the ridiculous thing about ALL of these issues. The only reason most people don't believe they were issues in the past, is that the internet didn't exist in the past. Cell phones didn't exist in the past. The ability to transport information from one part of the world to another part in a single second didn't exist in the past.

Now, we have instant access to live-stream videos of things that are happening, without having to be in front of our TV sets to see them. So now, we are seeing issues that have ALWAYS been issues, but that some people have not noticed because they were watching the wrong channel at the time, or reading the wrong newspaper at the time.

I suppose the very best and glaring example is nothing being done when we had a black president......AND control of the house and senate......... wonder why this current outcry went without incident then when the very same issues....every single one were present!

[Kenswing]

I think it's a beautiful song..

[Shyer]

🤬🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺� ��🇺🇸

[harrisimard]

I think all this Change to America is B.S.. We have always been proud to be Americans . those statues they are tearing down are our History, like it or not it is what it is. History is just that History. The way things are going America won't be a place anyone will want to live in. Why can't they look at those statues and think, We've come a long way baby, but they are acting like wild animals with all the rioting and looting , they should be ashamed. if they don't like America as we have known it for the past 200 years they obviously don't belong here. I have never been predjudice but the way they are acting is something to be Proud Of??? I for one want the America we grew up with, everyone getting along, what is happening is a real Shame and I'm glad I'm Old and still remember when we were proud to be American. We saluted the flag in school every morning and would Never think of NOT stand for the National Anthym. GOD BLESS AMERICA

[Luisa]

Originally Posted by Taltarzac725

Going way too far. George Washington had slaves I believe. So do they change all the uses of Washington in the United States? George Washington and slavery - Wikipedia

Anything having to do with black people should be removed or not allowed because they had slaves in Africa.

[cherylncliff]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

I sure would not go to any game where they would not play our anthem.

Judge people according to the times they lived in not our time.

The times we live in are hopefully a more understanding, diverse and inclusive time. Perhaps it is time to update our National Anthem to be inclusive of all. Also note that the music is originally a British song. Perhaps we should also get an American composer.

[fdpaq0580]

How sad that the attempt to justify The Star Spangled Banner as a racist song is based on one word (which ignores the accompanying word "hireling", which would include anyone who had to work for a living) one word in one sentence in the third verse of a song, taken out of context. How sad indeed.
The Star Spangled Banner is a difficult song to sing. The third verse is almost never sung , only the first verse. So, why not keep the song and, officially strike the questionable third verse? Since the rest of the world recognizes the melody as our anthem, it is easiest solution, imho.
Truth be known, I have always thought America The Beautiful was a better song. However, I never considered changing the national anthem just because I thought there might have been better choices.
I lived through the Watts riots, the era of Equal Opportunity that required quotas in school admissions and hiring regardless of qualification. I thought advancement in race relations was moving forward in the same way that immigrant language skills advance with greater exposure to others. Now, it seems I was wrong.
I am reminded of a movie from 1969, "Putney Swope", that reminds me a lot like what is going on now. For those unfamiliar with the movie, a brief description follows.
A major ad firm has one "token" black man on the board of directors. The chairman dies. The vote for the new chairman does not go as expected. Unable to vote for themselves, each member decides to secretly cast a token vote for Putney Swope. New chairman Putney addresses the board stating "I won't rock the boat, I intend to tip the boat over". All the whites are fired except one "token" white. Chaos ensues until the business goes up in flames at the hands of Putney's more radical followers.
Sounds kind of like what is going on now. An attempt to "turn the boat over".
I am 100% in favor of fair and equal and respectful treatment for all. But it must apply to everyone or it applies to no one. Change should be peaceful and lawful and with respect from all sides. Violence causes the divide to worsen.
Someone said "follow the money". Beyond me.. Who is funding the violence and the destruction of history? BLM, Russia, China, the Taliban, some other group? I don't know.

Stay well. Stay safe. Peace!

[Two Bills]

This is what a National Anthem should sound like!

GOOSEBUMPS! Wales fans deliver incredible rendition of the national anthem - YouTube

[Number 10 GI]

Originally Posted by GaryKoca

If they replaced it with God Bless America, that would be just fine with me. Frankly, a much better song about America than the Star Spangled Banner, and much easier to sing. The range is manageable.

That won't work, the atheists will object to God and scream about the separation of church and state.

[fdpaq0580]

Originally Posted by Bikeracer2009

I couldn't be more disgusted with any place I've lived in.

The writer of the Star Spangled Banner was a wealthy slave owner and reading his life's story is stomach churning. How can any black person know this man's history and the story behind this song and not be upset?

As far as celebrating traditions is concerned, the song wasn't made our nation anthem until 1931. Hold on to those cherished traditions though, it's too scary to think about changing things to suit the blacks.

From the third verse of “The Star-Spangled Banner”:

No refuge could save the hireling & 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 & the home of the brave.

This verse is hardly ever sung anymore and I can't imagine a black person singing it with the same pride as the white folks here at the villages.

I would spend more time on this subject but it would be a waste of my time.

Just a thought as I re-read the verse.
I came away with a different interpretation of the meaning.
"No refuge could save the hireling and slave" to me refers to the British, who used mercenaries (hirelings) and those pressed (forced against their will, ie: slaves) into service for the crown. I read it that way since the "hirelings and slaves" are running scared, and in the next few lines"and the Star Spangled Banner in triumph doth wave".
Accepted or not accepted is ,imho, is a result of being able or willing to understand the context/circumstances of the times in which those things happened.
You can't change history, you can only try to hide it by destroying the evidence. Kind of like what extremists and radicals in other parts of the world try to do by destroying ancient temples and educational materials that show us the truth of history.
Just another and more reasonable and likely interpretation, imho. Think about it and don't just dismiss it because it doesn't fit the narrative you want.

Stay well. Stay safe. Peace!

[Topspinmo]

IMO National anthem and sporting event have nothing in common. IMO athletes are NOT hero’s who gave their life for country and freedom for others. They Just play game and wantabee’s fans praise them like there royalty.

[New Adventures]

Originally Posted by camaguey48

This is the most ridiculous and nefarious idea I have ever heard. I came to America seeking freedom and I found it, but I am afraid our freedoms are being eroded by those who want to destroy her. We cannot allow these elements to destroy our beautiful country.

A nation of sheep will beget a government of wolves-Edward R. Murrow.

I guess we won't be singing "White Christmas" anymore.

[Nucky]

Unbelievable! I'm not taking the bait! Leave it alone. Simple.

[mabreyjk]

If things weren't so seriously askew; I would say, "Let's end this clownery." However it is not clownery, it is lunacy. When and where does it stop? For God's sake, removing the John Wayne exhibit at USC (my alma mater) and renaming the airport! Hmm, what about the Jefferson Memorial, Washington Monument, the White House, and the University of Virginia? Destroy them? What was said cannot be unsaid and what was done, was done. No matter is done, the past cannot be undone.

What is past is prologue", inscribed on Future (1935, Robert Aitken) located on the northeast corner of the National Archives Building in Washington, DC

[Byte1]

Originally Posted by Northwoods

It looks like the Star Spangled Banner is next. An Op Ed in the LA Times says Francis Scott Key was a slave owner so the song has to go. After all, the statue of Francis Scott Key was toppled by protesters in Golden Gate Park.
Major League Soccer announced that the anthem would not be played before games when its season resumed in July following the coronavirus lockdown. A petition posted on Change.org advocated dropping the song as the national anthem, pointing to “elitist, sexist, and racist” verses in Key’s poem, “Defence of Fort M’Henry,” from which “The Star-Spangled Banner” was adapted.
Here's the Op Ed.
Replace The Star-Spangled Banner with a new national anthem - Los Angeles Times

Just goes to show you that there are those that are afraid of the truth and have to "disappear" it. Personally, I do not care if it bothers them. They weren't slaves and should be down on their knees every day, kissing the ground and thanking GOD for allowing them to live in such a great country. The BEST country in the world.

If being patriotic bothers some, I will play that proverbial tiny fiddle for them. If the truth and history bothers them, then instead of attempting to erase it, they should be using it as an example for change. Get rid of history and no one will have to feel guilty about anything that happened in the past. No proof of slavery, means no slavery. No racist leader statues, then no proof of racism. Get rid of the flag and no proof of what this country has gone through. Burn the history books, Hello USSA.