[Byte1]

Originally Posted by cherylncliff

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.

WHY?

Will you change your lifestyle and religious beliefs if a couple of people think you should? If the majority are fine with something, why should we change our beliefs and lifestyle to coddle a small group of disgruntled and ungrateful folks that have probably been spoiled all their lives? Sorry, but that song has not offended anyone for the last hundred years or whenever it became popular. I do not see why we must destroy street signs, songs, movies, monuments, currency, statues, flags, language, etc. just because it is in vogue today.
Since we are laying it all out this year, I am offended when I see folks displaying Mexican flags or those fake African flags in OUR country. I think displaying the Confederate Battle flag to be stupid, but that is just my opinion. I also believe that we live in a FREE country and if someone wishes to express themselves, we are supposed to treat everyone equally.
If living in "diverse times" means anarchy and allowing abhorrent behavior then this does not prove that we are a country of Freedom and equality. It means we are a country that allows a group of folks to run amok under the guise of civil discourse, when the fact is that some just wish to destroy what makes this country great, law abiding citizenry.
There is NO "systemic racism" in America. That is a LIE that is parroted continuously by the media in hopes to generate dissension and chaos in hopes of inventing news stories instead of just reporting real news.

[Byte1]

Originally Posted by Luisa

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

And one of the FIRST slave owners in America was a BLACK man.

[Soxman]

[QUOTE=Dr Winston O Boogie jr;1803865]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. It is about fortitude and strength. It is about how a group of people defending our country refused to give up. It is about the strength of the United States of America. All Americans should feel proud of this great country. We're not perfect and there have been some mistakes, but the good overwhelms the bad by a huge margin.


You are absolutely right. There is nothing racist about the National Anthem. Leave it alone. Stop trying to pander to the mobs.

[Byte1]

Originally Posted by Martian

I agree with most of your post, but why the gross generalization about BLM? Do you know for a fact that every BLM member is an anarchist? That would be like me saying every White person is a racist.

Wasn't it BLM that marched and chanted "pigs in a blanket. fry'em like bacon?" I find it acceptable to disapprove of one bad COP, but the other million law enforcement officers do not deserve the bad rap. In my opinion, BLM would have much more credibility if they turned against the infiltrators that are rioting and destroying property, .....not just saying they are against them. Besides, BLM should not be doing all this during the pandemic. All they are doing is making folks that might have been sympathetic to their cause, turn against them. If this would have been Occupy Wall Street doing the protesting, it would have been squashed by now and everyone knows it. Lets face it, this is an election year and this is a minority group so no one is going to put a stop to it.

[Hancie2]

Always thought that America or God Bless America should have been our anthems.

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by Mardarlowe

A nice rap song would be nice before the game. Instead of taking our hats off, we could just turn them sideways.

That WAS funny!

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by JanetMM

The Star Spangled Banner Was never my favorite patriotic song. Have heard it destroyed by too many people! Yep, it’s that hard to sing. But, we have songs like:

You’re A Grand Old Flag
This Land is Your Land
My Country ‘Tis of Thee
America the Beautiful

These are stirring and say something great about the country and they won’t be torn to shreds every time they are sung.

I vote for, "This land etc".

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by billethkid

So one wacko "reporter" in LA gets a bug up his/her a$$ about the national anthem and it get national attention!?!?!?

Who said the media is not leading the discussion!

People who have nothing invested in the core values do not care much about anything other than their participation in a given agenda/organization.

We are fast losing site of what it is that truly makes up America. It is being redefined by special interest, minority and political agenda. The very concept of "we the people" is under attack.

The concept of those in elected positions are the "representatives" of we the people is all but lost in the current special interest cancel culture movement.

The silent/ignored majority can ill afford to stand idly by while this degradation of our country continues.

We have long passed by the not in my backyard hence no big deal. What is happening is obviously under way, yes, here in our back yard. Many of the posts here on TOTV attest to that.

All this divisive partisan/minority/special interest BS will come to an end after the election and after the virus vaccine is in use.

Too many people with nothing to do.....and more and more politicians figuring how to pay them for doing nothing.

If, not when is more accurate with respect to a vaccine.

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

I've paid attention to the issues since college (in the late 1970's/early 1980's). I wasn't involved in Civics, but I went to school for print journalism so civics was a very important and required aspect of my education. I sat in on court cases in the state house and wrote articles for class, had to do a huge 10-page report using all the rules of investigative journalism as a final exam, had to meet politicians and interview them, went to Washington DC as part of a class trip and met with my Senator and Congressman, had a personal guide from my Senator through the underground tunnels to the Department of Commerce, where my cousin was the assistant deputy press secretary for Ronald Reagan.

My school's population was comprised of a majority of LGBTQ+ people - including the staff. Minorities were the majority. I was the minority white straight girl. I was exposed to "different" and learned that we all breathe the same air, and we all want to be loved, and we all have love to give, no matter what physical attributes or preference in life-mates makes us look different from each other.

I was exposed to "different" for decades. So perhaps that is why I have the perception I have. People who spent their lives in somewhat isolated parts of rural or semi-rural America didn't have that exposure. So "other" might seem intimidating.

Our country isn't about a singular war with bombs bursting in air, or a piece of cloth hanging from a pole. That isn't what our country is about. It never was about that. Our country is about "other." We were founded by "other." People from England who protested their own mandates and regulations and official state religions - wanted out, because they knew their own country would not allow it to change. So they came here - because this was where they could BE "different" and have a chance for survival.

THAT is what our country was created for. THAT is the purpose of America.

Until this concept is embraced and accepted, our country will not succeed. We are still in the learning process. This, this "what song will represent us?" is one lesson that we are still learning. It's a bump in the road, a symbol of transition.

Very impressive.

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by 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!

I vote----Russia.

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by 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.

The US does overdo hero worship. Wonder if that is tribal as well as worldwide?

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by Byte1

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.

If the US IS the best county in the world, why are we around 20th or 30th in world lists of things like "quality of life" and "upward mobility"? We are behind the UK. We were # 1 around 1950 after WW2, not today!

[Byte1]

Originally Posted by jimjamuser

If the US IS the best county in the world, why are we around 20th or 30th in world lists of things like "quality of life" and "upward mobility"? We are behind the UK. We were # 1 around 1950 after WW2, not today!

It all has to do with opinion. I've been to a lot of countries to live and there is not one that I would rather live in, and none of them have anything that I would use to change this country. I find it amusing if not a bit sad to see spoiled Americans always looking over the fence into that other field for better grass. Sorry, but that field that everyone else wants is OURS. Still the BEST country in the World. I can always tell when someone is ignorant of what is really going on in other countries when it comes to the common man. Most countries have a middle class that is equivalent to our lower class lifestyle. Our welfare recipients live as well as the middle class in many countries, and that is easily proven. There are even studies done that provide insight to that statement. But, all these so called social justice folks think that those that do not produce deserve to have the same lifestyle as those of us that worked for what we have. Why is that?

Nope, in America we have the BEST chance of success, no matter who you are.

[Snowprint]

There’s nothing wrong with having a debate. It’s not being unpatriotic to bring up the bad deeds that are part our history. I, personally, think it’s wrong to condemn someone for being a slave owner when it was a legal and accepted practice, especially since many of our founding fathers were engaged in that peculiar institution. But someone that thinks differently doesn’t threaten me or attack our “freedom.” That’s why America is great, precisely because you can object to past traditions that may be popular. If it was up to the majority, then there wouldn’t be gay marriage, for instance. Despite the wailing and gnashing of the people who claimed that gay marriage was going to “destroy” America, that has proved to be nonsense.
As for there not being systemic racism, that’s just nonsense. This community is full of it, and the proof is seen in the posts that dominate on this site with unending talk about how the “blacks” are going too far, go back to where they came from, etc.
Here’s a clear example from Mississippi. An election supervisor was alarmed that “a lot of Blacks were registering to vote and “people” need to stand up and do something. It’s clear that she doesn’t think “Blacks” qualify to even be considered people. Or Tucker Carlson, surprising no one being on Fox News, is suddenly on vacation after his head writer was discovered to be a racist and misogynistic. You know he’s the guy who said that the Black Lives Matter protesters were going to “be coming for you...”
There’s no reason to be scared of change, like having the disappearance of the Confederate battle flag is probably a good thing. Especially since it only flew for four years, over 150 years ago, and was flown by traitors. The genius of Lincoln was to not punish them, but I doubt he’d approve people celebrating their treason 150 years later. If you don’t think many people fly it because they want everyone to know they don’t like Black people, then I wonder if you’re paying attention. Do you ever wonder why everyone you see with a Confederate battle flag is White?

[kcrazorbackfan]

Originally Posted by Mrprez

I think the next thing that should go is this whole cancel "culture".

I totally agree, as should all the “tools” that think it should go away.