[Desiderata]

Originally Posted by skarra

I don't see any problem with it.

In fact, most of the players are black so it's perhaps appropriate that they play that song.

It may also be a good opportunity to become more open minded. Learn something new about other cultures
Great game. They all seem to be close these days. I believe it had one of the highest audiences of all time.

I agree that most of the players are black, but playing a “black national anthem” seems very divisive to me.. The half time shows, in the last 4 years, seem to be meant to mostly entertain a black audience. Is that for the purpose of entertaining the players, not the majority of the audience?

[ThirdOfFive]

Originally Posted by JMintzer

And quickly turning into a "bowl of granola"... What isn't fruits and nuts is flakes... (apologies to Gallagher...)

Funny!

And also (unfortunately) true.

[ThirdOfFive]

Originally Posted by Desiderata

I agree that most of the players are black, but playing a “black national anthem” seems very divisive to me.. The half time shows, in the last 4 years, seem to be meant to mostly entertain a black audience. Is that for the purpose of entertaining the players, not the majority of the audience?

Agreed.

One not-so-minor point though needs to be made. Most of the players are AMERICANS who happen to be black. Putting ethnicity, color, or any other physical attribute before that fact is divisive.

Originally Posted by Randall55

Nothing wrong with justice for all. Nowadays, "for all" means much more to some. It is a cause they truly.believe in. I have never been a minority but I do my best to understand. I'm kinda proud the majority is not fighting them tooth and nail. It shows most of us are not the "bad guys" they seem to be fighting.

Define minority...

Funny how fast overall applications of numbers can change with strategic planning vs say, happenstance.

Lots of new flocks of "birds", "migrating", changing the "monet" canvas, tipping scales. If it happens by the "laws" of nature fine, thats a very good thing. If it happens via bird-feeders and tossing bread crumbs at the expense of the well-being of the species, defying the "laws" of nature; degrading life, liberty and persuit of happiness, that's another.

I bet one is now a minority if one looks beyond their own window. Perhaps one is not a minority anymore with the exception of within T V bubble?

I heard someone in the real world say we are not a "melting pot" but a "salad". Made me want to spit my salad out.

The national anthem sees no skin color but stands for freedom. To pay tribute to one that calls out skin color is un-american at its core.

[MandoMan]

Originally Posted by DALEPQ

Granted this is an opinion, and probably will be removed from forum.
So; What was the purpose/benefit of singing the "Black National Anthem" at the Super Bowl??
We are ONE NATION, with ONE NATIONAL ANTHEM!!
To me, the Black National Athem, encourages division, it does not encourage unity!
So, what is next? Latino Anthem, or maybe LGBTQ anthem.
"ONE NATION.....with liberty and justice for all", what is wrong with that??

It’s an attempt to pacify some NFL players who might otherwise “take a knee” because they are not proud to be Americans.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by MandoMan

It’s an attempt to pacify some NFL players who might otherwise “take a knee” because they are not proud to be Americans.

Those who took a knee should have been immediately banned from all professional sports for life.

[bowlingal]

Dale....I agree with you 100%. why is there a need for a black national anthem? We should be ONE nation, with ONE national anthem. Why is there also a BET tv station? If we want everyone to mesh together ,get along, work together ,than why the separate categories? This just makes everything much worse.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

I'll look for the citation. Meanwhile, I was afraid that it might get booed or worse and was happy they changed their minds. I like the song as well, I just don't feel it should be a "national anthem" for any American

Here is the text:


The Super Bowl Will Again Feature Two 'National Anthems'
COMMENTARY
By Dennis PagerFebruary 06, 2024
The Super Bowl Will Again Feature Two 'National Anthems'FR170650 AP
This coming Sunday, at the most widely viewed sporting event in America, the Super Bowl, the National Football League will feature the singing of "Lift Every Voice and Sing," the song first known as the "Negro national anthem" and now known as the "black national anthem."

In order to ensure that those present at the game and the more than 100 million people watching on television cannot avoid hearing it, the "black national anthem" will, according to the schedule I have seen, be played after the actual national anthem of the United States. If that is the case, this will presumably be done in order to also ensure that everyone is still standing when it is sung. The NFL probably fears that some of those attending the game -- specifically, those who possess two increasingly rare traits: love of America and courage -- might not rise for the "black national anthem." But if they were already standing for the national anthem, few will sit when the "black national anthem" is then sung. The NFL doesn't want a repeat of what occurred at last year's Super Bowl in Arizona, when, as ABC News reported, "Former Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake went viral in 2023 for remaining seated during a performance of the song at Super Bowl LVII." Last year, the "black national anthem" was played prior to the national anthem.

How destructive a decision performing the "black national anthem" at sporting events is -- whether before or after the national anthem -- can be summarized this way: Roger Goodell, the NFL commissioner, is among the few Americans of whom it will one day be said that he seriously damaged America. In 2021, the Washington Times noted, "Under Roger Goodell, the NFL has gone far beyond the kneeling; it's doubling down on 'social justice.' In addition to painting more slogans in the end zones and on players' helmets, the League will be donating $250 million to Black Lives Matter and other activist groups to 'combat systemic racism and support the battle against the ongoing and historical injustices faced by African-Americans.'"

and the URL:

https://www.realclearpolitics.com/ar...ms_150445.html

Thanks for the link. Turns out to be one man’s opinion.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

Thanks for the link. Turns out to be one man’s opinion.

One man's opinion on one website---yes.

How many millions agree with it? Actually, EVERY American should agree with it----we are ONE NATION.

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by Desiderata

I agree that most of the players are black, but playing a “black national anthem” seems very divisive to me.. The half time shows, in the last 4 years, seem to be meant to mostly entertain a black audience. Is that for the purpose of entertaining the players, not the majority of the audience?

You presume to know the makeup of the audience. My guess is the NFL has a better idea of that than you do.

It's sad to see an assumption about the intent of the halftime show based on the skin color of the performers.

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

I'll look for the citation. Meanwhile, I was afraid that it might get booed or worse and was happy they changed their minds. I like the song as well, I just don't feel it should be a "national anthem" for any American

Here is the text:
...

https://www.realclearpolitics.com/ar...ms_150445.html

WOW! That was just the beginning of the vitriol in that commentary piece.

The author assumes an intent from a schedule he has seen. Based on the remainder of the article, I wonder if the author didn't see that schedule immediately after he created it himself.

I'll make some assumptions about the author based on his article and say that this is not a man whose opinions hold any credibility. Yes, they are his opinions, but they are not worth the paper they are written on.

[Federspiel]

I wonder if Native Americans have an anthem? We should play that too.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

WOW! That was just the beginning of the vitriol in that commentary piece.

The author assumes an intent from a schedule he has seen. Based on the remainder of the article, I wonder if the author didn't see that schedule immediately after he created it himself.

I'll make some assumptions about the author based on his article and say that this is not a man whose opinions hold any credibility. Yes, they are his opinions, but they are not worth the paper they are written on.

So the opinion of a commentator on a well known website "holds no credibility" and he created his facts himself??? But any opinion to the contrary is completely valid and factual???? What flavor Kool-Aid is that, anyway?????

[Vermilion Villager]

Originally Posted by DALEPQ

Granted this is an opinion, and probably will be removed from forum.
So; What was the purpose/benefit of singing the "Black National Anthem" at the Super Bowl??
We are ONE NATION, with ONE NATIONAL ANTHEM!!
To me, the Black National Athem, encourages division, it does not encourage unity!
So, what is next? Latino Anthem, or maybe LGBTQ anthem.
"ONE NATION.....with liberty and justice for all", what is wrong with that??

If you go down this road then you should ask the question, why do they even play the national anthem?

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by blueash

Let's compare lyrics

Lift Every Voice evokes images and faith that those brought here in chains are now Americans and have faith that this country will continue to move toward equality. It is a very pro-American song acknowledging the suffering of the past and the promise of this nation to make it right.

"We have come, treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered,
Out from the gloomy past,
Till now we stand at last
Where the white gleam of our bright star is cast....
True to our native land. "

or the SBB which has this lovely verse celebrating the death of slaves and pointedly saying that the "land of the free" does not and should not include slaves as free fully realized people.

Francis Scott Key, a slaveholder, had shortly before writing the poem seen a British unit of freed Black slaves win a crucial battle against Americans in the War of 1812.

"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 wash'd out their foul footstep's 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."

Which America is more worthy of praise? Which song speaks to aspirations of an honorable, decent, and free nation?

SBB? Do you mean Star Spangled Banner (SSB)?

Whatever Key may have felt about slavery, the SSB does not comment on it at all. The stanza you quote makes a prediction about those fighting for the British side, not every employee and slave in the states.

Both songs are admirable. One is a song of hoping to achieve liberty through battle written at a time the battle was occurring. The other is a song of hope after having achieved liberty. If we put chest-beating and racism aside, you could almost imagine the SSB as the pre-1814 song and "Lift Every Voice.." as the post-1815 song (though it wasn't written until the 1900s).