Take a Knee

[rogruth]

I have never heard of changing a national anthem unless there was a major change in a country such as a revolution.
It seems to me that a revolution may be in the works in our country but I hope not. Or not until I am dead.
I have never lived in another country and I have not heard anything about another country that has ever made me think I would want to live there.
I am probably what would be considered to be a super patriot. That doesn't mean that I am going to do outrageous things to show that I am.
We put out our U.S. flag most days, salute it at appropriate times, sing the National Anthem and honor our country when we can.
Yes, the Star Spangeled Banner did not become our National Anthem until 1931 but it had been the de facto anthem for many years. I understand
that God Bless America was second choice. I wonder if that would be considered inappropriate today?
I want to hear it performed as written. The extra added flourishes are not right or needed and are detracting from its nobility.
If you disagree with my position that is fine with me.
I am not going to argue with anyone about this. I stated my opinion. Others can state theirs. We do not have to fight about it.
And that is why I love this country.

[HONDO74]

I understand
that God Bless America was second choice. I wonder if that would be considered inappropriate today?

It would drive the LIBs totally nut because it has the word GOD in it...

[MurphOnMillerAve]

Perhaps, a place to start such conversation, on the national stage, would be discussing what an anthem - our anthem - is supposed to say. Is there editing needed of the present song? Does something need added? Does an entirely new one need to be crafted? To say what, specifically? And for whom?

And maybe less high-pitched notes?

If somebody does feel uncomfortable with it, perhaps that indicates it is time to consider changes?

Yet, would these knee-takers still take such a posture during the playing/singing of a new song, demonstrating that it is not the wording that they object to but the fact of the whole country itself?

Also, how is it that women have not complained about the wording? Have they simply correctly concluded that, surely, when we speak or sing of America, they have been included in the statement as well, and they do not need singled out for attention?

Somehow, this topic brings to mind the Vietnam Memorial. As first envisioned, its design won the competition specifically because it had no statues giving attention to any particular race or gender, as I recall. Years went by. And it was decided to include groupings of figures, which are placed near the wall. A topic of great passions managed to be discussed and amended, concretely, to the tribute it now is. I see that as an example of matters that are very close to hearts being effectively discussed and resulting in an acceptable outcome.

[robert.]

I had a music teacher that had your same opinion Rodger. She said " you don't applaud the song. You can clap in appreciation for the singer. No flashing lights no fog machines. No fireworks and no interpretation of how it should be sang. See had a long music teaching career. That started in Hungary. She and her professor developed a method of teaching music. She may have been the person that cried during Close encounters of the 3rd kind.

[rogruth]

I wanted to hear the Whitney Houston version of God Save the Queen.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

I understand that God Bless America was second choice.

Anybody other than Kate Smith singing that song is heresy!

Now keep your stick on the ice....

[robert.]

Every so often when the flyer's need a win. They bring out a hologram of Kate smith singing god bless America. If it's a must win game they us Luaren hart to do a duet with Kate's hologram.

[robert.]

It just hit me that the flyers don't play the national anthem before games.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

It just hit me that the flyers don't play the national anthem before games.

There is no requirement to play the National Anthem before sporting events. And, as we oft times see it, the flag displayed flat over the field surrounded by people is also improper way to display the flag.

[Roy]

And you don't want to use TWITTER to disparage the President........................In Zimbabwe .
Notice it was an American who did it.

American charged with subversion in Zimbabwe goes to court
https://www.yahoo.com/news/american-cha ... 09016.html

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — An American woman charged with subversion in Zimbabwe for allegedly insulting the president on Twitter as a "sick man" made her first court appearance on Saturday as her lawyers disputed the charges that carry up to 20 years in prison.

I feel sorry for her. She must really be scared. I guess she never heard the expression, "When in Rome..."

BBC - Mugabe resigns: Zimbabwe celebrates end of an era: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-42072673

[HONDO74]

Roy...Africans selling other Africans as slaves. Imagine that.

Footage shows African migrants being sold as slaves at auction for as little as £300 each
https://www.yahoo.com/news/libyan-gover ... 59672.html

The Libyan government is to investigate allegations that African migrants are being sold as slaves at auctions.

Tens of thousands of migrants, many of them from West Africa but also Bangladesh, Somalia, Sudan and Eritrea, are being held in camps and warehouses on the Libyan coast, hoping to reach Europe.

When the warehouses become overcrowded, or if migrants are unable to pay traffickers for the boat journey towards Italy – where many are rescued by NGO-operated vessels – they are sold.

The existence of modern-day slave markets has been known for months, with testimony from the International Organisation for Migration and other humanitarian agencies, but last week CNN obtained video footage of one such auction.

In scenes reminiscent of the 19th century, when the slave trade was rife, auctioneers advertised a group of West African migrants as “big strong boys for farm work.” The auctioneers referred to the migrants in Arabic as “merchandise”.

[MurphOnMillerAve]

Though it was on the TV screen for just a few seconds, at most, since I was channel-surfing, I saw a football team assembled at the side of the field, with some team members standing and some kneeling. The standees were of African-American and Caucasian appearance. I thought that was courageous of them to stand, expressing themselves, with obvious personal conviction, just as others were "taking-a-knee." Interesting. To me, at least.

[Roy]

Roy...Africans selling other Africans as slaves. Imagine that...

Yes, I saw the video, and heard the story. Unfortunately, I'm not sure our President will lift a finger to help these people.

[MurphOnMillerAve]

I wonder if some of the fellows who "take a knee" will be celebrating Thanksgiving Day.

[chuck]

I'd prefer America the Beautiful as the national anthem because its easier to sing/play, has no wartime overtones, and the poem's religious overtones, while present, are more muted. Acknowledging "God shed his grace on thee" as opposed to "light that shines from above" intimating a continuing blessing which may be interpreted as "God" continuing to bless whatever we do.

I'm not sure how many Americans know that the Star Spangled Banner's music is a British drinking song or that the "victory" in the war of 1812 had more to do with what happened at sea with the British Navy (press gangs) and whether this (press gangs and other maritime interference) was an excuse to try to grab some land (Canada), which failed miserably. The Canadians believe they won since they kicked our invading forces out. Washington DC was invaded and the White House and other buildings were burned. I'm really not sure that there is much in there to really celebrate other than the naval victories that aren't even mentioned.

Regarding the protest of taking a knee, this is extremely mild compared to the actions taken during the Vietnam war protests. I tend to side with Evelyn Hall,

"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it".

Given the real problems we are facing as a country/planet I would hope people would focus more on those issues/problems than on the side show farce that is actually diverting attention from those issues/problems.

The often misunderstood and often truncated quote "My country right or wrong" is often bandied about by extreme nationalist that either don't know the whole quote:

"My country, right or wrong; if right, to be kept right; and if wrong, to be set right."

or deliberately drop that latter parts. While looking up the citation someone pointed out G.K. Chesterton's counter quote:

"‘My country, right or wrong,’ is a thing that no patriot would think of saying. It is like saying, ‘My mother, drunk or sober.’”