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Welcome to the U.S.A. where freedom of speech is the law of the land, but if you opt not to speak or, in this case, not to play "The Star-Spangled Banner" before a sporting event, you're sure to be accused of not being patriotic enough. Today, a tiny Christian college in Goshen (aka Goshwherethehell?), Indiana is at risk for being chastised because of this. Given their ties to the Mennonite Church, the school recently decided to nix the playing of the national anthem, after getting complaints that the song's "images of war and the military" undermined the school's pacifist message.
Goshen College's board of directors decided that it's time to find an alternative to the anthem, which instead "fits with sports tradition, that honors the country, that resonates with their core values, and that respects the views of diverse constituencies."
When they put it that way, I'm not sure how you can blame them for wanting to take a pass on the Francis Scott Key classic.
Even though the anthem is the conventional way for most sports communities to honor this great country of ours, playing it isn't and shouldn't be mandatory. As for Goshen College, I totally understand why they would want to bow out of using it. The lyrics come from a poem inspired by the bombardment of Fort McHenry by the British Royal Navy ships during the War of 1812. Obviously, it relies heavily on "images of war and the military." It may make most of us think of becoming an independent nation, fireworks on the 4th of July, or of course, attending sporting events, but to the pacifists of Goshen, Indiana, it's a reminder of what they stand against: violence and bloodshed.
Say the NFL or MLB just up and decided that they didn't want to play the anthem anymore. Would it be an assault on tradition? Maybe to some people. But if those professional sports leagues didn't feel "The Star-Spangled Banner" didn't best reflect what they stood for, then that's their prerogative. I'm not saying I'd like the idea of skipping a patriotic tune altogether. But there are plenty of others out there that aren't so ... bombastic? Others that honor our country without invoking "bombs bursting in air."
If fans didn't like an alternative choice, they could stay home. And hey, consider hockey for a moment. In the NHL, they always play the Canadian national anthem in addition to ours. That's their community's decision.
Similarly, it should be up to each individual league or community’s values and view of the anthem whether or not they use it. More power to Goshen College!
What do you think -- should playing "The Star-Spangled Banner" be mandatory at sporting events?
Image via ruralgold/Flickr
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Comments (10)
I've been to plenty of games where they also played America the Beautiful before the event, why not just play that and not make a big deal of it? No, playing the anthem doesn't make the event patriotic--when I was deployed, the national anthem was played before every movie in the theater on our base and of course that didn't make the movie patriotic. But I think it's kind of hypocritical to shun our national anthem while enjoying the benefits and protections that they are given as American citizens. If they don't like the song, they should still find a way to show respect to the nation and our flag.
This is America, don't like it, leave. We have traditions that NEED to be upheld. We NEED to remember what so many have fought and died to protect. Images of war my foot, that's how we came to be! Like it or leave, your call. You won't be missed.
Home of the free BECAUSE of the brave!
This is ridiculous! The NATIONAL ANTHEM shouldn't be basically dismissed because you feel it is violent. It is the song of our country. How do they think we have the country we have, by shaking hands and saying "thanks but we want to have our own country so please leave us alone and let us have it." No, they are playing that sport BECAUSE soldiers had to fight and be violent for it. You are at that school right now BECAUSE soldiers had to fight and be violent for it. They basically just slapped every one of the soldiers fighting for us in the face. What a bunch of idiots.
Oh, thus be it ever when free men shall stand between their loved homes and the war's desolation; Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n rescued land Praise and Pow'r that hath made and preserved us a nation! Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just; and this be our motto: "In God is our trust!" And the Star-Spangled Banner in triumph shall wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
This is the second verse of our national anthem. The school and Mennonite community can enjoy the freedom to practice their religion because of the brave men that fought for it all those years ago. Like it or not, to gain freedom sometimes there must be war. I wonder, do they oppose law enforcement because police officers sometimes have to use violence to protect others.