djofraleigh's blog

national anthem --

 abuse

Some would have America the Beautiful made the National Anthem

(and we could have many anthems).

Some people might object to that new Anthem

for its constant references to God:

"God mend thy every flaw"

"God shed his grace on thee"

"May God thy gold refine" 

or Native Americans and Mexican-Americans might object to:

"...pilgrims feet" making

"A thoroughfare for freedom beat across the wilderness!"

and some might resent the wish of the last line

"...a whiter jubilee."

Seems some object to the war theme of our current anthem. 

Yet, the Star Spangled Banner is truly anti-war

speaking harshly of war as "havoc" and "desolation"

& bringing the "gloom of the grave."

Is that realism not, in truth, anti-war?

Add America the Beautiful if you like,

but please, keep what we have as well.

 On the Anthem...the rest of the story

A prisoner on a British ship, Francis Scott Key,

witnessed the bombardment of US Ft. McHenry,

just weeks after he had seen them burn our Capitol.

(Taking US sailors prisoner was a cause of the War of 1812.)

F.S. Key was alive in time to read and hear first hand

of the end of the long Revolutionary War,

to have read the first printing of our great Constitution,

and the swearing in of George Washington as first President.

Here was still that same old King George of England,

still the strongest military power in the world,

still the primary enemy of Key's young nation,

threatening to end this great experiment of democracy,

even as Napoleon was threatening European Kings.

How happy should Key have been to see his flag survive?

Key was a lawyer, had taken cases before the Supreme Court.

Key was AGAINST the war, yet did serve when called.

He was beaten at the battle of Bladenberg,

but he was not defeated this dawn, although held a prisoner.

He set his words to the tune of a drinking song,

creating lyrics speaking harshly of war

as "havoc" and "desolation"

& bringing the "gloom of the grave."

Key was a first generation American, a brave man,

a thinking man who saw both sides of reality and idealism.

Key's brother-in-law later would swear in Abe Lincoln.

Yes, a young lawyer, against the war starting,

fought in it, was captured, and as a prisoner,

wrote the words that became our Anthem,

“land of the free and home of the brave.”

Such is the stuff America is built upon.

Any man or woman can BE free,

but the brave make people free.

Any country can have as many Anthems as they please,

but please, let's keep the Star Spangled Banner waving,

even if it is hard to sing and no one knows the lyrics.

dj of Raleigh  (talking like Paul Harvey, who should do this one)

O yes,..The French Anthem, The Marseillaise" precedes ours,

and it gets my vote for the most stirring melody of all anthems,

making me want to march all right, if not to war,

but for war mongering lyrics La Marseilaise reigns.

“…To arms citizens Form your battalions
March, march
Let impure blood
Water our furrows …”

Francis Scott Key surely heard the French Anthem before writing his,

and surely he was inspired for his young country to have one, too

as he wondered, then found hope for his country to survive and thrive.

(I wrote this for another purpose, but share them with you, for the fourth)

Hope you had a happy & appreciative 4th of July, yall.....your friend on line,

dj of raleigh 

Filed under: Government