Society & Lifestyle >
Society & Lifestyle (Other)
Get a Widget for this title
RSS FeedDoes our pop culture show disrespect the US National Anthem?
Results so far:
| No | 48% | 49 votes | Total: 102 votes | |
| Yes | 52% | 53 votes |
No
Write now
Print
Invite a writer™
Add to FavoritesThe Star Spangled Banner was written by Francis Scott Key during the War of 1812 after he witnessed the horrific night-long shelling of Fort McHenry by the British, and then saw the U.S. flag still flying over the fort at dawn. It's an expression of awe at the heroism, the selflessness, and the courage of the men... and the nation... that stood behind that flag.
At Woodstock in 1969, Jimi Hendrix played the Star Spangled Banner in one of his most famous performances. In a clear anti-war statement, he used his guitar to intersperse his interpretation with sounds of explosions and destruction, and ultimately burned his guitar onstage. Hard-core patriots were outraged, anti-war activists declared it a triumph, and the music community cheered it as further proof of Hendrix's musical genius.
Was Hendrix disrespecting the National Anthem? No. He took a musical piece loaded with high principles and twisted it to express the twisted nature of U.S. policy at the time. It was a potent political message, showing no disrespect to the song or its meaning. Rather, he used the National Anthem as a vehicle to make a musical, political commentary. The principles of the National Anthem were never challenged.
There are hundreds of examples in pop culture where the Star Spangled Banner has been used for artistic purposes, but never to disrespect the song or the spirit behind it. In the sitcom "The Odd Couple", one of the characters (a dim-witted New York cop named Murray) writes a script where a character with a lisp sings the National Anthem at a sports event. They debate whether "Oh Thay can you Thee" is bad writing or comedy.
In the movie "The Naked Gun", a dimwitted investigator is put in the position of singing the National Anthem at a ball game, and mangles the lyrics, demonstrating his stupidity... again... but also symbolizing the general ignorance of the U.S. public.
In the musical "Hair" the lines "Oh Say, Can you see, by my eyes, if you can, then my hair's too short!" are sung to the national anthem's tune... but only to show how the high principles of freedom's defense have been twisted to condemn a hair, life, and political choice.
Re-interpreti ng the National Anthem to address these issues (stupidity, political commentary, social perspectives) does not disrespect the song. It simply uses the Anthem as a symbol to frame a question. And usually that question is "Aren't we pursuing stupid goals when you view them against our heroic heritage?"
Now, does pop culture itself disrespect the National Anthem? Does the core of our entertainment culture show a lack of respect for the courage and heroism of those who defended our freedom?
Not at all. Rather, it is ringing proof that the U.S. people have created and enjoy a society of unprecedented freedom, where the pursuit of mindless and trivial escape has become the nut of our society.
The true disrespect for our National Anthem is not pop culture. It's expressed more in our daily decisions to accept foreign invasions of people and products aimed only at exploiting our country rather than building it. It's expressed in our selection of political leaders who put their own interests ahead the needs of our people.
The disrespect is not in pop culture, its in our political, economic, and social choices. Entertainment is not the institution taking a pee on our national symbols. Rather, it is the American people who disrespect the National Anthem through their lack of backbone, ideals, and patriotism.
Learn more about this author, Eric Lannak.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.
Yes
Does our pop culture show disrespect the US National Anthem?
My answer to that is yes! Most of the pop culture of this country definitely does show disrespect to our National Anthem, our Flag, and our Nation. I am not an avid sports fan, but on those occasions when I do watch, I cannot help but feel embarrassed for those who try (unsuccessfully) to put a modern pop spin on something as noble, soul stirring, and high as the U.S. National Anthem. However, it happens not only at sports events, but at other venues as well. It seems as if a pop star most often must attempt to sing it. It often comes off as so much off key wailing.
The Star Spangled Banner is not easy to sing as a solo and should not be attempted by just anyone. Never, in my opinion, should the Anthem be sung as an a cappella solo- few can accomplish good results. Most pop stars do not have the range or style to carry it off. Those who do, destroy it by other means, such as the unnecessary changing of pitch, up and down, at the end of a phrase. And it takes tremendous vocal control and range to raise the song's last note one octave higher than written, as many often attempt. While the words are important and stirring in and of themselves, the results of an a cappella solo rendering is often weak and unmoving and does little justice to so great a composition. However, a good a cappella choir can render a resounding performance of it.
The rendering of the Star Spangled Banner should be such as to put shivers up one's spine, goose bumps in one's flesh, and a lump in the throat; such as occurs when it is played at the Olympics or when rendered by the U. S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, or Marine Bands. I have heard some great vocal renditions of it, but not often by pop singers and never, I believe, as an a cappella solo. The most stirring vocal arrangements of our National Anthem almost always include the use of marshal style instrumental backup. If the piece must be rendered without the benefit of a band, I personally would prefer it be done by a good a cappella choir or as a dramatic reading of it as a poem.
Of course, the hearer of the song must have a certain amount of pride in this country to realize the most emotion and feeling from the piece. Also, a basic knowledge of our country's history and the struggle with England in the War of 1812, would help deepen one's appreciation of the words.
It was written as a poem by Francis Scott Key in 1814 as he stood on the deck of a British warship as a prisoner, watching the bombardment of Fort McHenry by the Royal Navy. The poem was and is a tribute to our flag and our, then, infant and struggling nation.
The way The Anthem is most often rendered today is disrespectful and demeaning of it, our flag, and our country, as well as those who serve and die for them, now and in the past. Being born in 1936, I was taught, before grade school, to respect all things representing our great nation. I wish we could return to those teachings and attitudes today.
Having said all of that , I must hasten to say that, excepting most of the "pop" culture, I believe that by and large, the people of this country still respect and revere our Flag and our National Anthem. Long may they and the Nation stand!
Learn more about this author, Richard Ellis.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.
Difference of opinion? Debate now.
- Society & Lifestyle (Other)
- Congestion pricing: Is it the solution to our traffic problems?
- Are rape victims subject to more scrutiny and skepticism than other crime victims?
- Will the $1 tax increase for a pack of cigarettes in Connecticut make you stop smoking?
- Are we really that much smarter than our ancestors?
- Do you think requiring that payday loan stores be located no closer than 1,500 feet from each other will improve MacArthur Boulevard and/or be good for the rest of Springfield?
