Should The Star Spangled Banner Be Discontinued From Sporting Events?
Most of you, if not all, have heard that Christina Aguilera botched the lyrics for the National Anthem. According to Fanhouse’s Kevin Blackistone, this should the catalyst for the discontinuation of the The Star-Spangled Banner as a pre game ritual.
On Capitol Hill one June day in 1955, moments after what was dubbed as a premiere of The Pledge of Allegiance set to music, House members in attendance and gallery spectators looking on engaged in a rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
It wasn’t planned for our national lawmakers to sing the United States’ anthem that day. It never is.
Sports, however, have and continue to ritualize it with barely a shred of relevance.
It was, no doubt, Christina Aguilera’s fault that she flubbed the National Anthem’s lyrics at the Super Bowl on Sunday. But if our lawmakers don’t sing it every day to begin the country’s business, spectators of a mere sporting event shouldn’t be forced to sit through it, either, especially during the time we are living through right now.
There are, after all, a lot of people out there who argue that they don’t want politics to have anything to do with sports. They accuse coaches, athletes and media of disrespecting service men and women in battle by using war metaphors to describe how touchdowns are scored, come-from-behind victories are achieved and adversity is fought through to win a game.
Yet, those same people don’t see a contradiction at rising to their feet at every sporting event to mouth (a 2004 Harris Interactive poll showed most U.S. citizens don’t know the National Anthem’s lyrics) words that came to Francis Scott Key as he watched U.S. soldiers at Baltimore’s Fort McHenry raise a huge American flag to celebrate surviving bombardment from British forces during the War of 1812. Instead, they hoot and holler, sometimes with an American banner turned into a bandana on their heads, when military jets swoop overhead as the color guard prepares to relinquish the field of play to the opposing sports teams.
That is sports framed by the politics of militarism that has nothing to do with football, baseball or a NASCAR race.
You can check out the rest of the article here.
While he makes some valid points, this caveman is on the fence about releasing that tradition. Maybe it is just a tradition for the sake of being a tradition. But I do not mind the pre-game reminder that while these teams are competing, they are united under the same nation. While I have never served, I do not feel like the song disrespects the Soldiers who have fought and died for the country, but more honors the memory of them, and how the United States came to be.
What do you think Rock Heads? Should we banish the Banner, or keep the tradition alive?
I think it should stay. I think it should be taken seriously too. Being a veteran, I understand the sacrifices made for this country. It is too bad that people don’t understand this. The biggest problem is that people who have the privilege to sing it feel the need to show boat it and blow it. Example: The Super Bowl.
I say “no”, we should not ban the star spangled banner, what we should do is ban the idiots and twits who try to make it their own.
When watching the Canadian anthem, the entire venue sings as its always sung one way. This song was meant to have people face the flag, reflect on how fortunate they are to be an American and to sing along PROUDLY to it. The pledge of allegance is said each day the same way and so should the song be sung. My father who is retired military has sent mail to our local hockey team to ask that they stop having people sing it and have a recording of it played instead because all anyone can think of while the song is being sung is how bad its being butchered. It is a time for patriotism which in this day and age we need more of not less. So lets ban the dumb butts who want to sing it their way and not allow the crowd to join in. I know I’m rambling but this has been an issue with my father since I was 20 and I’m 48 now, so its now my reality as well. Thanks for your sounding board.
David Marcantonio
No, it should not be banned regardless of the poor performances done by stars over the years. Spending a few moments before a sporting event to listen/sing the national anthem is a small but important reminder of what this country stands for and that we are proud of our country. It also is a reminder of the sacrifices that have and are being made so that we can sit in safety and enjoy our sports.
The more this country moves away from being “proud to be an American”, the further we get from what this country was founded upon. We must stand united, especially in this day and age. The National Anthem is a reminder of our unity, our respect for our flag and country, and most importantly a symbol of our patriotism and the patriotism of those who have served, died, and still serve to defend our constitution and freedoms. I think complacency has replaced patriotism for many in this country. Without Patriotism (the National Anthem as a strong symbol of this) our country will become weaker and “less” united. That is dangerous for all of us, those against the National Anthem, and those who are proud we still play the National Anthem at sporting events. I would be offended, and quite frankly “saddened,” if one of the only traditions of unity and patriotism were banned. It would be a dark day in the history of our “STILL GREAT” country.
Ban Christine Aguilera and the other so called super stars who think their rendition is something spectacular. These (superstar) are more interested in putting the focus on themselves than on actually singing the National Anthem. The groups that want politics and sports seperate for reasons such as teh use metaphors etc are in the minority, and I’m sick and tired of minority groups ruling our country. Have a mind of your own for a change and stand up for you know is right and that is the service men are indeed honored by a meaningful and tasteful rendition of National Anthem before any event.
Keep the Star Spangled Banner but don’t have Christina sing at any more sportiing events.
I think the song is more important than the game…..
It is part of our Americana Tradition. What kind of nation this will be is everything that was laid out for us as tradition becomes irrelevant and we do not put pride and tradition for the young generation to follow. So somebody messed a few lirics here and there, so what. My generation knows the lirics and it has always been part of everysport that I know. It is part of our traditions, our nation and our people. Keep the The Star Spangled Banner going for yesterday, today and tomorrow.
Having or not having it is irrelevant but it should not be sung by socalled celebrities instead it should only be done by someone who is hired by the stadium to sing it at every event
The Banner should not be banned from any sporting event. Just because someone made a mistake doesn’t mean that something should be eliminated. Congress makes mistakes every time they meet, does that mean that they should be discontinued.
Leave it alone…at least it gives some of the athletes a chance to salute and be proud of the nation that allows them to choose…that being the USA.
No it should not be banned,only the people that try to change it.I have to turn the sound down everytime somebody wants to change it from the way it is supposed to be sung.Starting with Whitney Houston!
No. We should ban those who do not know the words. Only allow those who can sing it the way it was meant to be sung.
I put this on Facebook the day after the Super Bowl…
“I haven’t heard this anywhere, but it seems to me The Star Spangled Banner, God Bless America, and America The Beautiful ARE NOT….ARE NOT….songs you mess with. THEY ARE AMERICAN SONGS….FOR AMERICANS. They are OURRRRR songs. Sing them as written. DO NOT MAKE THEM YOUR OWN OR PUT YOUR SIGNATURE ON IT. THAT TO ME IS THE SAME AS DEFACING OUR FLAG.”
Don;t mind it being sung if it is sung as it was written instead of all these individual versions for the benefit of the individual that is singing it.
ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!! Just find someone with intelligence that can sing.
Of course you need the national anthem before a game. I’m in Phila, the Flyers mix in God bless America here and thare. I’ve heard America the Beautiful before. Yes, fans need to get off their beer duffs and be thankful for the freedom to watch a football game and listen to a patriotic song. Does it have to be SSB every night, no, mix a couple differnt ones in there, but SSB should be played the most.
It should stay and be sung with respect.