woman sings "black national anthem" instead of star spangled banner.

[saden1]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

True, but it's the same United States of America that later decided slavery was a horrible idea, eventually gave blacks the right to vote, and ended segregation.

She didn't sing the song in 1863. She sung the song in 2008.

I get that the song is rooted in history, and should be appreciated for the two different worlds blacks and whites lived in back then. But it's not like that now. If you want to put out a CD with that on it, go for it. But at a public event? To me it was very self-indulgent and inappropriate.

I agree as indicated in my first post.

[GhettoDogAllStars]

I don't have any problem with it. It's a beautiful song. I suppose she didn't keep her word, if she agreed to sing the National Anthem, but whatever. I give her props for her courage.

After reading the lyrics, it is apparent that all races can relate to them -- not only African Americans.

America is defined by so much more than the War of 1812 (for which the Star Spangled Banner was written). I think this song is more reflective of America's struggle and character than the Star Spangled Banner.

[EternalEnigma21]

1st off America the Beautiful should be our national anthem, in my opinion... but if it is an American tradition to sing our national anthem, and someone sings any other song, it is very unpatriotic. Using a racial stance to hide behind a publicity stunt should be shunned upon by anyone on either side of the debate about the song. Singing both would have been a far more civilized statement, but we wouldn't be discussing it here... She knew that and took advantage of her situation. We're the drubs for buzzing about it now....

[FRPLG]

Originally Posted by Sheriff Gonna Getcha

But why do so many people get annoyed at the ACLU when it tries to get states like Mississippi and Alabama to remove giant tablets of the Ten Commandments from state buildings? It oftentimes seems that those in the majority (e.g., Christians) have no problem when their own heritage is celebrated, but seem to get annoyed when minorities (e.g., agnostics) get uppity.

Because it is the ACLU. They are the poster child for their reputation preceeding them. Tons of things they advocate and fight for are probably pretty solid issues but it gets lost in the high profile crap they espouse in other situations.

My point is that allowing groups of people to segregate themselves culturally on seeks to maintain divisions in the races when I think it would be better to break down ALL barriers.

MLK said "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. "

Well we judge because we perceive differences and we perceive differences more greatly when they get high-lighted. If we are to ever actually break the barriers of skin color and be truly color blind then we need to try to at least to do that much. We need to try to ignore skin color as much as possible.

I am not saying the history of African Americans isn't of value to us culturally or educationally but I think as time goes on it needs to become less and less prominent and all races need to start looking at ourselves as just Americans. To do otherwise seems to just perpetuate the problems.

And this all ignoring the effect that self segregation has on the small minded who see it as support for their bigotted ideas.

[Hog1]

Originally Posted by FRPLG

MLK said "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. "

I am not saying the history of African Americans isn't of value to us culturally or educationally but I think as time goes on it needs to become less and less prominent and all races need to start looking at ourselves as just Americans. To do otherwise seems to just perpetuate the problems.

Words to live by

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by Hog1

HOWEVER, I have a much greater problem what that pig, Roseanne Barr did to the National Anthem some years ago

Yeah, a lot of people have sung the actual anthem and done it complete injustice. I especially hate the stupid "O!" scream at the "Oh Say Does That Star Spangled Banner Yet Wave..." part. I think it's stupid at Orioles games, and doubly stupid everywhere else

[ArtMonkDrillz]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

Yeah, a lot of people have sung the actual anthem and done it complete injustice. I especially hate the stupid "O!" scream at the "Oh Say Does That Star Spangled Banner Yet Wave..." part. I think it's stupid at Orioles games, and doubly stupid everywhere else

It's really annoying when it happens at a DC sporting event (ie, when the O's played the Nats in DC last weekend) because it seems like half the people yell it and then the other half starts to boo. Both sides are being idiots in that type of situation, IMO.

[BleedBurgundy]

If you read the comments readers have posted on the linked site, multiple people have said they won't vote for Obama now because of this. What the hell does one have to do with the other??? I'm not an Obama supporter but if you are basing your vote on something like this, do everyone a favor and stay the f home on election day.

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by FRPLG

Because it is the ACLU. They are the poster child for their reputation preceeding them. Tons of things they advocate and fight for are probably pretty solid issues but it gets lost in the high profile crap they espouse in other situations.

My point is that allowing groups of people to segregate themselves culturally on seeks to maintain divisions in the races when I think it would be better to break down ALL barriers.

MLK said "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. "

Well we judge because we perceive differences and we perceive differences more greatly when they get high-lighted. If we are to ever actually break the barriers of skin color and be truly color blind then we need to try to at least to do that much. We need to try to ignore skin color as much as possible.

I am not saying the history of African Americans isn't of value to us culturally or educationally but I think as time goes on it needs to become less and less prominent and all races need to start looking at ourselves as just Americans. To do otherwise seems to just perpetuate the problems.

And this all ignoring the effect that self segregation has on the small minded who see it as support for their bigotted ideas.

Good post.

[70Chip]

[redskinjim]

very few people have any respect for our country anymore. look at all the illegals waving the flag of mexico. and nobody says shit. this is america if you dont like it go back to where you came from!

[djnemo65]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

Yeah, a lot of people have sung the actual anthem and done it complete injustice. I especially hate the stupid "O!" scream at the "Oh Say Does That Star Spangled Banner Yet Wave..." part. I think it's stupid at Orioles games, and doubly stupid everywhere else

Great point. Why doesn't anyone get pissed off about "home of the Chiefs?"

[saden1]

Originally Posted by redskinjim

very few people have any respect for our country anymore. look at all the illegals waving the flag of mexico. and nobody says shit. this is america if you dont like it go back to where you came from!

I have no doubt that you're truly as stupid as you sound...I will pray for you though I doubt it works on defective individuals like you.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by redskinjim

very few people have any respect for our country anymore. look at all the illegals waving the flag of mexico. and nobody says shit. this is america if you dont like it go back to where you came from!

Is this a joke? A bad joke?

[onlydarksets]

Originally Posted by BleedBurgundy

If you read the comments readers have posted on the linked site, multiple people have said they won't vote for Obama now because of this. What the hell does one have to do with the other??? I'm not an Obama supporter but if you are basing your vote on something like this, do everyone a favor and stay the f home on election day.

Especially when the article also has the following:

Even Sen. Barack Obama, campaigning for the presidency this week in Colorado, weighed in.

"We only have one national anthem," Obama told the Rocky Mountain News on Thursday. "And so, if she was asked to sing the national anthem, she should have sung that. 'Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing' is a beautiful song, but we only have one national anthem."