Should the National anthem be changed?

[Treestar]

I have long thought that it should be changed to America the Beautiful.

Easier to sing, with simple words praising the beauty of the country.

Rather than a song about a battle and the flag which average people can't sing and which tempts trained singers to do those jazzy stadium renditions.

[KonaKane]

I've been an advocate of that very thing for a long time, but don't look at it changing anytime soon. America is awfully fond of its jet fighters, and bombs bursting in air.

[Treestar]

(07-03-2011 01:40 PM)KonaKane Wrote:  I've been an advocate of that very thing for a long time, but don't look at it changing anytime soon. America is awfully fond of its jet fighters, and bombs bursting in air.

That's for sure.

Per wikipedia, it was made the national anthem by a Resolution of Congress, so presumably changing it would only take that.

But where the groundswell of support for it would come from would be a different thing. Might take at least one major league baseball team accepting it!

[azmouse]

The biggest hurdle to overcome in changing the anthem would be Americans strange love of "tradition". I say strange in that this country isn't very old when compared to other countries, and the fact that this country reinvents itself every few decades.

I have no problem with the current anthem or America the Beautiful. Either one is fine with me.

[Treestar]

(07-03-2011 01:51 PM)azmouse Wrote:  The biggest hurdle to overcome in changing the anthem would be Americans strange love of "tradition". I say strange in that this country isn't very old when compared to other countries, and the fact that this country reinvents itself every few decades.

I have no problem with the current anthem or America the Beautiful. Either one is fine with me.

I agree, that would be the hardest part. It is played at particular times and places and in those contexts, it would be difficult to make the change. At least it might not happen as a grass roots thing.

But one thing one has to ask all patriots is about how tough it is to sing! Most national anthems are hymn-like, relatively simple to sing.

[Peadar O Suileabhain]

America the Beautiful or God Bless America would both be a big improvement.

Let's remember, the Star Spangled Banner is set to the tune of an English drinking song, and frankly, it usually makes anyone singing it sound like an English drunk.

I hate it when I go to a sporting event with a Canadian team and I hear how much cooler their anthem is than ours.

[There Is No Spoon]

(07-03-2011 02:15 PM)Peadar O Suileabhain Wrote:  America the Beautiful or God Bless America would both be a big improvement.

Let's remember, the Star Spangled Banner is set to the tune of an English drinking song, and frankly, it usually makes anyone singing it sound like an English drunk.

I hate it when I go to a sporting event with a Canadian team and I hear how much cooler their anthem is than ours.

Yeah, as a hockey fan I've grown to wish we had a nice anthem like Canada.

My family (including myself, of course) has been advocating for either of the two you've mentioned since I was a kid. I doubt there'll ever be impetus to change it unless there's some sort of "change the anthem" movement crops up out of nowhere. It could be worse - just listen to the anthems of some other countries during the Olympics - most of them are just awful.

[KonaKane]

Then again, my first choice was "This land is your land" by Woody Guthrie. But apparently people thought it was too commie.

[Willinois]

(07-03-2011 03:06 PM)KonaKane Wrote:  Then again, my first choice was "This land is your land" by Woody Guthrie. But apparently people thought it was too commie.

It nearly was the national anthem and that's exactly what it should be changed to.

[jaxx]

(07-03-2011 03:06 PM)KonaKane Wrote:  Then again, my first choice was "This land is your land" by Woody Guthrie. But apparently people thought it was too commie.

That's my choice too. A rousing American song!

[sandnsea]

Oh say does that star spangled banner yet wave
Oer the land of the free, and the home, of the, brave.

I like it.

[DFW]

I am OK with America the Beautiful, NOT OK with God Bless America. Leave that one for Iran.

The Star Spangled Banner kind of sends the wrong message (although plenty of people think exactly the opposite) with its rockets glaring and bombs bursting. The makers of clash cymbals would scream bloody murder if we were to abandon the Star Spangled Banner.

Personally, my preference would be "This Land Is Your Land." No God at all, and an extending welcome implied in the very first line. Now THAT is the kind of national anthem I could go for.

[Julie]

I wouldn't mind an anthem where there is no mention of anyone's god. I find it annoying.

America the Beautiful
Words by Katharine Lee Bates,
Melody by Samuel Ward

O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern impassioned stress
A thoroughfare of freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!

O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife.
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life!
America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness
And every gain divine!

O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for halcyon skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the enameled plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till souls wax fair as earth and air
And music-hearted sea!

O beautiful for pilgrims feet,
Whose stem impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till paths be wrought through
wilds of thought
By pilgrim foot and knee!

O beautiful for glory-tale
Of liberating strife
When once and twice,
for man's avail
Men lavished precious life!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till selfish gain no longer stain
The banner of the free!

O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till nobler men keep once again
Thy whiter jubilee!

[The Desperate Blogger]

I often thought it should reflect America as it has become -- maybe something like:

... can't think of anything that says 'U.S.A., U.S.A!' better than that.

[Treestar]

Being the USA, maybe the generalized reference to God is OK, historic, in America the Beautiful. But this may be why "This Land is Your Land" is preferable:

THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND
words and music by Woody Guthrie

Chorus:
This land is your land, this land is my land
From California, to the New York Island
From the redwood forest, to the gulf stream waters
This land was made for you and me

As I was walking a ribbon of highway
I saw above me an endless skyway
I saw below me a golden valley
This land was made for you and me

Chorus

I've roamed and rambled and I've followed my footsteps
To the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts
And all around me a voice was sounding
This land was made for you and me

Chorus

The sun comes shining as I was strolling
The wheat fields waving and the dust clouds rolling
The fog was lifting a voice come chanting
This land was made for you and me

Chorus

As I was walkin' - I saw a sign there
And that sign said - no tress passin'
But on the other side .... it didn't say nothin!
Now that side was made for you and me!

Chorus

In the squares of the city - In the shadow of the steeple
Near the relief office - I see my people
And some are grumblin' and some are wonderin'
If this land's still made for you and me.


the trouble here being the later verses, but no one ever gets to them!