The following is inspired by an occurrence yesterday here in Denver that apparently has the entire city in an uproar. You can read about it by following this link: http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=94919&catid=339
In a nutshell, a vocalist who was contracted by the city staff to sing the National Anthem at the mayor’s state of the city annual address took it upon herself to sing a different song known as the black national anthem. If you read the story I linked above, it contains the lyrics and apparently is a song meant to signify the struggles and patriotism of black Americans only, as opposed to all Americans in general. I have never heard it before, didn’t know of its existence (although I’m not surprised that one exists), and wouldn’t know it if I heard it sung in my presence.
I have been rather surprised at the media and local firestorm this event has created. Since it happened yesterday, it has been the hot (and I mean red dwarf hot) topic of discussion on every local media outlet. People have inundated radio stations, news stations, and various blogs with comments about how rabidly irate they are, how offended they feel, and how racist the vocalist’s choice was. Everyone’s patriotism was affronted, the mayor should apologize and even resign, and the singer should be ostracized for her choice.
Call me crazy, but I am not one of these outraged citizens. Now, hold on, and read my take on it before you start calling me anti-American or a lackadaisacal patriot.
Yes, I am a white American. Yes, I LOVE and believe in my country. I have family that has served in the military to promote and protect the ideals and premise of our country’s foundational beliefs and freedoms. I have wept tears of sentiment when I’ve heard or sung along with patriotic-themed songs or when I have been reminded of the sacrifices required to maintain our freedoms for our society. And even though I experience disappointment in my country’s policies or leaders from time to time, I maintain a sense of optimism for our foundational beliefs to carry us through and forward in spite of any adversity or challenges that may arise.
Therefore, I do NOT feel threatened whatsoever by this woman and her choice to sing something in lieu of the National Anthem by Francis Scott Key. While I disagree with her choice because it was inappropriate, my ire is not raised because of it. While I can now draw some definitive conclusions about her own views of patriotism and nationalism, I do not feel affronted in my own sense of patriotism. In short, this woman and her vocal performance is not enough to compromise or threaten my own dedication and loyalty and pride for my nation.
I believe the United States is greater then one person’s expression. I believe it is larger then the lyrics to a custom-made anthem. I believe its ideals surpass and survive any attack, affront, or intended jab at its foundations or outcomes. I believe that the blood sacrificed on both our soil and the soil of other countries speaks volumes louder then the voice of one individual who is trying to make a statement at a local event. All of this doesn’t negate the wrongness of the woman’s choices, but it does emphasize the fact that her words can’t effectually harm the solid rock upon which our nation and her believers stand.
Get angry if you want, Denver. Feel outraged. Keep talking on and on and on about this woman’s song, thereby giving her exactly what she wanted in the first place – fame and repute. But remember that you’re merely serving to prolong your own agony rather then resting easy in the knowledge of your own pride and patriotism and the security you find therein.
