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View Full Version : tPF Is The Star Spangled Banner Racist?



Agent Zero
09-26-2017, 05:17 PM
Interesting...I had no idea. Perhaps we shouldn't even use it as our "anthem". Maybe that Lee Greenwood song would be a better choice?

http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/29/sport/colin-kaepernick-flag-protest-has-history-trnd/index.html

Whether these players know it, and whether they kneel with the fact in mind, the connection between race and the national anthem has a painful yet little-known root.
The national anthem's forgotten lyrics
"The Star-Spangled Banner" was written by Francis Scott Key in 1814 about the American victory at the Battle of Fort McHenry. We only sing the first verse, but Key penned three more. This is the third verse:
And where is that band who so vauntingly swore,
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion
A home and a Country should leave us no more?
Their blood has wash'd out their foul footstep's pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave,
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

http://i2.cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/170814081006-michael-bennett-sits-medium-plus-169.jpg










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NFL stars sit during national anthem 01:04



The mere mention of "slave" is not entirely remarkable; slavery was alive and well in the United States in 1814. Key himself owned slaves, was an anti-abolitionist and once called his African brethren "[URL="https://books.google.com/books?id=xVRQ8NsrP5MC&pg=PA40&lpg=PA40&dq=%E2%80%9Ca+distinct+and+inferior+race+of+people ,+which+all+experience+proves+to+be+the+greatest+e vil+that+afflicts+a+community.%E2%80%9D&source=bl&ots=akAa-MkOnE&sig=gl287IEmrxDd7QhWzDZ1vndULAY&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi7-4HtktDNAhXG7YMKHbKMDCEQ6AEIJjAB#v=onepage&q=%E2%80%9Ca%20distinct%20and%20inferior%20race%20 of%20people%2C%20which%20all%20experience%20proves %20to%20be%20the%20greatest%20evil%20that%20afflic ts%20a%20community.%E2%80%9D&f=false"]a distinct and inferior race of people (http://www.cnn.com/videos)."
Some interpretations (http://harpers.org/archive/2014/09/washington-is-burning/) of these lyrics contend Key was, in fact, taking pleasure (https://theintercept.com/2016/08/28/colin-kaepernick-is-righter-than-you-know-the-national-anthem-is-a-celebration-of-slavery/) in the deaths of freed black slaves who had fought with the British against the United States.
In order to bolster their numbers, British forces offered slaves freedom (http://www.pbs.org/wned/war-of-1812/essays/black-soldier-and-sailors-war/) in British territories in return for joining their cause. These black recruits formed the Colonial Marines and were looked down upon by people like Key, who saw their actions as treasonous (https://vimeo.com/166881889).
As an anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner" has never been a unanimous fit. Since it was officially designated as the national anthem in 1931, Americans have debated the suitability (http://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=124012&page=1) of its militaristic lyrics and difficult tune. (Some have offered up "God Bless America" and "America the Beautiful" as alternatives.)

nathanbforrest45
09-26-2017, 05:29 PM
This should be our National Anthem

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAzTnsSgs2s

Peter1469
09-26-2017, 05:33 PM
The witch hunt for racism is tiresome. I chalk it up to public schools that refuse to provide a decent education to students.

Standing Wolf
09-26-2017, 05:35 PM
Not sure that it could be considered racist even if the "slave" referred to was of the African variety. It seems more likely that it was meant to refer to those who permitted themselves to be subjugated by the British crown, as in the song 'Both Sides the Tweed'.

Let virtue distinguish the brave
Place riches in lowest degree
Think them poorest who can be a slave
Them richest who dare to be free.

NapRover
09-26-2017, 05:37 PM
This should be our National Anthem

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAzTnsSgs2s
Nice Jimmy Page licks!

jimmyz
09-26-2017, 05:37 PM
Not sure that it could be considered racist even if the "slave" referred to was of the African variety. It seems more likely that it was meant to refer to those who permitted themselves to be subjugated by the British crown, as in the song 'Both Sides the Tweed'.



Let virtue distinguish the brave
Place riches in lowest degree
Think them poorest who can be a slave
Them richest who dare to be free.

^^^ /thread and answers the OP's question in one fell swoop.

Perianne
09-26-2017, 05:40 PM
Of course it is racist. Everything is racist. Which means the word "racist" has no meaning any longer.

Agent Zero
09-26-2017, 05:40 PM
The witch hunt for racism is tiresome. I chalk it up to public schools that refuse to provide a decent education to students.

There's compelling evidence for and against, worthy of discussion. Are you able to contribute, or not?

Peter1469
09-26-2017, 05:41 PM
There's compelling evidence for and against, worthy of discussion. Are you able to contribute, or not?

I just did.

If people have no clue about history, I certainly can't help them.

The Xl
09-26-2017, 05:56 PM
Most people aren't going to be happy with others attempting to turn their culture and history upside down, even if what you say has merit. The truth is, almost every nation, ethnicity, and country ever has engaged in horrible stuff, such is human history.

ripmeister
09-26-2017, 09:13 PM
Nice Jimmy Page licks!
Great timing. I'm heading to see ZOSO on Friday night, a Zep tribute band. Sorry for going off topic but I'm stoked.

resister
09-26-2017, 10:11 PM
Of course it is racist. Everything is racist. Which means the word "racist" has no meaning any longer.
Everything that a rabid SJW disagrees with is "racist" Hell the song Happy Birthday and candles, is "racist"...:rollseyes:

Standing Wolf
09-27-2017, 12:49 AM
Everything that a rabid SJW disagrees with is "racist" Hell the song Happy Birthday and candles, is "racist"...:rollseyes:

Well, maybe not racist, per se, but...

https://thumb9.shutterstock.com/display_pic_with_logo/1246429/578304466/stock-vector-age-discrimination-hand-holding-wooden-sign-578304466.jpg
http://thumb101.shutterstock.com/display_pic_with_logo/60395/60395,1239814770,3/stock-photo-stop-global-warming-sign-on-blue-sky-illustration-jpeg-28558415.jpg

resister
09-27-2017, 12:53 AM
Well, maybe not racist, per se, but...

https://thumb9.shutterstock.com/display_pic_with_logo/1246429/578304466/stock-vector-age-discrimination-hand-holding-wooden-sign-578304466.jpg
http://thumb101.shutterstock.com/display_pic_with_logo/60395/60395,1239814770,3/stock-photo-stop-global-warming-sign-on-blue-sky-illustration-jpeg-28558415.jpg

Fail to see the connection, wolf!

Standing Wolf
09-27-2017, 12:56 AM
Fail to see the connection, wolf!

Making a point of someone's age by singing 'Happy Birthday' to them, and burning CO2 producing candles?

resister
09-27-2017, 12:59 AM
Making a point of someone's age by singing 'Happy Birthday' to them, and burning CO2 producing candles?
What a stretch! Been considering eating my gun, is there a parralell?

Standing Wolf
09-27-2017, 01:04 AM
What a stretch! Been considering eating my gun, is there a parralell?

Well, gun violence, pretty obviously. You don't want to be a statistic, r. Lots and lots of good fossils to be found in the ground, yet, as long as you don't make yourself into one.