Star Spangled Banner

 ON THIS DATE............................

On September 14, 1814, while detained aboard a British ship during the bombardment of Ft. McHenry, Francis Scott Key witnessed at dawn the failure of the British attempt to take Baltimore. Based on this experience, he wrote a poem that poses the question "Oh, say does that Star-Spangled Banner yet wave?" Almost immediately Key's poem was published and wedded to the tune of the "Anacreontic Song." Long before the Civil War "The Star Spangled Banner" became the musical and lyrical embodiment of the American flag. During the latter war, songs such as "Farewell to the Star Spangled Banner" and "Adieu to the Star Spangled Banner Forever," clearly referencing Key's song, were published within the Confederacy.

On July 26, 1889, the Secretary of the Navy designated "The Star Spangled Banner" as the official tune to be played at the raising of the flag. And during Woodrow Wilson's presidency, it was chosen by the White House to be played wherever a national anthem was appropriate. Still the song was variously criticized as too violent in tone, too difficult to sing, and, by prohibitionists, as basically a drinking song. But on its side "The Star Spangled Banner" had a strong supporter in John Philip Sousa who, in 1931, opined that besides Key's "soul-stirring" words, "it is the spirit of the music that inspires." That same year, on March 3, President Herbert C. Hoover signed the Act establishing Key's poem and Smith's music as the official anthem of the United States.

https://www.loc.gov/item/ihas.200000017

HOWEVER................

Change America's National Anthem from "The Star-Spangled Banner" to "America The Beautiful." (A Civil Rights Issue)?


Why it might be time to finally replace 'The Star-Spangled Banner' with a new national anthem


BUT................

Most Americans do not want the national anthem to be changed

Republicans (86%) are particularly likely to say that The Star-Spangled Banner should continue to be the American national anthem. About three in five (61%) Independents and 49 percent of Democrats agree. About one in five (21%) Democrats would be in favor of the national anthem being replaced with another song.  


Do YOU like hearing the national anthem? Does it stir YOUR soul? OR are you ready for a different anthem? Any ideas what the new anthem should be?




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