The challenges of living in and leveraging the
dynamic opportunities of a multicultural society such as that found in the
United States of America are many. There
are more reasons for that than I could ever address adequately in any single
blog post. Today I will take a brief
look at our nation’s Anthem, and examine several “Key” related points, pun
intended, including the man who penned it, the little known third verse, the
antipathy toward black athletes who dare point out the inconsistencies and/or
inequities related to the fundamentals of our Constitution, its Amendments, our
Creed, and of course, the Anthem.
I cannot begin to recall how many times I have
heard Conservatives remind us that ours is an exceptional nation. This characterization implies an
unimpeachable blessing bestowed upon us by no less than the almighty God, an
inherent righteousness assigned to any and all causes that America deigns to
endorse, as well as an irreducible validation of our systems and values, e.g.,
Capitalism, Free Enterprise, and the irresistible force that is the power of
the United States Military Industrial Complex.
Since this past weekend we have engaged in a
national dialogue, much if it digitally, about an NFL player opting not to
stand for the National Anthem. Colin Kaepernick
is a member of the San Francisco 49’ers, in fact a quarterback who incidentally
is currently not projected as a starter at his position. Mr. Kaepernick cited his concern about blacks
dying in the streets and officers getting paid leave, which is frequently the
most onerous consequence to them, resulting from their actions.
Kaepernick is an African American, the son of a
white mother and a black father. He was
adopted and raised by white parents. Not
surprisingly, as has come to be the norm, social media has erupted over this
so-called controversy. Many critics
across racial lines have suggested that neither the timing, nor the venue in
which he expressed his stated concerns was appropriate. As you might imagine, he drew pointed ire
from Veterans and Veterans’ groups.
Moreover, he attracted a spate of racial epithets from a number of white
people.
It is also important to note that some Veterans
supported him, and others at least supported his right to exercise his First
Amendment rights; a point I will come back to later. At least one veteran’s Group also extended it
support, and it must be observed, not all whites thought he was wrong to
express the sentiments he did.
America is an exceedingly complex society. It has been that way since the outset, and
when one looks back at our evolution and development as a nation state, it is
fair to say at this juncture, our complexity increases almost daily. We used to describe our country as a melting
pot. Subsequent metaphors many us
adopted for a time included a tossed salad, and a quilt. Today, we are comprised of a global
consortium of interconnected communities representing every corner of the
world. We are rapidly approaching that magical
moment when when white people will no longer represent the majority of the
American population. Undoubtedly, there
are those who submit that when that barrier is crossed, we will no longer be
great. Sigh!
Consider that backdrop when you evaluate
Kaepernick’s actions and comments. The
comments and the varied responses are a reflection of a broadening chasm
between people who look at America and see an Empire receding rapidly from a
glorious past, and those who view a burgeoning giant ready to rise triumphantly
into a brilliant future marked by immeasurable contributions from our growing
diverse communities. The contrast is
almost as stark as the distinction between isolationist Maoist China and the
American society that boldly embraced the notion of E Pluribus Unum (Out of
many, one).
Colin Kaepernick’s battle is neither his alone,
nor a new one. As recently as two weeks
ago during the 2016 Summer Olympics, American Gymnast Gabby Douglas was flayed
because as she stood (and she did stand) on the Medal Stand with her four
Olympic teammates, she did not place her hand over her heart, as her teammates
did during the Anthem. She did not
announce any protest, before or after her appearance, and in fact later
apologized for having been a distraction.
Nevertheless, her action, or lack thereof, became a huge issue. By the same token, in those same Olympics,
American Wrestlers similarly did not place their hands on their hearts, and (are
you surprised) there was no furor. Now
if I note that Ms. Douglas was black and the Wrestlers were white, someone will
ask, why does everything have to be racialized?
I not only agree, I would ask, why didn’t anyone think of that before singling out the black American
Gymnast…but not the white American Wrestlers?
I’m just saying!
But this is bigger, much bigger than that. When Muhammad Ali declared himself a
conscientious objector in 1967 and refused to serve in the Vietnam War, he was
effectively pilloried. He lost his Title
as the Heavyweight Boxing Champion, his boxing license, his passport, and three
of what could have been the most productive years in his boxing career,
spanning from ages 25 to nearly 29. If
only there had been the Internet and social media in that era, I can only
imagine the fallout that would have resulted.
It did not take long for the next episode. At the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City,
American Track and Field Team members Tommie Smith, the fastest man in the
world at the time, and John Carlos each wore a black glove and black socks as
they raised their arms in a salute to unity with people fighting
internationally for human rights around the world when received their Gold and
Bronze Medals, respectively. Smith
actually set a World Record in the race (200 Meters) that would last for eleven
years. The two were immediately sent home and faced significant fallout for the
duration of their careers. While many of
us know this, a lesser known footnote about that race is Silver Medalist Peter
Norman, of Australia, also felt moved by the two runners support of global
human rights, and also wore a badge in support for the effort. His career was also forever affected by that
fateful act. Australia had it’s own
issues and operated a system similar to South African Apartheid that affected
the country’s Aborigines. Norman was
never permitted to compete for Australia again.
Decades later, Ali, at his funeral earlier this
year was honored and given a hero’s Rites.
His actions from 50 years ago are viewed through a different lens these
days. Even Smith and Carlos’ actions
today generally receive favorable reviews by most Americans. It’s difficult to predict if Kaepernick will
be looked at similarly at some point in the future.
But there’s more. The Anthem itself must be assessed in its
fullness, rather than based on just the single verse that is sung as most events. Francis Scott Key, wrote the Anthem during a
battle at Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland, September 13-14, 1813. Like many
of the notable Southern elites of his time, Key was a slave owner. He was a Marylander, and yes, Maryland is a
Southern State. The infamous Mason-Dixon
Line runs through the state.
Most folks have no idea the Star Spangled
Banner has four verses. The song was
originally a poem, “The Defence of Fort McHenry.”
The third verse rather graphically and pointedly speaks to spilling the
blood of slaves and sending them to their graves. Yes, that was indeed a sign of the times, but
now…is not then! When I reflect upon it,
I find it surprising that many more people, especially African Americans, do
not stand or cover their heat during the Anthem…and I’m reasonably sure if more
people knew the history, there would be less acquiescence with the
rituals. Here’s hoping this post spreads
the word. See verse three below, and
after verse three the Anthem in its entirety:
“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 washed out their foul footsteps’
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!”
The Star Spangled Banner
Lyrics
By Francis Scott Key 1814
Oh, say can you see by the dawn’s early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s
last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the
perilous fight,
O’er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly
streaming?
And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting
in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was
still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the
brave?
On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of
the deep,
Where the foe’s haughty host in dread silence
reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o’er the
towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half
discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first
beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the
stream:
‘Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it
wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the
brave!
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 washed out their foul footsteps’
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!
Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war’s
desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav’n
rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved
us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is
just,
And this be our motto: “In God is our trust.”
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall
wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the
brave!
All things considered, there are many vexing issues related to
this dust-up. There is of course, the
disparate treatment of America’s black and white athletes when they run afoul
of Anthem Rituals. It is also
unfathomable how any person prone to a balanced perspective could ignore the
implications of a slave owner’s theme song adopted as the country’s national
standard. Finally, there is the issue of
honoring those who serve.
I did not serve, but I do have a number of Veterans in my
family. I love, honor and respect each
and every one of them. But let’s be
clear, they and every man and woman who served and fought, did so for our
freedoms…all of them. Specifically, they
did not fight just for the Second Amendment.
Yes, we have the right to bear arms.
But without question, they also fought for the First Amendment, which if
you are counting, comes before the Second.
This means you; I, and Colin Kaepernick all have Freedom of Speech. As such, he is not only able to sit during
the National Anthem, he may do so knowing that those who serve do so in order
to ensure that he can do just that. So,
the next time this issue arises, be mindful of the...“Star Spangled Protest: The Verse You Missed!”
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