Black National Anthem?? What in the world...

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by Adino

A second cousin of mine was hung in his backyard by others at his high school. My uncle showed up just in time to save his life. He found him dangling from a pole with a clothesline wrapped around his neck about to lose consciousness. After surviving this encounter, the same family member was again assaulted on the way home from school. This time the young attackers threw him in a garage, doused him with gasoline and lit him on fire. Miraculously, he did survive, but bears horrible scars of the incident to this day.

The school was in Detroit. My family member was white, his assaulters black.

It is said that the first question recorded in Scripture by man is "Am I my brother's keeper?"

It is said that the rest of the bible goes on to answer this question with an emphatic YES. We are the keepers of our brethren.

Lord, help us to be the keepers of all our brethren regardless of color.

national - of, pertaining to, or maintained by a nation as an organized whole or independent political unit

anthem - a song, as of praise, devotion, or patriotism

The national anthem is a song of praise, devotion and patriotism of, pertaining to, or maintained by our nation as an organized whole.

It is a song of recognized unity. Those asked to sing it are given the honor of reminding the audience, through a nationally recognized anthem, of who they are as a united people. They are Americans in the United States of America. They are brethren, regardless of color, sharing the same national pride.

It is my opinion that incidents like the one at the beginning of this thread call into question whether being unified as a people in this nation of diversity is the ultimate desire of many of those living in this land of the free and home of the brave. Such incidents call for the recognition of diversity rather than the recognition of unity. The national anthem, being a cry for the unity of all factions within the nation as a whole, was substituted for a song calling for the recognition of a particular faction within the nation. It focused on diversity rather than on unity.

Unfortunately, I think one of our choices for president would prove to be just as divisive.

Excellent post.

[DividedThigh]

good post adino

[SDG]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

It is my firm opinion that replacing American symbolism with Black symbolism is a subtle form of racism. And I don't like it.

Okay ... glad you've cut to the heart of the matter to what's really bothering you about this.

[Michael Phelps]

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

I would love to hear this viewpoint ... keeping in mind this forum is overwhelmingly white ...

My peeps came in the 1950's ... (on airplanes) but rest assured they faced and participated in racial division on the islands also ... (Mainly Dominican Republic where mom is from)

Puerto Rico, where dad is from, has been a bastion of mixing between races for centuries ... Tainos (natives), peninsulares (Spaniards) and blacks from West Africa.

Understood. I'm not denying your heritage, or certain injustices your forefathers may have suffered.

I'm asking have YOU ever experienced such racism?

I have been passed over for a job simply because I was a white male. I was told I was the most qualified, but there was a diversity quote that had to be filled.

I'm not bitter about it, I actually am much happier with the job I have now.

My point is this - inequality works both ways. If it's truly the goal of these so called civil rights leaders to have equality, there is still a long way to go. And, it's not necessarily on the side of the road one may think.

[SDG]

Unfortunately, I think one of our choices for president would prove to be just as devisive.

I think it would unify.

There is an inverse argument to be said about a nation that has had only White Male Anglo Saxon Protestants as their chief leader .... except for that pope loving Catholic, Kennedy.

But I think enough thought has been provoked for today.

[DividedThigh]

live around an indian reservation you will see some real racism, from them, been there done that, dt

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

Okay ... glad you've cut to the heart of the matter to what's really bothering you about this.

And here I thought I was being clear all along.

LOL!!!!

I said it from the very beginning...from a standpoint of etiquette, it was impolite and inappropriate. From the standpoint of politics (under guise of patriotism), it was ineffective and divisive. From one singer to another--she probably won't get anymore invitations to public events of this nature.

The National Anthem is about patriotism and as Adino pointed out--unity. Ms. Rene showed a lack of patriotism, and IMO, she disrespected her fellow Americans.

And by the way, if you think it is simply because she is black that I object, you are even more wrong. Do you think I would be upset if the KKK inserted their "white" version into the National Anthem? Or if someone sang the anthem from any other country instead?

[SDG]

Originally Posted by DividedThigh

live around an indian reservation you will see some real racism, from them, been there done that, dt

Imagine and we gave them that piece of land .... gasp *the nerve*

[Michael Phelps]

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

I think it would unify.

There is an inverse argument to be said about a nation that has had only White Male Anglo Saxon Protestants as their chief leader .... except for that pope loving Catholic, Kennedy.

But I think enough thought has been provoked for today.

I, for one, do not have any issue with a candidate's gender or color, I have problems with their agenda if it's blatantly divisive.

[MikeinAR]

It's "the" National Anthem for goodness sakes. I mean are we going to open it up for every sort of artistic expression by every race and creed of people that make up this country so that everyone feels like the national anthem represents them more accurately?

I always thought the national anthem was more to honor a country and not a certain race, gender or creed.