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Digitale Version der UE

2. THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER (official national anthem)

video (1): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyGseT2Fiqo  (with pictures) /// video (2): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqxJ_iuBPCs  (long version)

                                                                          

Background information:

-          Official national anthem since 1931; usually only the first part (ll.1-8) is sung.

-          Originally a poem entitled "The Defense of Fort McHenry".

-          Written by Francis Scott Key in 1814 during the War of 1812.

-          The verses tell of the Battle of Baltimore, a days-long siege between British and American forces

Message: celebration of patriotism; America = land of the free and the brave

However: controversial for various reasons

  • Francis Scott Key used to be a slaveholder
  • Lyrics very martial: for example l. 5, l. 10, ll.20ff., ll.28f. ( reference to the War of 1812, references to slavery; l. 5 can be misunderstood as an acceptance of rockets etc., also compare ll.28f.)

-          There are very specific rules (the “Flag Code”):

  • Everyone is expected to stand and face the flag; military personnel or veterans have to salute, all other people have to stand with the right hand over heart.
  • Singing is not obligatory, but it is highly encouraged.
  • In the past, changing (even embellishing) the anthem in a performance could be punished.
  • In most schools, students do not have to sing the national anthem every day, but are required to say the Pledge of Allegiance at the beginning of every day
  • The anthem has to be played before all important sports events, some associations like the NFL or NBA explicitly require certain forms of “respect” (In 2016, Colin Kaepernik was the first (NFL) player who was expelled for kneeling down as a form of protest (BLM) while the anthem was played.

Sources:

  • https://edition.cnn.com/interactive/2018/07/us/national-anthem-annotated/ (last accessed March 19, 2023); 
  • https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-37208404 (last accessed March 19, 2023); 
  • https://www.mtsu.edu/first-amendment/article/2148/national-anthem-government-regulation#:~:text=Most%20controversies%20centering%20on%20%E2%80%9CThe,anthem%20in%20silent%20protest%20against (19/02/2023); 
  • https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/04/sports/football/anthem-kneeling-sports.html (last accessed March 19, 2023); 
  • https://www.republicworld.com/sports-news/other-sports/was-colin-kaepernick-fired-from-the-49ers-nfl-star-cut-ties-with-team.html (last accessed March 19, 2023)

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