Admittedly, it was the Canadian home turf which should have given it the advantage in terms of fan attendance. That has never been a real issue for sports zealous Americans who manage to attend Olympic games, summer and winter, in large numbers regardless of the country.
Anyone who watched the the medal ceremonies could not help but notice the exuberance shown by not only Canadian Fans but Canadian Athletes atop the Gold Medal Podium as "O Canada" was played and the Maple Leaf Flag was raised. With a reverent gusto, the words of the Canadian National Anthem was belted out by Canadian Fans and Gold Medal Winners alike.
I contrasted that with the American Athletes that I watched perched on the podium. I am not even sure Bode Miller put his hand over his heart let alone sang the words to "The Star Spangled Banner." In fact, while I saw several of the American Athletes mouth some of the words to "The Star Spangled Banner", I never saw one of those athletes who mouthed, let alone sang, all of the words to the United States National Anthem.
Admittedly, athletes do not train to be singers. Nor are they required to be patriots. But then I don't think Canadian Athletes are either.
The history of the Star Spangled Banner is one of my favorite stories. It should inspire even most apathetic American. Francis Scott Key penned the words to the Star Spangled Banner in the form of a poem known as "The Defence of Fort McHenry". Key, an attorney, was aboard a British ship during the war of 1812, attempting to secure the freedom of a client. He was forced to wait aboard the ship overnight while it Bombarded Fort McHenry. Key watched through the night as British ships pounded away at the Fort. The fall of the Fort to the British would have had serious and deep implications. At the time, the British were the World Military super-power and America continued to struggle to defend itself. As bombs would blast, Key could see the flag waving. In the dawn after a night of bombardment, much to the relief of Key, the Flag was still there, signifying that those defending the Fort had successfully rebuffed the British attack.
In fact, the Star Spangled Banner epitomizes the American Spirit. Against odds, Americans scrap and fight to achieve even when the odds are against them. Obviously there are gifted Americans just like there are gifted citizens of other countries. Americans also do not have the corner on those who have overcome insurmountable odds to achieve and excel. However, ever since its inception, America has stood for independence, achievement and not taking defeat just because the odds are against you. The Star Spangled Banner is the perfect national anthem for that reason.
It is not an easy song. Ask any musician and he or she will tell you that the musical range of the tune, a British drinking song, is challenging. The words are not particularly catchy.
However, since when does the American Spirit emphasize anything that is easy. The Olympics certainly don't stand for that. When a Lindsay Vonn can ski in the tremendous pain she did and take a gold medal, singing a song that has a challenging tune and some words should be a breeze.
I give credit to this country's olympians for what they achieved. They worked long hard hours. I congratulate them for the sacrifices they made. However, I wonder if it would be too much for them to ask to take a moment, when they receive their gold medals, to truly honor the founders of this country who may have sacrificed so much more to give them the very land and the very freedom which facilitated their Olympic achievements by singing, with gusto, and with hand over heart, The Star Spangled Banner. I wonder if it would be too much to ask parents to teach their children this cherished anthem. I wonder if it would be too much to ask that instead of having this tune simply signify the start of an athletic event if we could all join in the singing of this anthem as a reminder of the bounteous blessings so benevolently bestowed upon us by those who have gone before. There is a belief in my mind that Oh Say Can you See should be sung with just as much fervor by the Americans as O Canada was sung by Canadians.
