"O thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand, Between their loved homes and the war's desolation"

“This is about equality,” Rodgers said. “This is about unity and love and growing together as a society, and starting a conversation around something that may be a little bit uncomfortable for people. But we’ve got to come together and talk about these things and grow as a community, as a connected group of individuals in our society, and we’re going to continue to show love and unity.”

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2017/09/aaron-rodgers-packers-national-anthem-kneeling-instagram-cameramen-message-unity-hypocrisy

As a general rule, exceptions noted, Professional Football players are somewhat uneducated when it comes to the National Anthem and its purposes. Aaron Rodgers’ statement in coupled with his invitation that we "link arms" during the National Anthem is an example of that unfortunate fact.

While the citizens of this country should be united in some things, we will never completely agree. We should be willing to listen to one another. We ought to be tolerant of those who have different beliefs. The Constitution of the United States of America honors those principles. However, the singing of the National Anthem and the Presentation of colors is not a time for making such points.

In 2004 ABC News reported that a Harris Interactive Survey found that 61% of the Americans Surveyed did not know the words to even the first verse of our National Anthem, “The Star Spangled Banner” http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/WaterCooler/story?id=124484, yet we continue to insist that it be played, as ritualistic commencement of virtually every sporting event. Perhaps we should stop the charade, for that is what it has become. All you have to do is scan the faces of those who wait patiently for the Anthem to end and the games to begin.

I would like to think that if we all knew the words to “The Star Spangled Banner" we would understand that this is sacred piece of music is a memorial in honor those who fought valiantly to give and preserve the freedoms we enjoy. I am convinced that if we knew this, no player would kneel, no quarterback would call for locking arms and no ESPN commentator would spend so much time talking about the President’s comments which encourage reverencing the National Anthem and the presentation of colors as being “divisive.” The words of this inspired piece of music convey the thoughts we ought to have as we sing vocally and in our hearts:

O 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 through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there;
O 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, O 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.

O thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war's desolation.
Blest with vict'ry 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

(emphasis mine). Those who understand the history of the Star Spangled Banner realize that the words to this hymn were written as a poem during the war of 1812 by an attorney, Francis Scott Key, who was temporarily imprisoned on a British Ship watching the bombarding of Fort McHenry and watched anxiously as the British assailed the fort as part of its attack against Baltimore. One can only imagine the concern that he had as soldiers defending the fort desperately fought to thwart the bombardments by a powerful English Navy. Grateful to see the Flag of the United States of America still flying at “dawn’s early light”, Key penned his feelings, which were later set to music and are now that are oft performed by individual soloists at athletic competitions while spectators take a moment to reverence and, in their hearts and minds, thank those who gave all so that we could have so much.

Aaron Rodgers’ expressed concern is about "unity." Certainly many have written about divisiveness. I am not sure those who claim that we are more "divisive" as a country today than ever before even know what that word means and they are certainly not scholars of the great debates of our ancestors in this land. One thing is clear: We have always had debate. We have always allowed people to dispute and discuss. In those debates, some have offended and some have been offended.

In battle, however, our warriors generally don’t worry about those debates. We ask them to storm the beaches of Normandy despite unfavorable odds, they do so. We ask them to sneak behind enemy lines, risking capture, torture and death, they go. We ask them to fly missions from which return is unlikely they fly, often praying that their efforts will protect the lands and people they cherish some of whom protest against their actions.

One time that we are asked show unity in gratitude for these brave patriots is in our during the singing of the National Anthem. The hiring of well-paid singers to "perform" the National Anthem has, perhaps, made us believe that only those who are well trained musicians are the only ones who are worthy of expressing this gratitude. I find that a shame. Perhaps that is why NFL players, rather than standing at attention out of respect for true warriors, are kneeling or locking arms to further their own agendas, worthy or not.

The NFL should re-evaluate its position on the National Anthem. Let your players and owners speak and protest as they want but, as far as the National Anthem goes, either choose to use it as it was intended---as a remembrance of the brave who defended us and our freedoms, or find some other way to start sporting events where, quite frankly, there is very little love or unity shown. As I see it, all the NFL is doing is desecrating the graves and the memories of our injured and fallen heroes and their families.

Oh Say Can You See vs. O Canada

The United States set the Winter Olympics record for the most medals ever won in a Winter Olympics by any one country, having racked up 37 medals which beat the German record in the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City. You would think that great feat by one nation's team would have been reflected in the medal ceremonies. However, that was not the case. The Canadians who, by the end of the Olympics, owned the top of the podium with a total of 14 Gold medals by far showed the most country spirit.

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.