Is the National Anthem Racist?

[tinydancer]

The journalist Jon Schwarz, writing in The Intercept, argued yes, denouncing the lyrics, written by Francis Scott Key during the War of 1812, as “a celebration of slavery.” How could black players, Mr. Schwarz asked, be expected to stand for a song whose rarely sung third stanza — which includes the lines “No refuge could save the hireling and slave/From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave” — “literally celebrates the murder of African-Americans”?

The Brits hired mercenaries and slaves that they took from American plantations to be soldiers in the American Revolution, and that is a fact.

The British did not take the slaves. They offered the slaves their freedom in exchange for fighting on their side.

Key's song celebrates the defeat of the slaves fighting for their freedom, as well as the defeat of mercenaries fighting for the British.

Another fact is that Francis Scott Key was a rabid believer in slavery. As District Attorney, he once tried to have a man hanged for distributing abolitionist pamphlets.

Tough shit. They were the enemy.

 

[eddiew37]

Beyond the Debate Over Colin Kaepernick

The continuing refusal by the San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick to stand during the playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” before games has set off a debate about patriotism, protest and professional sports. But it has also raised another fraught question: Is our national anthem itself racist?

The journalist Jon Schwarz, writing in The Intercept, argued yes, denouncing the lyrics, written by Francis Scott Key during the War of 1812, as “a celebration of slavery.” How could black players, Mr. Schwarz asked, be expected to stand for a song whose rarely sung third stanza — which includes the lines “No refuge could save the hireling and slave/From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave” — “literally celebrates the murder of African-Americans”?

More: Is the National Anthem Racist? Beyond the Debate Over Colin Kaepernick

It could certainly be interpreted as racist. What do you think?

Sure it is Why do you think so many republicans love it??

 

[Asclepias]

The journalist Jon Schwarz, writing in The Intercept, argued yes, denouncing the lyrics, written by Francis Scott Key during the War of 1812, as “a celebration of slavery.” How could black players, Mr. Schwarz asked, be expected to stand for a song whose rarely sung third stanza — which includes the lines “No refuge could save the hireling and slave/From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave” — “literally celebrates the murder of African-Americans”?

The Brits hired mercenaries and slaves that they took from American plantations to be soldiers in the American Revolution, and that is a fact.

The British did not take the slaves. They offered the slaves their freedom in exchange for fighting on their side.

Key's song celebrates the defeat of the slaves fighting for their freedom, as well as the defeat of mercenaries fighting for the British.

Another fact is that Francis Scott Key was a rabid believer in slavery. As District Attorney, he once tried to have a man hanged for distributing abolitionist pamphlets.

Tough shit. They were the enemy.

Tough shit. We will protest.

 

[Asclepias]

Like Lebron says, Drumpf is a bum.

 

[JimBowie1958]

Tough shit. They were the enemy.

Libs so often lose sight of that aspect of things, dont they?

 

[Lakhota]

Trump's Favorite Supreme Court Justice Said 'Tyrants' Try To Suppress Flag Protests

Yep, and Trump is certainly a tyrant. Scalia would be ashamed of him.

 

[Asclepias]

Tough shit. They were the enemy.

Libs so often lose sight of that aspect of things, dont they?

Like you lost sight he was also a racist and slave owner.

 

[LTCArmyRet]

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![26]

The Star-Spangled Banner - Wikipedia

The entire national anthem.

That is NOT the national anthem, its the entirety of what F. Scott Key wrote, but NOT what was adopted as our national anthem moron. Quit trying to change history.

 

[Asclepias]

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![26]

The Star-Spangled Banner - Wikipedia

The entire national anthem.

That is NOT the national anthem, its the entirety of what F. Scott Key wrote, but NOT what was adopted as our national anthem moron. Quit trying to change history.

Keys wrote what was adopted regardless. You cant change the original meaning by taking out the offending words. I dont respect anything a racist writes.

 

[CrusaderFrank]

What are the racist lines in the song? Specifically.

No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave

Never heard that once anywhere in any venue for almost half a century, StrawMan

Your ignorance of American history is your fault. Can't be helped.

It's the new Alt Right. It was never mentioned until it was fed into the Prog Collective HiveMind

 

[Lakhota]

What are the racist lines in the song? Specifically.

No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave

Never heard that once anywhere in any venue for almost half a century, StrawMan

Your ignorance of American history is your fault. Can't be helped.

It's the new Alt Right. It was never mentioned until it was fed into the Prog Collective HiveMind

I thought the "Alt Right" phrase was coined by Bannon/Breitbart.

 

[EvilCat Breath]

The Defence of Fort McHenry had nothing to do with racism. It was a poem of battle. Race never entered into it.

 

[Aletheia4u]

 

[Slyhunter]

#TakeAKnee Isn’t About The Flag. It’s About America’s Racism.

Amen!

Then don't do it during the anthem. Do it some other time.

 

[Lakhota]

#TakeAKnee Isn’t About The Flag. It’s About America’s Racism.

Amen!

Then don't do it during the anthem. Do it some other time.

What "other time"? When it's out of sight and out of mind?

 

[Slyhunter]

#TakeAKnee Isn’t About The Flag. It’s About America’s Racism.

Amen!

Then don't do it during the anthem. Do it some other time.

What "other time"? When it's out of sight and out of mind?

When it doesn't disrespect the flag.

 

[Asclepias]

#TakeAKnee Isn’t About The Flag. It’s About America’s Racism.

Amen!

Then don't do it during the anthem. Do it some other time.

How can you protest the anthem when its not playing stupid?

 

[Lakhota]

#TakeAKnee Isn’t About The Flag. It’s About America’s Racism.

Amen!

Then don't do it during the anthem. Do it some other time.

What "other time"? When it's out of sight and out of mind?

When it doesn't disrespect the flag.

Disrespect the flag?

5 Myths About the American Flag

 

[Asclepias]

My fucking eyes!!!! I cant unsee that. Damn Lakhota

 

[Lakhota]

My fucking eyes!!!! I cant unsee that. Damn Lakhota

Maybe this will help...

Here Are Some Ways People Disrespect The Flag Daily Based On Flag Code