The Professor
Diamond Member
- Mar 4, 2011
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You missed the racist part where he gloated about killing Blacks fighting for their freedom.Who said they dont respect the country? Its the anthem that they dont respect.At the very least, players who refuse to stand and respect this country should have to stay in the locker room until after the anthem is played.
Why?
What about these lyrics is so offensive?
"
Lyrics
Oh, 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 rocket's red glare,
The bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night,
That our flag was still there.
Oh say does that star spangled banner yet wave,
For 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 wash’d out their foul footstep’s 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."
Not everyone agrees with your interpretation of the third verse of the Star Spangled Banner. Some believe the words “hireling and slave” refers to the British use of paid mercenaries and those who have been commandeered into military service. Here are a few links that explain this alternate interpretation:
The National Anthem Does Not 'Celebrate Slavery': The Meaning of Lyric Used to Defend Kaepernick
Star Spangled Banner Lyrics and Meaning ***
I believe the alternate interpretation to be correct because it is consistent with the tone of the entire verse which taunted the British and vowed they would never prevail against America. It is also important to remember the hireling and slave were to be subject to the same treatment: “No refuge could save the hireling and slave From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave..” Now a hireling by definition is a working man or wage earner. There is no way that the Star Spangled Banner could be interpreted to brag about the death of American working men who volunteered for military service; therefore, it is reasonable to assume the disputed words applied to British mercenaries and those forced by the British into military service.
Having said all that, I never liked the song. It is too difficult for most people to sing, it glorifies war, it's language is archaic and it's meaning often unclear.
They dont have to agree with my interpretation. I think its a stretch to say that a guy that owned slaves, fought against abolition, represented slave owners trying to capture runaway slaves, and just got his ass kicked royally by Black British troops was giving the word "slave" an alternate meaning and was not referencing Blacks. That kind of mental gymnastics must be pretty tiring. In this case Occams Razor definitely applies. Yeah your link lacks a lot of credibility when it starts off like this.....
"the left has been playing really bad defense in justification of Colin Kaepernick's national anthem protest,"
and like I already pointed out they did indeed attempt some amazing feats of mental gymnastics trying to make their non point a point.
"the verse at hand doesn't necessarily even refer to runaway American slaves fleeing from their former masters. It may mean slaves who were fighting with the British against the United States during the War of 1812.":
Wow!! just wow!!
You missed the point. Let me try one last time.
The disputed words applied to both hirelings and slaves, not just to slaves; therefore, if – as you suggest - the words bragged about the death of American slaves, they must also brag about the death of working Americans who volunteered for military service. You cannot logically assert the words applied to slaves and not to hirelings when the words clearly apply to both classes of people.
I suggest you read the words again: “No refuge could save the hireling and slave From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave.” Now, keeping in mind these words also apply to hirelings (working men who volunteered for military service, which hirelings do you believe the words applied to: British mercenaries or Americans servicemen? Once you realize the words could only apply to British mercenaries you will understand that the word slave did not apply to American slaves but to those who were forced into service by the British.
You have the last word. I've said everything I wanted to say and I'm outta here.