Politics, Patriotism, and the real story behind our nation’s anthem
It has been a while since my last series of blogs. I have been pretty busy, but not too busy to see what is going on in our country and the manipulation by our leasers and also the media. This whole notion about what it truly means to be a patriot and how it has become a political thing is truly amazing. ?the whole idea that we cannot be vocal about what we believe this country stands for or doesn’t stand for when we have the platforms to do so is also a joke. I will attempt to unravel to those who have an ear to hear truth how this really has played out, and what it looks like in the future.
The national anthem;
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
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
We have heard this sung inso many ways. I have seen Whitney Houston sing the socks off of the super bowl crowd. I have heard country stars sing it very well. I have heard it traditionally sung and so much more. However, I have never heard all the verses sung, I wonder why? See in order for us to truly understand eh heart of the writer we must know why he wrote the anthem. Keep in mind we refuse to call treason what it was with the civil war. We refuse to admit that this country was ok with slavery, and even Lincoln admitted that if the war could have been over with slavery still existing he would have let it be. See until we are willing to tell the truth about our history as a nation then we are doomed to fail. We must face the fact that this country was horrible to black folks in this country. We must admit as they were enslaving black folks they had already tried to eradicate an entire nation of natives of this country. Our country’s founders were sick individuals who were under the illusion that God was leading them. They were perverted individuals who were okay with raping men and women of color. Our founding fathers were sadistic people who were okay with the various murderous acts they committed. This is the truth about our nation’s history and this anthem we sing at sporting events nation wide. I say if we are so proud of our anthem why not sing all the verses.
Verses continue;
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 fully glory reflected now shines in the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh, 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.
Oh, thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory 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.
"The Star-Spangled Banner" is the national anthem of the United States of America. The lyrics come from "Defence of Fort M'Henry",[2] a poem written on September 14, 1814, by the 35-year-old lawyer and amateur poet Francis Scott Key after witnessing the bombardment of Fort McHenry by British ships of the Royal Navy in Baltimore Harbor during the Battle of Baltimore in the War of 1812. Key was inspired by the large American flag, the Star-Spangled Banner, flying triumphantly above the fort during the American victory.
So, to add a little more history about the NFL and the national anthem that has gotten so much attention since last year with Collin Kaepernick taking a knee lets set the record straight. It has not been a long lasting tradition for players in the NFL or other professional teams for that matter to stand for the anthem. Actually before 2009 players did not come out until after the anthem was played accept for certain special events. It wasn’t until 2009 when the DOD and the military starting paying professional teams including the NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, NASCAR just to name a few. So, it is important to note that as people are strategically trying to make this about patriotism it’s all about money. The number one ring leader of this deception is number 45 who tweated more about this issue than caring about the people in Porte Ricco. Number 45 will spin everything to fit his mold, and to take the attention off of what he is doing behind the scenes and the Russia investigation.
I wanted to interject a bit of history of the anthem because it has been completely lost in the entire discussion. If one were to think for a moment that this country is not really willing to face the real realities of what this anthem really stood for then you are sadly mistaken. Most people are uninformed and really did not know that there were more than 2 verses to the anthem. I once again say if we are so proud of it then let’s sing all four verses.
What does it mean to not have politics in our sporting events? I don’t know, nor do I know because standing up for the flag is a political statement. What people don’t want to see is people standing up for the rights of black folks in this country. How contradictory of this country to say we have soldiers fighting for the rights of individual’s in this country, but we want to stifle the right to stand for something. History has shown that this country has never wanted people of color to stand for injustice in this country. This issue with Collin Kaepernick is not new, nor will it stop as long as people are informed and awake to what society is doing. When we get down to the core of the issues it all stems back to the injustices, inequalities, and unfair treatment of people of color in this country. Until we are willing to face the music we will never be able to move on in a genuine authentic way. We can continue with the facade, and unauthentic manner that we have done for years but we will only be fooling ourselves. We are the laughing stock in the world right now, and we are supposed to be the leader of the free world. We have chosen to lower our standards while acting like everything is ok. We have elected someone who has taken everything democratic and is trying to unravel it bit by bit. The only good that can come out of what is happening now is we as a country wake up! When we realize we are stronger together than a part we will be a force to be reckon with. This absolutely will not happen with us denying this country’s true past, nor is not trying to mend this country’s hurt. This will not happen by keeping those who are in power there only for themselves. The wealth must be shared in order for there to truly be fairness. We must be willing to admit that those who have money, riches, and power did so off the backs of slaves who have nothing to show for it at all! In addition to this generational wealth has ony gone through the heritage of whites in this country. Black folks are always beign told to get up, and make something happen, but we did not have a head start. Whites have, and we won’t mention things like legacy, but we will say that affirmative actions was a gift to black folks ignorantly when the number one beneficiary of this action was white women. This is America’s history.
When we can have an honest conversation of who our true heroes are in this country then we will be showing true patriotism. When we can admit that the confederate flag is an embarrassing part of our country’s history then we can move forward as one United States. When we can look at the timing of the erecting of these confederate statues, and realize that it was well after the civil war then we will really be seeking the truth as to why they were brought up. When we are willing to be honest about the history from 1619 all the way up to reconstruction then we will be willing to face our future with clear understanding of our past. This level of understanding will unite this country not the lies that are continually told.
Sure let the anthem be played, but do so with the full and complete understanding that a sociopath wrote it. Continue to sing it realizing that the heart behind it was dark. We must sing remembering that this man loved that slaves only wanted to be free, but he took pleasure in slave’s being slayed for freedom. Sure we can continue to sing the last verse of the only two verses that have been chosen to be sung fully denying that this is not the land of the free for all, nor home of the brave.
I know that this has been long, and for much reasoning behind its length. I wanted in this blog like most to provoke thought behind what we do out of tradition vs what we should be doing from the heart. I am a very awake individual and look at all parts of life as an opportunity to get better understanding. I am not under any illusion that this country as a whole is bad. I get that a few people in very influential positions have made it bad for us all. I further understand that in order for a voice to be heard it must be spoken. I also know that the truth hurts, and for the sake of lies people will kill for it to not be revealed. Additionally I understand that in order for us to move forward as a free democracy we must fight the powers that want to keep it corrupt. This country is changing its look, and it must change its power so that all are represented. As a kid I read about taxation without representation, but now fully understand what that means. My goal on my many platforms is to educate those to understand what we really can do if we unite to be about common sense solutions. I want black folks to not be afraid to standup for what they believe in. Also to not feel inferior to whites, and what they think we should say, look like or how we should act. The days are long gone for us as people of color to have to assimilate into others cultures and traditions. If we really think about holidays like thanksgiving we are celebrating the genocide of Native American’s in this country and giving thanks for what happened to blacks as well. If this is not insanity I don’t know what is! I want us to think about what we do out of tradition and not out of conviction. I encourage all who read to be conscious about everything you do from now on as it pertains to the route meanings behind our country and it’s very spotted past. When you receive knowledge you have a duty and obligation to pursue it, and also to qualify it. I don’t ever want any reader to just take my word for anything, but to do your own research. When one does his/her own research then they will come up with their own conclusion.
So, there you have it from my perspective as an African in this country. What you do with it is up to you. How you respond to this is also up to you. However, to do nothing after reading this blog I say; “shame on you!”’
As always have a great day!
D