I normally try to turn a blind eye to soap boxes I happen to encounter, so as not to waste any heartbeats or increase my blood pressure....but due to this topic of discussion, I have failed once again.
I am soooooo sick and tired of hearing our National Anthem being abused and disrespected like it was once again last night.
I'm not sure why someone feels it necessary to "popularize" the National Anthem while demonstrating their individual singing talents(or lack there of)...by adding musical notes and syllables to words that are not part of the Anthem of the United States.
If they want to show off the range of their voice...sing America the Beautiful, or My Country Tis Of Thee..PLEASE!
I actually recall watching (and the uproar that ensued) after Jose Feliciano played his guitar and sang the Anthem in a folk/blues style before Mickey Lolich took the mound for the Tigers in the 1968 World Series. As 14 year old kid at that time, I felt it was disrespectful, and 43 years later it appears that it has only gotten worse.
As Americans we are all subject to a few simple rules of etiquette and decorum regarding our National Anthem clearly described in the US Flag Code.(TITLE 36, Subtitle I, Part A,CHAPTER 3,Sec.301)
Specifically,even in the the absence of the American flag itself, we are to show the same identical respect to the playing of The National Anthem.
I am both a proud American, and a veteran, and I find it increasingly challenging to respectfully salute a rendition where the melody oftentimes bears little if any resemblance to our country's Anthem. I had that same feeling in my gut last night when, while panning the crowd, the camera's showed tortured looks on the faces of servicemen and players alike as melodic flow of The Anthem was butchered and "made up" lyrics were added by some over the hill, wannabe... ...here today,gone tomorrow pop star.
Ok...I'll be exiting the soap box now...sorry for the sermon.
CM