National Anthems: The Early Nineteenth-Century

Asking most American’s today regarding the national anthem of the United States of America the clear answer would be The Star-Spangled Banner by Francis Scott Key, but most Americans are unaware of the great debate between the two patriotic songs America, the Beautiful and The Star-Spangled Banner in regards of the suitable national anthem. There is no doubt that controversy shrouds the beloved national anthem, as issues of racism, slavery, and the militaristic tone arise after each passing century. However, in my opinion, the national anthem should not be changed as it is a part of America. Not only is the Star Spangled Banner a song that is a piece of history of the land of the free, it is also a song that has deep roots in this country, and is a part of America’s heritage.

The pledge of allegiance and “Star Spangled Banner” are examples of compulsive patriotism in America that not everyone sees. The Pledge of Allegiance and the “Star-Spangled Banner” are orthodoxes Americans have recited for many years since the 1800s. The pledge of allegiance was practiced everyday in the beginning of class, starting at kindergarten, having all the students and teachers participate. I do not call to mind ever learning about what the pledge signified or meant. Never did I ask myself why we said this pledge of allegiance every single day, it was just a mandatory order of each day. The “Star Spangled Banner” is the national anthem that is recited before sport’s events, like football games, and also at official government procedures. Both are traditions in America that show pride for their country, it’s freedom, and history.

In August of 2016, Kaepernick began his protest during a NFL preseason game where he initially sat during the singing of the national anthem. At the time, his rebellious efforts became unnoticed, but he soon enough made headlines when someone took a photo of him sitting during the anthem. Thus a social issue was born from the public’s reaction from the photo.The negativity of the public’s reaction stemmed from the norm that it is customary that people raise their right hand over their heart while facing the flag when the Star-Spangled-Banner is playing, so if one does not follow this norm it is identified showing disrespect. Inevitably, the prediction of the people’s reaction were to be expected as they were outraged when Kaepernick broke the norm. Although, it is legal for individuals not to follow these sacrosanct protocols, citizens of the United States find this norm obligatory.Would you stand by and constantly watch the same social issues to keep reoccurring in your neighborhood? Not only that but it keeps happening to different people by the same organization? When numerous acts of police brutality occurred, Colin Kaepernick decided to protest. He could no longer stand by and do nothing; he decided to take a knee. For professional National Football League (NFL) player, Colin Kaepernick, his response was “no”. One of the last waves that came toward the end of the summer is the kneeling while the national anthem played during sporting events. When Kaepernick decided to

Americans have been standing for the National Anthem since 1891. This tradition started in the military, before The Star Spangled Banner became the National Anthem. Players in the NFL weren’t always required to stand on the sideline for the Anthem; it became a regular occurrence for players and teams to stand in 2009. Recently, many teams and players in the NFL have disrespected the flag and the unity within the country that is portrayed in the song. They do this by kneeling, sitting, and not coming out of the locker room during the playing of the National Anthem. All American citizens should always stand for the National Anthem, in respect for the flag and for the men and women who fought for the freedom we have.

It is part of the human condition to have a tendency of going through drastic measures to obtain an ideology that has been accepted as a “natural fact.” Through Anthem, Ayn Rand warned of the dangers of blindly and unquestionably following an ideology; the dangers to society that loyalty to a belief system pose are strict limitations on personal comforts, lack of individualism, and the formation of an irrational government.

1. United States government reflected the rise of nationalism on a nationalism based legal and rational concepts of citizenship, and based on a common language and cultural traditions, rather than ethnic nationalism. The War of 1812 also inspired American nationalism for many reasons.

Before each and every game, the Virginia Tech basketball coach, Buzz Williams, explained to the team how important the National Anthem was to America, and everyone living in it. He brought in a group of Military Veterans to demonstrate a point towards the basketball team. There were chairs lined up where the Veterans would sit, and while watching the game from the sidelines. The coach brought the team over, and discussed to them that the chairs were not for them, they were for the Veterans. Buzz started explaining to the team just how important, and showing telling them things that they might not have thought about before; about how they gave up their entire life to go fight for our Country. Their education, they completely redirected their

The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league consisting of 32 teams. It is the most popular sports league in the United States. While the NFL mainly consists of football, some players find the need to bring politics into the league. These politics include racial discrimination and police brutality. Even though these issues need to be taken care of in this country, the National Football League is not the place to deal with these political problems.

The nearly simultaneous occurrence of Jackson 's victory and the news of the peace convinced many Americans that they had won the war.” (Encyclopedia of the Age of Industry and Empire, para 12) Since Jackson became victorious the US became extremely Nationalistic because the United States were the most powerful country in the world after defeating Great Britain in the War of 1812. The United States showed power never thought possible to accomplish their goal, the way the North and South we able to come together as one. That created the most powerful country in the world. Additionally we had a song that touched all of the people inside the us this was called, “The Star Spangled Banner :The original hand-written manuscript of the poem that became the American national anthem and the Star-Spangled Banner flag that inspired it will be reunited in Washington DC later this summer for the first time.” (The Telegraph Online, Para #1) This song created the US to express their gratitude to be an American. To this day every day we remember how nationalistic we really are singing the national anthem at all sporting events. Showing that the United States is just as Nationalistic today. The Us came together

“An athlete silently protests during the national anthem. People respond with taunts of "traitor," "you're a disgrace" and "leave our country!" Are these angry tweets aimed at National Football League players kneeling during the national anthem?”said by writers Lonnie Bunch and David Skorton.Due to half of the 49ers team kneeling during the National Anthem 49ers fans are burning their jerseys due to the refusal of the players to stand during the National Anthem.Many fans are outraged and boycotting National football because of the fact that football players are disrespecting the flag by kneeling during the National Anthem.The reason players should stand for the National Anthem is because the United States Flag stands for the individuality and

Citizens of Anthem, you have been living in a bland society for too long. I have been reading about your society while living in an individualistic society. I your leaders have been fooling you all these years. You are not all equal like your leaders make you believe.

Growing up I learned to stand up, put my right hand over my heart, and to show as much respect as I can to the Armed Forces and people who have died for our country. There has been a lot of drama over people not standing for the National Anthem. It is all over social media and the news around the country. People should stand for the National Anthem. The armed forces deserve respect and kneeling is a great sign of disrespect to them and our country.

The Pledge of Allegiance is a statement that many students in the U.S. learn at a young age. Without question of its origin and meaning, most students restate the flag salute often, if not daily. Historically, the pledge that is said today is a result of revisions of various pledges. The first pledge was written by Colonel George Bach in 1887 and was used in some schools. Five years following, Francis Bellamy, who was an English speaking immigrant, Baptist minister, and a socialist created another pledge. This pledge was the foundation for the pledge that is said today. It read, “‘I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all’”("The Pledge of Allegiance: A Search for Common Ground”). Bellamy’s pledge was first published in a children’s magazine. The goal for the establishment of this pledge was to teach young children the basic ideals of the U.S. constitution. The evolution of the pledge did not end for over fifty years. Through debates on whether or not the words “under God” should be added, the final pledge as stated today reads, “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic, under God, for which it stands, one Nation indivisible, with liberty and justice for all” ("The Pledge of Allegiance: A Search for Common Ground”). As outlined

Why I am Proud to Pledge Allegiance to our Flag? Do you know Dr. Sally Ride? She was the first woman that stepped on space and The United States of America was the first country to deliver a human on Moon these are the few reasons why I’m Proud to Pledge Allegiance to our flag. I used to say the “Pledge of Allegiance everyday and before any competitions because I was in NJROTC for two years because all the students are required to say it everyday. Our Sergeant used to teach us and make us say it everyday until we memorize the words perfectly. His reasoning was because not many people don’t know what pledge of allegiance is and parents don’t even teach their children the importance of the pledge. I’m Proud to Pledge Allegiance

The pledge is still said today to instill a sense of nation pride. People who believe the pledge should still be said and there should not be any controversy at all claim that if an American citizen is in America they should take pride in their country and say the pledge. According to Teach-nology “the main reason that the pledge of allegiance is said in schools is to instill a sense of patriotism amongst students. Some believe that it shouldn't be controversial at all because it the process is just what it is described as: a pledge. It is certainly far from being an oath which can bind a student against what they are saying.” There is no rule saying that you have to say every word of the pledge, if a certain part is offensive just do not say that