There is something rather unusual about our national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner“. We only sing part of it, and the last words of the part we commonly sing are a question:
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
It makes sense in the context of why it was written by Francis Scott Key, but most national anthems are solely about literally singing the praises of the country.
Think about the question asked, though, especially through the lens of experience of the last seven years.
Think about it in light of the massive surveillence that the federal government is undertaking in the name of “fighting the terrorists.”
Think about it in light of interpretation of the Constitution by some on the Supreme Court as only granting the rights listed explicitly, despite the numerous writings of the founders that the Bill of Rights was to explicitly protect rights, not limit them.
Think about it in light of all the actions taken by our government in the last seven years, including indefinite imprisonment of both citizens and non-citizens, torture, warrantless wiretapping, national securitly letters, and other offenses against the guiding principles of the founders of our country.
Many say they love their country. Once I said it, too. Now I say I love the principles upon which our nation was founded, but my country no longer follows them.
Does that star-spangled banner yet wave over the land of the free and the home of the brave?
Freedom requires courage, yet we have allowed fear to govern us.
We need to consider that question when we sing our national anthem today.
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Cross-posted to my personal weblog, Random Fate.