General Discussion

lapucelle

(21,066 posts)

42. The anthem celebrates our stuggle to defeat a hostile

Sat Mar 3, 2018, 05:23 PM

Mar 2018

invading force 36 years after we had declared our independence from it and fought a revolution for our right to self-governance. The British had returned to reclaim what they believed was rightfully theirs: our country and its citizens.

The only "militaristic" imagery in the anthem sets up the triumph at the conclusion; it was only because of the light created by the munitions that witnesses knew throughout the long night of September 14-15, 1814 that Fort McHenry (and the city of Baltimore) had not fallen to the British.

"And the rockets' red glare
The bombs bursting in air
Gave proof through the night
That our flag was still there."

A refresher course in American history might be in order for those who don't understand the meaning and the context of the anthem's lyrics.

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Is the Star-Spangled Banner your national anthem? [View all] laserhaas Mar 2018 OP

My National Anthem SCantiGOP Mar 2018 #1

Lawdy mama, light my fuse! BBG Mar 2018 #4

Yes. Its the anthem of the nation I call home. NCTraveler Mar 2018 #2

+1 onenote Mar 2018 #17

Yes it is OUR national anthem - not a "Tribute To The Military" hexola Mar 2018 #3

Our nation's image laserhaas Mar 2018 #6

Too militaristic for me too BBG Mar 2018 #5

Kudos to you. They called me unpatriotic for saying no laserhaas Mar 2018 #7

Living in the Blue Bubble, I am BBG Mar 2018 #9

My Twitter handle is Laser_the_Lone_Wolf laserhaas Mar 2018 #20

Right on brother rat! BBG Mar 2018 #34

Nothing wrong with our national anthem at all. stevenleser Mar 2018 #8

Yeah, because it does not have "God" in it. A country has a military. It has no state religion. McCamy Taylor Mar 2018 #10

Not to take nothing away from Service personnel laserhaas Mar 2018 #14

Our military has been used as a bully BBG Mar 2018 #36

Regarding the protected free speech issue of "I don't have to stand up for it" McCamy Taylor Mar 2018 #11

Again..with deepest respect for Service personnel ..We all laserhaas Mar 2018 #22

"this land is your land onethatcares Mar 2018 #12

It is...for sure laserhaas Mar 2018 #23

Yes, that would be a better anthem meadowlander Mar 2018 #24

IOLANTHE pangaia Mar 2018 #35

Hail Columbia was the unofficial national anthem for long time LeftInTX Mar 2018 #13

Words without honor laserhaas Mar 2018 #25

Ever since Woodstock lame54 Mar 2018 #15

Was there....running errands for change laserhaas Mar 2018 #26

Free Bird maveric Mar 2018 #16

Your premise is bullshit as is your posture on this point. This whole post is bullshit Stinky The Clown Mar 2018 #18

So, go crawl under a desk when nukes start flying laserhaas Mar 2018 #19

Nukes are going to start flying because of our National Anthem? Alea Mar 2018 #29

Not our anthem. But similar mentalities laserhaas Mar 2018 #30

The anthem celebrates our stuggle to defeat a hostile lapucelle Mar 2018 #42

Thanks for posting that grumpyduck Mar 2018 #43

The entire song is about the symbolism of the flag over Fort McHenry. lapucelle Mar 2018 #44

Was are you on about? Stinky The Clown Mar 2018 #40

Just looking out for their "individual freedom" ya know... hexola Mar 2018 #37

I'm partial to The Humpty Dance. NightWatcher Mar 2018 #21

Ha Ha laserhaas Mar 2018 #31

Yes. Orsino Mar 2018 #27

Profound Orsino laserhaas Mar 2018 #28

Mind you, I'm not exempting myself. Orsino Mar 2018 #45

Ask me that, after trump is removed from office. (nt) Paladin Mar 2018 #32

Yes, definitely oberliner Mar 2018 #33

When Someone Sings It At The Right Tempo Let Me Know ProfessorGAC Mar 2018 #46

Re: several posts above about our military grumpyduck Mar 2018 #38

One Other Interesting Note, Grumpy ProfessorGAC Mar 2018 #47

Where the heck were you grumpyduck Mar 2018 #49

Ducking For Cover? ProfessorGAC Mar 2018 #54

A quote from Eleanor Roosevelt grumpyduck Mar 2018 #55

I Was Kidding ProfessorGAC Mar 2018 #56

Take note - it is often performed/played without vocal hexola Mar 2018 #39

-1 Mosby Mar 2018 #41

I always liked Gail & Dale On The Laurence Welk Show performing a "modern" spiritual... NurseJackie Mar 2018 #48

Toking....?? laserhaas Mar 2018 #50

I'm just being playful. NurseJackie Mar 2018 #51

The notion that Walk - toked laserhaas Mar 2018 #52

Wunnerful, wunnerful! NurseJackie Mar 2018 #58

Yeah pretty much el_bryanto Mar 2018 #53

I don't like it but my reasoning might be different Awsi Dooger Mar 2018 #57

Right, so the kids are listening to the music, grumpyduck Mar 2018 #59