Count me as well among the ultra-secularists.
However the Battle Hymn of the Republic is one of my favorite songs. One of the only songs I know all the words to as well. I often sing it in the shower and on those occasions where I've imbibed more than I ought, I've been known to parade through the streets of Brooklyn in the middle of the night belting it out at the top of my lungs.
Despite my love for it though, it's not fitting for a national anthem.
There are many options in that list better suited as national anthems, which is exactly why I didn't choose them. The United States doesn't need a generic anthem which worships the soil and proclaims the great character and glory which spring forth from it. Every country has one of those. Stupid nationalist jibberish.
What we need is an anthem which has humble beginnings, say as a drinking song. And then lyrics laid down during a seminal event in the country's shaping. Lyrics that aren't of the run of the mill , our country is great, our rocks and dirt are better than your rocks and dirt sort. But lyrics which are emblematic about what makes this country different. The United States was the first country where the defining characteristic of the national identity was a shared idea. A country based on concepts and symbolism should have an anthem about a symbol, about an idea.
About a flag, and what it stands for. Or rather, the hope evoked when seeing that flag.
There may be many things about this country I don't like, but the anthem is not one of them. We nailed that bitch down tight.
*edit*
I just wanted to add I realize that when you include the other 3 or 4 verses which commonly aren't sung you do have some references to the land and to God. Actually I think the song uses the generic "Praise the Power" something something. My general point is that the most common criticism of the anthem, that it is just a song about the flag, is actually it's greatest strength. By having the song be about the symbol of the country, you have the anthem stand for whatever the country symbolizes for each individual. Which is a neat trick in my opinion.
However the Battle Hymn of the Republic is one of my favorite songs. One of the only songs I know all the words to as well. I often sing it in the shower and on those occasions where I've imbibed more than I ought, I've been known to parade through the streets of Brooklyn in the middle of the night belting it out at the top of my lungs.
Despite my love for it though, it's not fitting for a national anthem.
There are many options in that list better suited as national anthems, which is exactly why I didn't choose them. The United States doesn't need a generic anthem which worships the soil and proclaims the great character and glory which spring forth from it. Every country has one of those. Stupid nationalist jibberish.
What we need is an anthem which has humble beginnings, say as a drinking song. And then lyrics laid down during a seminal event in the country's shaping. Lyrics that aren't of the run of the mill , our country is great, our rocks and dirt are better than your rocks and dirt sort. But lyrics which are emblematic about what makes this country different. The United States was the first country where the defining characteristic of the national identity was a shared idea. A country based on concepts and symbolism should have an anthem about a symbol, about an idea.
About a flag, and what it stands for. Or rather, the hope evoked when seeing that flag.
There may be many things about this country I don't like, but the anthem is not one of them. We nailed that bitch down tight.
*edit*
I just wanted to add I realize that when you include the other 3 or 4 verses which commonly aren't sung you do have some references to the land and to God. Actually I think the song uses the generic "Praise the Power" something something. My general point is that the most common criticism of the anthem, that it is just a song about the flag, is actually it's greatest strength. By having the song be about the symbol of the country, you have the anthem stand for whatever the country symbolizes for each individual. Which is a neat trick in my opinion.
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