A Call to change the National Anthem!

shiftmonkey · 01-30-2010, 12:54 PM

Do you believe that a song can change the spirit of a nation? Some time ago I wrote a petition to the US congress to change the national anthem from a song of war to a song of beauty and abundance.

I posted it on my blog but after a while I dropped the ball and never really made the time to promote it.

I have pasted it below. If you feel that it's a worthwhile cause please spread the word, visit this link and sign it:
http://www.petitiononline.com/shift/petition.html

To: United States Congress

We the citizens of the United States of America hereby petition the United States Congress to change our national anthem to “America The Beautiful”.

We believe such a change would be a key step towards our nations healing; a new direction; a symbolic rebirth. The basic premise of this movement is to bring the people of the United States together in song to honor the ideals of brotherhood, beauty and abundance within this land we call home.

Simply put, our current national anthem “The Star-Spangled Banner” is a song that stirs within the human spirit images of war and pride. We believe that the ideals of war and pride do not serve the highest good of mankind nor do they serve the highest good of our nation.

Our world is in the midst of great change and we believe it is time to turn the spirit of our nation away from the glorification of war. Let us sing the praises of brotherhood and begin to truly resonate with the richness and beauty that is within our grasp and with the love for each other that is held firmly deep within our hearts. As a great nation let us lead by example and not by conquest.

Below are the abbreviated lyrics of both songs for reference.

The Star-Spangled Banner

Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

America The Beautiful

O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good
With brotherhood,
From sea to shining sea!

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

feardia · 01-30-2010, 12:57 PM

SteveX · 01-30-2010, 01:34 PM

I can't see why not. It was originally a 17th century drinking song.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Star-Spangled_Banner

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anacreontic_Song

01-30-2010, 12:54 PM	#1
shiftmonkey Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Sierra Mountains, Northern California Posts: 120	A Call to change the National Anthem! Do you believe that a song can change the spirit of a nation? Some time ago I wrote a petition to the US congress to change the national anthem from a song of war to a song of beauty and abundance. I posted it on my blog but after a while I dropped the ball and never really made the time to promote it. I have pasted it below. If you feel that it's a worthwhile cause please spread the word, visit this link and sign it: http://www.petitiononline.com/shift/petition.html To: United States Congress We the citizens of the United States of America hereby petition the United States Congress to change our national anthem to “America The Beautiful”. We believe such a change would be a key step towards our nations healing; a new direction; a symbolic rebirth. The basic premise of this movement is to bring the people of the United States together in song to honor the ideals of brotherhood, beauty and abundance within this land we call home. Simply put, our current national anthem “The Star-Spangled Banner” is a song that stirs within the human spirit images of war and pride. We believe that the ideals of war and pride do not serve the highest good of mankind nor do they serve the highest good of our nation. Our world is in the midst of great change and we believe it is time to turn the spirit of our nation away from the glorification of war. Let us sing the praises of brotherhood and begin to truly resonate with the richness and beauty that is within our grasp and with the love for each other that is held firmly deep within our hearts. As a great nation let us lead by example and not by conquest. Below are the abbreviated lyrics of both songs for reference. The Star-Spangled Banner Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming? Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight, O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming? And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave? America The Beautiful O beautiful for spacious skies, For amber waves of grain, For purple mountain majesties Above the fruited plain! America! America! God shed His grace on thee, And crown thy good With brotherhood, From sea to shining sea! Sincerely, The Undersigned

01-30-2010, 12:57 PM	#2
feardia Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Uisneach, Ireland Posts: 477	Re: A Call to change the National Anthem! Last edited by feardia; 01-30-2010 at 12:59 PM. Reason: fix yt

01-30-2010, 01:34 PM	#3
SteveX Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: UK Posts: 356	Re: A Call to change the National Anthem! I can't see why not. It was originally a 17th century drinking song. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Star-Spangled_Banner http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anacreontic_Song