Thread: Our National Anthem

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I found this on another forum, and thought it was appropriate for the day. And, since all I could do earlier was grump, hope you enjoy this.


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Our National Anthem

BY DR. ISAAC ASIMOV


I was once asked to speak at a luncheon. Taking my life in my hands, I announced I was going to sing our national anthem -- all four stanzas. This was greeted with loud groans. One man closed the door to the kitchen, where the noise of dishes and cutlery was loud and distracting. "Thanks, Herb," I said.

"That's all right," he said. "It was at the request of the kitchen staff."

I explained the background of the anthem and then sang all four stanzas. Let me tell you, those people had never heard it before -- or had never really listened. I got a standing ovation. But it was not me; it was the anthem.

So now let me tell you how it came to be written.

In 1812, the United States went to war with Great Britain, primarily over freedom of the seas. We were in the right. For two years, we held off the British, even though we were still a rather weak country. Great Britain was in a life and death struggle with Napoleon. In fact, just as the United States declared war, Napoleon marched off to invade Russia. If he won, as everyone expected, he would control Europe, and Great Britain would be isolated. It was no time for her to be involved in an American war.
At first, our seamen proved better than the British. After we won a battle on Lake Erie in 1813, the American commander, Oliver Hazard Perry, sent the message, "We have met the enemy and they are ours." However, the weight of the British navy beat down our ships eventually. New England, hard-hit by a tightening blockade, threatened secession.
Meanwhile, Napoleon was beaten in Russia and in 1814 was forced to abdicate. Great Britain now turned its attention to the United States, launching a three-pronged attack.

The British reached the American coast, and on August 24, 1814, took Washington, D.C. Then they moved up the Chesapeake Bay toward Baltimore. On September 12, they arrived and found 1,000 men in Fort McHenry, whose guns controlled the harbor. If the British wished to take Baltimore, they would have to take the fort.

On one of the British ships was an aged physician, William Beanes, who had been arrested in Maryland and brought along as a prisoner. Francis Scott Key, a lawyer and friend of the physician, had come to the ship to negotiate his release.

The British captain was willing, but the two Americans would have to wait. It was now the night of September 13, and the bombardment of Fort McHenry was about to start.

As twilight deepened, Key and Beanes saw the America n flag flying over Fort McHenry. Through the night, they heard bombs bursting and saw the red glare of rockets. They knew the fort was resisting and the American flag was still flying. But toward morning the bombardment ceased, and a dread silence fell. Either Fort McHenry had surrendered and the British flag flew above it, or the bombardment had failed and the American flag still flew.

As dawn began to brighten the eastern sky, Key and Beanes stared out at the fort, trying to see which flag flew over it. He and the physician must have asked each other over and over, "Can you see the flag?"

After it was all finished, Key wrote a four stanza poem telling the events of the night. Called "The Defense of Fort McHenry," it was published in newspapers and swept the nation. Someone noted that the words fit an old English tune called, "To Anacreon in Heaven" a difficult melody with an uncomfortably large vocal range. For obvious reasons, Key's work became known as "The Star Spangled Banner," and in 1931 Congress declared it the official anthem of the United States.

Now that you know the story, here are the words. Presumably, the old doctor is speaking. This is what he asks Key:

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, through 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 thro' 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?


The first stanza asks a question. The second gives an answer:


On the shore, dimly seen thro' the mist of the deep,

Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,

What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep.

As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?

Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,

In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream

'Tis the star-spangled banner. Oh! long may it wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

In the third stanza, I feel Key allows himself to gloat over the American triumph. In the aftermath of the bombardment, Key probably was in no mood to act otherwise.

During World War II, when the British were our staunchest allies, this third stanza was not sung. However, I know it, so here it is:

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore

That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion

A home and a country should leave us no more?

Their blood has washed out their foul footstep's pollution.

No refuge could save the hireling and slave

From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave,

And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

The fourth stanza, a pious hope for the future, should be sung more slowly than the other three and with even deeper feeling:

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand

Between their loved homes and the war's desolation,

Blest with victory and peace, may the Heaven - rescued land

Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.

Then conquer we must, for our cause is just,

And this be our motto "In God is our trust."

And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

I hope you will look at the national anthem with new eyes. Listen to it, the next time you have a chance, with new ears. And don't let them ever take it away.

_________________
The difference between a Communist and a Socialist is that the Socialist doesn't have all the guns yet.

Thanks for posting.

I can't help but get a tear when I hear this it is truly powerful. I am Proud to be an American.

Richard

Thanks Rrumbler, well done.

Outstanding - if you liked this post, view the following:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeYscnFpEyA

Thanks Rrumbler, that is superb. It should be taught in all of our schools

Pt

Originally Posted by Stu Cool

Thanks Rrumbler, that is superb. It should be taught in all of our schools

Pt

If we had control of the schools it might be.

I've seen this before, but it never hurts to be reminded.
I still believe that the school kids should say the pledge of allegiance.
As well as everyone that lives in this country, should.
I had a neighbor tell me he has two countries, Porta Rico and the United States.
I wanted to smack him up side his head.
I know what your thinking, but you see that's not the case.
My family came from Spain, to live in the United States.
That means if the United states go's to war with Spain, I'm on the United States side.
This is where we decided to raise our children, this is my country now and is no longer spain. In Las Vegas when attending school they sent home letters saying that they
wanted to make spanish the primary language.
My Father who spoke better spanish then he did english fought it, and said this is America not Spain, Mexico or Porta Rico make everyone learn english.
My Grandfather, Dad, Uncles, brothers and myself have all served in the United States millatary and this is our country, not Spain.
Everyone wants to come here and say change this or that.
Sorry you came here so you change, don't like it go back to where you came from.
Just the way I see it and I don't care if it's politically correct or not.
So God Bless all of you, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Kurt

Vara4, everyone who is privileged to be in this Country should be like your Family. It was people like your Family who made this great but people who come here today already have their hand out. My wife's Grandmother came here in a trunk when she was a little girl, that was in the late 1800's she worked for what she got and raised a Family. There are more stories like that from people on this forum more then likely. Amen to you, and your Family.

Richard

It all happened in 1814 right here in Baltimore, in a ship on our Chesapeake Bay right off of Fort McHenry, which is only about 3 miles from my office. Our flag still flies there every day and every night, well lighted, as it has always been with the exception of the dark days during WWII.

It's a great story and a great anthem. Not the easiest to sing, nor remember, but it is ours and I'm damn proud of it.

You got that right Bob! I get chills down my spine when I hear it and have been known to thrash a youngster or two who have been disrespectful during it's rendition..

During the last superbowl, i was in a local tavern, and they had the game on.

when the national anthem was sung, I stood, and announced loudly


ON YOUR FEET!


I was very dissapointed at the (obviously) military whom remained seated.

but.. I stood with my hand over my heart, and felt every word.

A few took my example, but not many.

What is wrong with this country?

The direction my country has taken since the early 1960's saddens and shames me. No pledge of allegence or prayer in our schools due to MAYBE insulting the non religeous + noncitizens(WTF are THEY doing in OUR schools anyway?) and separation between church and state-I do see this part due to the increasing Muslim/Budist/Atheist numbers in our society. (So shut your trap during the god parts) is a low I never thought I would see. I have almost gotten into fistfights over standing up and telling others to do so during the pledge.

It's very sad when people don't show the Flag or our troops the respect they deserve.
Kurt