Sara's Essay

The National Anthem – A Trueheart Challenge

by Sara Tillinghast

An anthem is an uplifting song asserting a deeply-held principle. It provides an opportunity to affirm it, to declare allegiance to it, to show willingness to fight for it, and to pass on pride in it to children listening in awe nearby.

What principle is embodied in the National Anthem of the United States of America, for which the Trueheart stands?

Freedom.

The mind and person of a human must not be forced. He or she needs freedom to survive and thrive – absolute freedom to live, think, and act – free in mind, body, association, movement, and property.

This fact is embedded at the root of the United States of America, with dedication to protection of it by government.

Every day in the United States, the National Anthem is performed, and citizens stand. Unquestionably, many focus on the meaning – freedom – and let pride rise. They add emotion for personal connection – an act of service to the defense of the nation, a profound gratitude if they found sanctuary beneath the flag, thankfulness for the gift their children inherit as citizens. Love of country. They sing for the profound joy that they are free.

Others may have never grasped the meaning of the anthem, take it for granted, or consider it trivial. They exhibit boredom, impatience, celebrity-watching, or schadenfreude in hopes of a performance malfunction.

In some, a perverse nationalism overshadows quiet pride. Instead of championing freedom, they wallow in the military and economic power of the United States to dominate other nations. This frequently includes a personal worldview projected as the mission of the nation.

What of those filled with disdain or rancor at the sound of the first note? Do this see only real and perceived injustices? In their umbrage, they may alienate freedom as the root. Oppression is the root of the United States, they claim. The nation is fundamentally corrupt and unjust, and the promise of freedom a cruel mockery.

The bored, the perverse nationalist, and the radical anti-American may live here, may be citizens, yet if unable or unwilling to assert freedom as primary, as unalienable, do they deserve citizenship?

We have not had to wage hot war for close-in defense of our nation for three-quarters of a century, and live-ammunition battles make the price of freedom immediate, urgent, and tangible – we are asked to kill and die for freedom. With less mortal danger, the meaning of the National Anthem may have gone underground. We would do well to unbury it.

 

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, by the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming; and the rocket’s red glare, and bombs bursting in air, gave proof though the night that our flag was still there?”

Oh say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave over the land of the free and the home of the brave?

 

The poem does not praise or claim anything. It asks two questions. No other anthem of any nation consists of a question, or two, and nothing else. The “Star-Spangled Banner” is a not a static admiration; it is a sharp challenge.

The first question paints a picture of the drama of a close-in defense of the nation, indeed. In 1814, if the flag had fallen in Baltimore, the enemy would have landed and marched on the capital city. We might have lost the nation. The response “yes, the flag is still there,” brought elation, seeing it flying in the dawn.

The second question speaks to Americans of the future – the infinite future. Included in the mild query ‘does the country still exist?’ is a powerful metaphoric challenge: were you able to keep The United States of America free?

A few contrary voices have risen:

“It’s about bombs and stuff.” Yes, we had to bomb a few people to make the country. And to protect it. We may have to do it again.

“It’s too hard to sing.” No one said keeping a country free was easy. Fill your chest with the air of that night in Baltimore, you’ll be able to reach the high notes.

“What’s ramparts still streamin’ got to do with the 21st Century?” This nation is not for a few minutes. Project twenty generations out – your progeny from the year 2400 can tell you what it means. That is, if they kept the nation free.

“Freedom is meaningless if you are hungry.” Everyone must strive to secure their livelihood, and sometimes persuade others to help, but freedom must remain absolute. To paraphrase B. Franklin (1755): Those who would diminish freedom to enact a compulsory safety net, deserve neither freedom nor safety.

What of allegiance? In the heart, it is a personal matter, yet should be present in all citizens. Demonstration of it in public is expected. Is it a contradiction to compel allegiance when the core principle of the nation is freedom? No. On the contrary, the obverse is true: if a citizen does not carry allegiance to freedom within, and will not show allegiance to it in public, he or she has self-voided citizenship. All these should depart themselves from these shores.

If Americanism is void due to bigotry in agents of law enforcement and government, the United States is weak and deserves to die. However, this is false; these blemishes cannot nullify America. We see the miscreants. We can stop them. We are obliged to stop them, and root out racism in government.

Americanism will be void, however, if the accumulation of power to over-tax and regulate citizens continues. It is no mere blemish. Any inclination to justify it for altruism cannot disguise the deep damage to freedom. The patriots fighting on the ramparts did not pledge their lives in Baltimore to erect a Leviathan in Washington.

To shame or refuse the flag or anthem is to reject citizenship. Protesting against injustices inside the nation is protected, but a direct insult to any symbol of the core of the nation is not. A person who rejects the universal principle of freedom is a slave-driver. A person who insults the Founding Principle of the nation, or any who died or suffered defending it, is an alien.

To the bored, the perverse nationalist, and the rabid anti-Americans: if you will not take the suggestion to depart, realize you are not earning your citizenship. Call attention to problems. Work to put things right. Never harm freedom with your solutions. Always stand for the flag and anthem of The United States while doing it. Demonstrate the valor in facing the last question asked by “The Star-Spangled Banner” – are you part of what it takes to keep a nation free?

To all Trueheart Americans: thank you for singing the song, and letting children see the pride.



Copyright John Caedan, 2016-2017
All Rights Reserved

Visit SaraIRL.com
Comments: john@SaraIRL.com

Sara's Essay

The National Anthem – A Trueheart Challenge

by Sara Tillinghast

An anthem is an uplifting song asserting a deeply-held principle. It provides an opportunity to affirm it, to declare allegiance to it, to show willingness to fight for it, and to pass on pride in it to children listening in awe nearby.

What principle is embodied in the National Anthem of the United States of America, for which the Trueheart stands?

Freedom.

The mind and person of a human must not be forced. He or she needs freedom to survive and thrive – absolute freedom to live, think, and act – free in mind, body, association, movement, and property.

This fact is embedded at the root of the United States of America, with dedication to protection of it by government.

Every day in the United States, the National Anthem is performed, and citizens stand. Unquestionably, many focus on the meaning – freedom – and let pride rise. They add emotion for personal connection – an act of service to the defense of the nation, a profound gratitude if they found sanctuary beneath the flag, thankfulness for the gift their children inherit as citizens. Love of country. They sing for the profound joy that they are free.

Others may have never grasped the meaning of the anthem, take it for granted, or consider it trivial. They exhibit boredom, impatience, celebrity-watching, or schadenfreude in hopes of a performance malfunction.

In some, a perverse nationalism overshadows quiet pride. Instead of championing freedom, they wallow in the military and economic power of the United States to dominate other nations. This frequently includes a personal worldview projected as the mission of the nation.

What of those filled with disdain or rancor at the sound of the first note? Do this see only real and perceived injustices? In their umbrage, they may alienate freedom as the root. Oppression is the root of the United States, they claim. The nation is fundamentally corrupt and unjust, and the promise of freedom a cruel mockery.

The bored, the perverse nationalist, and the radical anti-American may live here, may be citizens, yet if unable or unwilling to assert freedom as primary, as unalienable, do they deserve citizenship?

We have not had to wage hot war for close-in defense of our nation for three-quarters of a century, and live-ammunition battles make the price of freedom immediate, urgent, and tangible – we are asked to kill and die for freedom. With less mortal danger, the meaning of the National Anthem may have gone underground. We would do well to unbury it.

 

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, by the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming; and the rocket’s red glare, and bombs bursting in air, gave proof though the night that our flag was still there?”

Oh say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave over the land of the free and the home of the brave?

 

The poem does not praise or claim anything. It asks two questions. No other anthem of any nation consists of a question, or two, and nothing else. The “Star-Spangled Banner” is a not a static admiration; it is a sharp challenge.

The first question paints a picture of the drama of a close-in defense of the nation, indeed. In 1814, if the flag had fallen in Baltimore, the enemy would have landed and marched on the capital city. We might have lost the nation. The response “yes, the flag is still there,” brought elation, seeing it flying in the dawn.

The second question speaks to Americans of the future – the infinite future. Included in the mild query ‘does the country still exist?’ is a powerful metaphoric challenge: were you able to keep The United States of America free?

A few contrary voices have risen:

“It’s about bombs and stuff.” Yes, we had to bomb a few people to make the country. And to protect it. We may have to do it again.

“It’s too hard to sing.” No one said keeping a country free was easy. Fill your chest with the air of that night in Baltimore, you’ll be able to reach the high notes.

“What’s ramparts still streamin’ got to do with the 21st Century?” This nation is not for a few minutes. Project twenty generations out – your progeny from the year 2400 can tell you what it means. That is, if they kept the nation free.

“Freedom is meaningless if you are hungry.” Everyone must strive to secure their livelihood, and sometimes persuade others to help, but freedom must remain absolute. To paraphrase B. Franklin (1755): Those who would diminish freedom to enact a compulsory safety net, deserve neither freedom nor safety.

What of allegiance? In the heart, it is a personal matter, yet should be present in all citizens. Demonstration of it in public is expected. Is it a contradiction to compel allegiance when the core principle of the nation is freedom? No. On the contrary, the obverse is true: if a citizen does not carry allegiance to freedom within, and will not show allegiance to it in public, he or she has self-voided citizenship. All these should depart themselves from these shores.

If Americanism is void due to bigotry in agents of law enforcement and government, the United States is weak and deserves to die. However, this is false; these blemishes cannot nullify America. We see the miscreants. We can stop them. We are obliged to stop them, and root out racism in government.

Americanism will be void, however, if the accumulation of power to over-tax and regulate citizens continues. It is no mere blemish. Any inclination to justify it for altruism cannot disguise the deep damage to freedom. The patriots fighting on the ramparts did not pledge their lives in Baltimore to erect a Leviathan in Washington.

To shame or refuse the flag or anthem is to reject citizenship. Protesting against injustices inside the nation is protected, but a direct insult to any symbol of the core of the nation is not. A person who rejects the universal principle of freedom is a slave-driver. A person who insults the Founding Principle of the nation, or any who died or suffered defending it, is an alien.

To the bored, the perverse nationalist, and the rabid anti-Americans: if you will not take the suggestion to depart, realize you are not earning your citizenship. Call attention to problems. Work to put things right. Never harm freedom with your solutions. Always stand for the flag and anthem of The United States while doing it. Demonstrate the valor in facing the last question asked by “The Star-Spangled Banner” – are you part of what it takes to keep a nation free?

To all Trueheart Americans: thank you for singing the song, and letting children see the pride.



Copyright John Caedan, 2016-2017
All Rights Reserved

Visit SaraIRL.com
Comments: john@SaraIRL.com