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On its 200th anniversary, five myths about ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ ^ | Sept 11, 2014 | Steve Vogel

Posted on 09/14/2014 11:45:13 AM PDT by Whenifhow

This weekend marks the 200th anniversary of the writing of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Over the years, many debates have surrounded the national anthem — involving its meaning, its quality and the circumstances under which Francis Scott Key came to write it. Before you hear “Oh say, can you see” at the next ballgame or school assembly, make sure you’ve dispelled these myths first.

1. ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ was written about an insignificant battle in an insignificant war.

The nation’s future was at stake in 1814, with the US on the brink of defeat in the third year of the War of 1812, a conflict with Britain that would determine the future of the North America. The battle for Baltimore took place three weeks after the British captured Washington , leaving the Capitol, the White House and virtually every other federal building a smoking ruin.

With President Madison’s government on the run, the U.S. treasury bankrupt and British forces preparing an attack from Canada to sever New England from the rest of the country, there was widespread fear that another defeat could force the collapse of the government and the dissolution of the Union.

Yet the US escaped disaster largely because the repulse of the British at Baltimore and the concurrent U.S. victory at Lake Champlain forced Britain to drop harsh peace terms. For many Americans, this second war of independence created a feeling of national unity that had not truly existed — a fitting moment for the nation’s anthem to emerge.

2. The anthem is a celebration of war.

3. Key was too far from Fort McHenry to see anything, let alone the flag.

4. We should make ‘America the Beautiful’ our anthem.

5. The flag flying over Fort McHenry during the bombardment is on display at the Smithsonian.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Extended News; Government; News/Current Events; US: Maryland
KEYWORDS: 1812; american; americanhistory; nationalanthem; patriotic
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To: yarddog
After Gen. Jackson and the Americans stomped the finest of the British Army, (Scotsman), and Stomped them hard.
21 posted on 09/14/2014 1:17:17 PM PDT by SandRat (Duty - Honor - Country! What else needs said?)
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To: Whenifhow
Some previously undiscovered verses to the Star Spangled Banner.
22 posted on 09/14/2014 1:20:43 PM PDT by MuttTheHoople (Ob)
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To: chajin
Anacreon seems to have been a popular tune to use back in the day, for all the modern gripes about its range. Keyes had explicitly used the tune before to set an earlier poem, celebrating earlier battles in a current war, albeit according to Pasha Obama, not a real war.
23 posted on 09/14/2014 1:35:33 PM PDT by JohnBovenmyer (Obama been Liberal. Hope Change!)
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To: JohnBovenmyer
Oops, failed to fill in my link to the earlier poem
24 posted on 09/14/2014 1:39:44 PM PDT by JohnBovenmyer (Obama been Liberal. Hope Change!)
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To: Whenifhow
The Maryland football team will wear ‘Star-Spangled Banner’ lyrics against West Virginia

Didn't do them quite enough good, but—and this feels very strange to be saying with Maryland—Go Big 10.

25 posted on 09/14/2014 1:44:08 PM PDT by JohnBovenmyer (Obama been Liberal. Hope Change!)
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To: FlingWingFlyer
On the other hand, my grandmother (born in the 1890s) felt that it was “God Bless America,” made famous by Kate Smith that was the song the communists/radical left wanted as a replacement for the Star Spangled Banner. She thought “America the Beautiful” was a lovely hymn.
26 posted on 09/14/2014 1:46:49 PM PDT by erkelly
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To: JohnBovenmyer

Thought it was significant and uplifting because of the football team in Arkansas that had to removed the crosses on helmets for lost team-mates.


27 posted on 09/14/2014 1:50:48 PM PDT by Whenifhow
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To: hecht

There are many videos of American sporting events where all four verses are song. People are confused at first. Then pissed. Then curious. Then they cheer like never before.

It’s very interesting to watch.


28 posted on 09/14/2014 2:11:03 PM PDT by Vermont Lt (Ebola: Death is a lagging indicator.)
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To: JohnBovenmyer
Anacreon seems to have been a popular tune to use back in the day, for all the modern gripes about its range.

Only a drunk, a coloratura, or a castrato would want to sing the range of a twelfth, and the castrati had gone out of fashion when opera switched from Handel to Cherubini and Mozart (which I think was a good thing, but that's a separate issue).

One of the reasons the late Whitney Houston was able to pull it off so effectively was that she had stretched her mezzo voice down to low Bb, essentially contralto range, and then was able to seamlessly switch to falsetto for the high Eb and F; lots of Houston wannabes have tried since, but no one has pulled it off as well IMHO.

29 posted on 09/14/2014 2:11:46 PM PDT by chajin ("There is no other name under heaven given among people by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12)
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To: Whenifhow
Obama's National Athem.

Imagine this played to a video of a landscape of rioting, ISSI beheadings, out of work lines, bums on the street, everything that is Wrong With American under Obama.

30 posted on 09/14/2014 2:14:12 PM PDT by grobdriver (Where is Wilson Blair when you need him?)
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To: FlingWingFlyer

“God Bless America” would really drive them crazy.


31 posted on 09/14/2014 2:33:33 PM PDT by clintonh8r (It's possible to love your country and hate your government. I'm proof of it.)
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To: Whenifhow

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9_bP219ehQ

This is at a tea party gathering. Loved it. He said 2nd verse, but I believe it is the 4th.


32 posted on 09/14/2014 2:44:40 PM PDT by bobo1 (progressives=commies/fascists)
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To: bobo1

Ahh, the annual, “who does the best rendition of the Star Spangled Banner” thread.

And once again, the winner is:

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QKCVS57j284


33 posted on 09/14/2014 3:15:25 PM PDT by EQAndyBuzz (Manchuria Called. They want their Candidate Back!)
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To: EQAndyBuzz

Outstanding!


34 posted on 09/14/2014 3:21:50 PM PDT by onedoug
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To: EQAndyBuzz

They did a great job!

I put my post in as it is a verse that people normally do not hear and has a Christian message.

Love Madison Rising’s version also.

BTW, listened to them sing Amazing Grace also. Great Job!


35 posted on 09/14/2014 3:23:57 PM PDT by bobo1 (progressives=commies/fascists)
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To: Whenifhow

WOW!!!!


36 posted on 09/14/2014 3:33:59 PM PDT by ChicagahAl (Don't blame me. I voted for Sarah.)
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To: Whenifhow

#. The first verse does NOT translate to-

“O, Jose, can you see? [Si!]”


37 posted on 09/14/2014 4:24:52 PM PDT by mikrofon (America BUMP)
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To: Whenifhow

There was a very good program this morning on C-SPAN3 (American History channel) about the Battle of Plattsburgh on Sept. 11, 1814. According to the speaker, the British were hoping to drive all the way to New York City and the invasion force greatly outnumbered the defenders in Plattsburgh. It was the naval battle in Lake Champlain nearby that decided the issue and caused the British to return to Canada. If the invasion had fared better the British intended to demand in the peace treaty that the US give up its territory north of the 43rd parallel (which would mean Maine, most of New Hampshire and Vermont, and a large part of upstate New York.


38 posted on 09/14/2014 5:38:13 PM PDT by Verginius Rufus
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To: mikrofon

No, it’s “Hosea, can you see?”


39 posted on 09/14/2014 5:39:11 PM PDT by Verginius Rufus
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To: MuttTheHoople
> Some previously undiscovered verses to the Star Spangled Banner.

Well, now. Per Facebook's new rules, don't you think you should alert people that the Onion is a satire site?

Some poor FReeper might take that video seriously and have a heart attack!

/s

40 posted on 09/14/2014 6:18:02 PM PDT by dayglored (Listen, strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is...sounding pretty good about now.)
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