The Star Spangled Banner vs. America The Beautiful
The Encyclopedia Britannica defines National Anthem as “a hymn or song expressing patriotic sentiment and either governmentally authorized as an official national hymn or holding that position in popular feeling.”
In The United States of America, our National Anthem is The Star Spangled Banner. It has been so since it was made official by congressional resolution on May 3, 1931. The lyrics are taken from a poem titled “The Defense of Fort McHenry”, written by amateur poet Francis Scott Key in 1814 after witnessing the bombardment of Fort McHenry by The British Navy in The War of 1812. There are actually four stanzas to the song, but only the first is commonly sung or played today.
The song has a rich history, being inspired by the perseverance of the American spirit in battle, and the American flag itself. What it isn’t is easy to sing, with an octave range that is challenging to even the best of singers. Many Americans consider it to be militaristic, and for many years, people have lobbied for it to be replaced by what they believe to be a better representation of our nation, America The Beautiful.
This is no new movement. Although not the National Anthem, America The Beautiful is just as widely recognized by Americans, and has been called the most beloved of all American patriotic songs. Quoting Lynn Sherr, ABC News correspondent and author of the book America the Beautiful: The Stirring True Story Behind Our Nation’s Favorite Song says this, “I think it’s simple, I think it’s emotional, and I think it talks about a country, a land and its people — not just about a flag, not just about a battle. It doesn’t talk about conquest. It talks about the possibilities of this nation.”
America The Beautiful was written in 1893 by Katharine Lee Bates – a thirty-three year old English professor from Wellesley College – as she traveled by train across our great nation. Her inspiration was her awe for what she witnessed, very much like Francis Scott Key almost a century before.
Perhaps the preference comes down to whether you’re a “spacious skies” or a “bombs bursting in air” kind of person.
Which do you prefer?
-Craig
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Definitely America The Beautiful 🙂
Have a great 4th sweetie
(((hug)))
Star Spangled Banner
i think it does a good job in showing the grit and perseverance that has made America what it is today
-Dj Summer School all the way from Manchester United
America The Beautiful….The National Anthem shouldn’t just be about war
Star Bangled Banneer why else it is the best not america the beautiful still america is still a pretty good song
america the beautiful for sure
sorry i am changing my opinion star spangled banner this time for sure!
STAR SPANGLED BANNER
star spangled banner for sure
Thanks for the recent activity and comments on this blog post. I’m guessing there’s a link somewhere maybe. Where is everyone coming from?
I think Star Spangled Banner shows how hard we fight for our freedom. And if it represents our freedom then it is a great anthem for America.
Depends on what freedom you are talking about, personally “America the Beautiful” brings a tear to my eye especially when I hear Ray Charles sing it with a voice that talks about how great this country can be in both physical beauty and in spirit. He lived through some America’s worse times and proved to be everything that the promise of what America represents……..I cannot say the SSB does that for me.