I grew up saying the
Pledge of Allegiance. My version included “under God” which was added in
1954. As a kid, I never knew it any other way, so I thought it had always
been that way.
We said it every morning
in school. Some kid, who was never me, got chosen to lead the school in the
pledge over the PA system.
I was in Cub Scouts.
We learned about the flag and the pledge. We got badges or
something for memorizing the pledge and properly demonstrating our two finger
salute. I practiced in the mirror with my little beanie.
Same with the National
Anthem. We learned it in primary school. We read the story about Francis Scott Key
watching the Battle for Baltimore in 1812. As a kid, it’s a pretty compelling
story. What with its staying up all night and watching things blow up.
And winning! By the
dawn’s early light, America won. In the world of an 8 year old, winning was pretty
important.
They played the song at
all the high school games. I went on to play it in the band. All would rise,
we’d play, then play ball. It seemed to become rather rote. Stand, Sing, Sit, Play, Repeat.
Colin Kaepernick seems
to have changed all that. In our time away, a lively debate has arisen about
what the national anthem represents and what patriotism means. When I sing to
the flag, am I honoring the fabric or am I honoring the American Ideal?
And what is the American Ideal, anyway?
Is it freedom of speech, and equality? Life, liberty and the pursuit of
happiness? Or is it something else? The Flag? Veterans? Jesus?
Tastes great? Less
Filling? Two great tastes that taste great together? Does it have to be
one or the other? Ah, well….
What better way to
reconnect with American values than to go to a baseball game? On a warm
summer’s eve, Mrs. S.A.M. and I attended a farm team ball game. It was
lightly attended even though it was “Kids Eat Free!” night. That’s a pity
because it was a good game, rooting for the home team, peanuts and crackerjack
and all that stuff.
The singing of the
Anthem was noticeably different compared with a couple years back. In previous
years, the anthem approached background chatter. Now, when the announcer
comes on, a hush falls over the crowd. It is deathly quiet. Hats and hands to
chests, turning, like sunflowers, to the flag in centerfield.
A large man, with the
presence of the fourth Three Tenors, acapellas his way through the Star
Spangled Banner, culminating in a torticolis rendering high note. O’er the land
of the free!” He had a great set of lungs, but Man!, was he flat!
Homage we paid to
whatever the song represents to us. From the homeless Vet, begging on the
street, to the Somali vendor selling me an Italian sausage. From the Irish cop
to the Dominican relief pitcher. One nation under God.
