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player ready...To stand or not stand. That appears to be the debate. Not why or why not.
Opinion seems to lean in the direction of stand, though leaning would be a compromise. Stand and not stand at the same time.
“The Star-Spangled Banner” is a poor song, hard to sing, not easy to remember all the words, full of violence and defiance, bombs bursting in air and all of that.
Still, it is our national song, and every nation must have one; otherwise, the Olympics would not have a soundtrack.
I recall feeling very uncomfortable standing for “Deutschland Uber Alles” when the World Cup came to Soldier Field. I stood, out of courtesy, but probably more so because everyone else was standing.
“And crown thy good with brotherhood, from sea to shining sea.” That seems a better sentiment than “rockets red glare.” We can all get behind that.
But “America the Beautiful” is not our song. Nor is “From the mountains to the prairies to the ocean white with foam.” Home sweet home.
Another nice image and a pretty nice tune. But “God Bless America” isn’t our song either.
When “God Bless America” was played during the seventh-inning stretch. I recall nudging a press box mate to get to his feet for it. “I don’t stand for show tunes,” he said. And he had a point.
“America” was the song that began every school day, but “My Country ‘Tis of Thee” uses the English melody for “God Save the King,” so “sweet land of liberty” gave way to “the twilight’s last gleaming.”
Whatever the song, it means what it means to those singing it or hearing it or using it.
By guess and in round numbers, I must have stood for our national anthem at least 2,000 times. I have heard the song sung wonderfully, awfully, dutifully and out of tune. I have been generally annoyed by performers who insist on making the song their own, putting their personal signature on it, forgetting that it is not just theirs but mine too. All of ours.
It is Colin Kaepernick’s too. It does not just represent the faults of America but the virtues as well. He is allowed to see and hear which matters to him. And to wear whatever socks he wishes.
During one pregame rendition, the anthem singer was facing away from the flag, singing with his back to Old Glory. A protest?
I poked a friend. “What, is he blind?” “Yes,” he said. And so he was, but his voice was clear and strong.
I have heard the anthem played by seals honking horns with their noses, a firehouse band using comb and tissue paper and I have participated in a stadium-wide rendition with kazoos.
Very versatile our song, and politically and commercially useful, impossible to be neutral about.
To not stand for the anthem is a choice. And even standing is not necessarily enough. Poor Gabby Douglas caught grief just for not placing her hand on her heart.
I’ve done it several ways, as we all probably have. In the military, I saluted. Other times I’ve covered my heart, usually stood quietly with arms by my side and always removed my hat if I was wearing one.
None of it means I was sincere, though I was. I was making no great statement about supporting America, though I do.
Conduct, whatever it is, during the anthem comes down to simple respect and good manners, but what is in the heart of any one of us, only each of us can know.
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How the anthem got hooked up with sports in the first place is unclear, piggybacking on patriotism, and what patriotism has to do with sports is even more unclear. The connection appears to exploit as much as to celebrate sacrifice and heroism.
But there it is. Huge field-length flags waved by paid hands and players in camouflage gear as if they were actual soldiers and the “land of the free and the home of the brave” being held several notes too long so the jet fighters can roar overhead.
It’s OK to feel proud. Or not.
Bernie Lincicome is a special contributor to the baiduhai.