Bud Grant had several distinct priorities as Vikings coach, one of them his insistence that players stand with regimented attention for the National Anthem. No one at that time read any contentious politics into this. It was admired from the standpoint of sheer discipline. No one could have predicted then that this song, judged an innocuous ritual, would ever end up in a morass of protest and conflict.
But it surely has, here in this summer of discontent, 2020.
The last thing I wish to do is give advice to racists, but they'd be too ignorant to pay heed anyway. I would suggest that President Trump's less than inclusive image is aggravating the conflict, like applying kerosene. People who have been fed up a long time over racist qualities in our culture are shaking off any inhibitions they might have had. There is much to be said for this, although extreme conflict always carries dangerous risk.
The alternative might be to continue a more temperate approach. Trump adds eggbeater to troubled waters everywhere. It's not the kind of deportment I'd associate with being a "conservative." I was taught long ago that conservatives like a certain stability and predictability. It's in line with just being "civil." Such a term seems rather the opposite of the president.
A true conservative might suggest that strenuous conflict over the National Anthem is more trouble than it's worth. The NFL is a private corporation. Just let them deal with it. The NFL probably rues the day when the tradition began of the anthem before games. Student-athletes are starting to resent being pawns in the raging discussion. A restrained discussion might be called for, and it probably should focus on whether we have the proper song as our anthem. This is not a new question or issue.
A valid issue with the established anthem has nothing to do with politics or imagery. It has to do with music itself: a very wide vocal range. When you sing it, you'd better begin on the absolutely precise first note. Use a pitch pipe to designate the first note or there's trouble ahead. Start on a note a little too high, you're toast. Our National Anthem should be far more comfortable, more user-friendly to sing.
"Meathead" on the old "All in the Family" TV sitcom objected to our anthem because it "glorifies war." That's a good point, though it would have landed with a thud with the "America, love it or leave it" older generation of my youth. (Rob Reiner played "Meathead.")
The Tulsa Athletic team in the Premier Soccer League has announced it's replacing the National Anthem with the terrific Woody Guthrie song with its folksy sound/theme: "This Land is Your Land." I'm reminded of the Bobby Kennedy presidential campaign of 1968 that used this song. The song gained traction as an alternative to the stuffy "God Bless America."
Many angles might be explored for nixing our current anthem, and the Tulsa people pointed to the obscure third verse. Ahem, "no refuge could save the hireling and slave / From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave." Background: there was a unit of escaped slaves in the War of 1812 who helped British forces in their onslaught on the nation's capital.
Racism at breakfast table
There is a flurry of anti-racist activity now vs. some longstanding symbols. We've all heard about "Aunt Jemima" and the Cream of Wheat guy. Calvin Griffith's statue got whisked away. Oh, and Land O' Lakes with the Indian maiden?
Again, Trump's language which is so contrary to racial/social conciliation, is pushing some nascent forces with this. It's like "we're not going to take it anymore." And we might be inclined to say "hallelujah" except we don't want long-simmering scars from this. A standard Republican like George W. Bush would be promoting the more measured approach, with the realization that healing is of some longstanding divisions. But, injustice is injustice. The current activists would apply a period with that, end of thought, now let's excise unacceptable symbols everywhere.
The National Anthem got in the circle of contentiousness with the Colin Kaepernick behavior. At first the player made no statement about what he was doing or why. So much for grandstanding. He only spoke up when asked. Should he get a shot at playing now? My intuition tells me he's been away from the game too long, his reflexes would fail him. Do you agree, "Ek?"
Kaepernick leaves a legacy far beyond what his on-field accomplishments would have been. No doubt he was spared some concussions - praise the Lord!
Think of the "Dukes of Hazzard" General Lee car. Long ago I made comments to friends about the "Lady Antebellum" name of the country group. As a Civil War "buff" it was obvious to me the singers were acknowledging the pre-Civil War South. It sure took time for the group to act on this, to remedy or to appease critics, probably the latter, although I question if "Lady A" is a proper substitute. It just reminds of the original name.
Our National Anthem was written by Francis Scott Key - you remember from elementary school, don't you? He was a slaveholder. He once said African-Americans were a "distinct and inferior race of people, which all experience proves to be the greatest evil that afflicts a community." Slaveholders had to rationalize their attitudes, to even find support in subjective Bible verses. I once heard a talk radio host say he wouldn't continue conversations with anyone who quoted the Bible, because you can find verses to support anything.
Podcast supplement: My "Morris Mojo" podcast is up and running, and I invite you to click and hear a few random thoughts in addition to what is written here. Thanks.
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