National Anthem

The Song

O say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, throught the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming!
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there:
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen throught the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, now conceals, now discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In fulll glory reflected now shines on the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner! O long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is the band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion
A home and a country would leave us no more?
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heaven-rescued land
Praise the Power theat hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, for our cause it is just,
And this be our motto; "In God is our trust."
And the star-0spangled banner in triumph shalll wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

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The "star spangled banner" that flew over Fort McHennery has fifteen stars and strips representing the fifteen states at the time

The Debate

Dispite the its wide acceptance and appeal, there is a growing movment to abandon the "Star Spangled Banner". While such action probably will not suceed immidiatey, it will if we allow ourselves to become ignorant of the reasons why the Star Spangled Banner makes the perfect athem for our country. This website is dedicated to defending and affirming the superiorty of the song as our National Anthem. The following is a brief rebuttle to the popular aguments for changing the anthem as well as reasons for keeping the Star Spangled Banner.

Claim: The Star Spangled Banner is just too militaristic!

Truth: Yes, the song has some militaristic aspects, but not too much to make it replusive. In fact the militaristic character reminds us of those who gave and defended our freedom with their lives.

Claim: The song only been the official anthem since 1933, clearly nothing could possibly be wrong with choosing a new one.

Truth: President Woodrew Willson signed an executive order establishing the Star Spangled Banner as our anthem in 1916. Additionally, the piece has become enshrined in our culture to the extent that the only reason for change would be for supposed political correctness.

Claim: The Star Spangled Banner is way to hard to sing!

Truth: I have yet to meet someone, who, without a little practice couldn't sing the anthem well. Besides, the melody of the song makes it unique and learning to sing it properly is well worth the effort.

Claim: The war of 1812 was an insignificance war, a song written during it isn't suitable.

Truth: A war in which the enemey burns down the Capatol certainly qualifies as significant in American history. The war of 1812 consoladated the United States' idependence.

Francis Scott Key With Fort McHennry in the Background

Please sign my guestbook and tell me what you think of this site! I would also be happy to here any oppinions about the National Anthem eithier positive or negative

Credits:
I would like to express my gratitude to Mr. Read, my english teacher, for giving me the opportunity to make this site as a school project! I would also like to thank the folks at geocities for providing a great web-hosting services