Indiana college not playing the national anthem.

[jmattbassplaya]

Indiana college not playing the national anthem sparks debate - The Dagger - NCAAB*Blog - Yahoo! Sports

Honestly, I find the amount of controversy regarding the school's action more interesting than the action itself. I personally wouldn't be against hearing America the Beautiful over the national anthem. I think it's a much better song

"Visiting fans who attend a basketball game, or any sporting event, at Goshen College this season may be surprised by the patriotic song they hear over the loudspeakers minutes before tipoff.

The Northern Indiana school has decided to play "America the Beautiful" prior to sporting events instead of the "Star-Spangled Banner" because the lyrics better fit the pacifist ideals of a Mennonite campus whose motto is "Healing the World, Peace by Peace."

Adopting "America the Beautiful" is Goshen president James E. Brenneman's attempt to end a debate over the national anthem that has engulfed his school for almost two years.

Goshen College had never played the national anthem before a sporting event until March 2010 when the school began playing an instrumental version at the urging of Brenneman. In a lengthy statement explaining the change in policy, Brenneman said, "I am committed to retaining the best of what it means to be a Mennonite college, while opening the doors wider to all who share our core values."

The practice of playing the national anthem before games was immediately controversial among the 1,000-person student body, 58 percent of which belong to the Mennonite faith built on pacifism and global citizenship. Complaints from students and alumni eventually caused school officials to put an end to the short-lived ritual of playing the anthem at sporting events in June.

What bothered many at Goshen College about the "Star-Spangled Banner" was imagery from the War of 1812 that Francis Scott Key included. Goshen spokesman Richard R. Aguirre told the Chicago Tribune that lyrics such as "the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air" were "inconsistent to the entire message we were trying to send."

Seeking a compromise that would satisfy both factions at his school, Brenneman considered numerous patriotic songs before announcing last Friday that "America the Beautiful" would be the replacement for the national anthem at Goshen. In a statement released that day, Brenneman explained his choice by pointing out that it's easily recognizable, it honors the country and it fits with Goshen's core values.

"Though some may or may not agree with the alternative recommended here, I call now on each one of us to move beyond this decision and turn our attention to other important matters before us," Brenneman said. "May God help Goshen College become one of the most welcoming places on earth for all who come to our campus."

Brenneman's attempt at compromise may have satisfied some students and alumni, but the decision has sparked protest and derision from many outsiders.

"Goshen College should be banned from NCAA competition until they start playing the National Anthem again," one man tweeted. Wrote another, "I don't agree w/Goshen College decision but it's America and it's cool for them to do what they want.." "

[echoSE7EN]

Private school. They can do, and should be able to do, what they want on campus. I remember once reading something about separation of church and state.....

[BassChuck]

IMHO the dean has some valid points that deserve consideration. What is happen though is giving certain posers the material to prove they are more "American" than others. Fine.
Personally I prefer "America The Beautiful". Easier to sing, the melody was composed by an American, and the lyrics talk about the country and the people. "Star Spangled Banner" was an English drinking song and the lyrics talk about war. Its all a personal preference.

[jaywa]

In case anyone is interested... I am a graduate of this college, and I can unequivocally state that I am embarrassed and disgusted at the hopelessly convoluted process involved at reaching a resolution on this issue, as well as the decision itself.

IMHO, playing the National Anthem -- our official national anthem -- at any institute of higher learning on U.S. soil should be a no-brainer. I am disheartened that the leadership of my alma mater feels otherwise.

In the wake of this decision I have cut all ties with this institution and they will not be getting a dime of my money going forward.

[colcifer]

Singing the national anthem before sporting events is a silly, outdated practice; I wouldn't do it either.

[jmattbassplaya]

Originally Posted by colcifer

Singing the national anthem before sporting events is a silly, outdated practice; I wouldn't do it either.

What exactly makes it silly or outdated?

[iamlowsound]

They are a college with pacifist ideals, makes sense to me why they don't want to play a song about war. I have some Mennonite ties and they take their pacifist teachings very seriously.

lowsound

[colcifer]

Originally Posted by jmattbassplaya

What exactly makes it silly or outdated?

We started doing it during WWII as a sort of moral boost and patriotic show (we stopped saluting during the Pledge around the same time, IIRC ). It's outlived its usefulness, IMO, ifit was useful at all. YMMV.

[aborgman]

Originally Posted by colcifer

Singing the national anthem before sporting events is a silly, outdated practice; I wouldn't do it either.

I wouldn't even call it outdated - it's a historically VERY recent thing.

Playing the national anthem before sporting events was something that was started by major league baseball (and within a few years spread to other professional/college/school sports) DURING WW2.

This isn't some ancient tradition. This was a war propaganda thing that started during WW2... kind of like the whole adding "In God We Trust" to the Pledge of Allegiance.

[rr5025]

Originally Posted by colcifer

Singing the national anthem before sporting events is a silly, outdated practice; I wouldn't do it either.

+1

Also +1 to America the Beautiful being way better than the current anthem.

[SteveC]

The SSB was never intended to be the national anthem. It is about a particular battle. America the beautiful - specifically the Carmen Dragon arrangement - should be the national anthem. It is very powerful. It is also easier to sing and more meaningful.

As for doing it before events - I don't care one way or the other.

[MatticusMania]

Originally Posted by rr5025

Also +1 to America the Beautiful being way better than the current anthem.

I always found the star spangled banner to be a bit annnoying.

[electracoyote]

Originally Posted by colcifer

we stopped saluting during the Pledge around the same time, IIRC

...and adopted a new protocol, hand over the heart. That seems to have largely fallen by the wayside as well. I still do it, and I'm in the 1% of the crowd every time.

When the building blocks that form the foundation of a country start to crumble...

The patriotic flare of "The Star-Spangled Banner" is that our liberties and freedoms are something that require defending, sometimes by force of arms, from those who would like to take them from us. Some people seem to easily forget that freedom is not free, and it has come at the cost of many human lives over the past 230+ years. If our national anthem happens to reflect that, so be it. It's an appropriate reminder.

The main theme of "The Star-Spangled Banner" is glorifying the flag of this country, and by doing so, glorifying this country itself. The "bombs bursting in air" is mentioned only to let us know how the flag was illuminated in the night. It's not a glorification of war or violence.

I agree, "America The Beautiful" is a great song, but kind of generic. It's about the beauty of this continent, but says nothing about our character or integrity as a nation. It's about America, which is not the country I live in. I live in The United States of America. The term America covers alot of territory outside my country.

Finally, "America The Beautiful" mentions God about five times, and we all know what an uproar that would cause.

[iamlowsound]

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

I always found the star spangled banner to be a bit annnoying.

My favorite part of it is the part about the white house burning to the ground and all the people cheer. It gives me a good chuckle every time.

lowsound

[Quickie]

Originally Posted by jmattbassplaya

Indiana college not playing the national anthem sparks debate - The Dagger - NCAAB*Blog - Yahoo! Sports



The Northern Indiana school has decided to play "America the Beautiful" prior to sporting events instead of the "Star-Spangled Banner" because the lyrics better fit the pacifist ideals of a Mennonite campus whose motto is "Healing the World, Peace by Peace."



What bothered many at Goshen College about the "Star-Spangled Banner" was imagery from the War of 1812 that Francis Scott Key included. Goshen spokesman Richard R. Aguirre told the Chicago Tribune that lyrics such as "the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air" were "inconsistent to the entire message we were trying to send."

Seeking a compromise that would satisfy both factions at his school, Brenneman considered numerous patriotic songs before announcing last Friday that "America the Beautiful" would be the replacement for the national anthem at Goshen. In a statement released that day, Brenneman explained his choice by pointing out that it's easily recognizable, it honors the country and it fits with Goshen's core values.

The only "core value" that this college cares about is the obscene amounts of money that NCAA brings to their college.



"mind on my money and money on my mind"; The colleges REAL "core value".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xeZTWZHtknI

[jaywa]

Originally Posted by Quickie

The only "core value" that this college cares about is the obscene amounts of money that NCAA brings to their college.

Respectfully, this college is about anything but big-money athletics. They are a tiny, private school whose entire campus literally covers no more than about 8 city blocks. At the time I was attending (late 1980s) they did not even provide athletic scholarships. Athletics provides little if any of this school's income and in fact they are much more known for their academics and fine arts than their athletic programs.

They have reached a decision that they feel aligns with their historical background and charter as well as the wishes of its majority constituency. As others have noted, that is their prerogative as a private college. It is also my prerogative, as an alumnus whose worldview no longer matches theirs, to disagree with the path they have chosen.

[jaywa]

Originally Posted by electracoyote

...and adopted a new protocol, hand over the heart. That seems to have largely fallen by the wayside as well. I still do it, and I'm in the 1% of the crowd every time.

Same here. Apparently it's "old school" and not "cool" anymore but I still do it anyway.

[GregC]

Originally Posted by jaywa

In case anyone is interested... I am a graduate of this college, and I can unequivocally state that I am embarrassed and disgusted at the hopelessly convoluted process involved at reaching a resolution on this issue, as well as the decision itself.

IMHO, playing the National Anthem -- our official national anthem -- at any institute of higher learning on U.S. soil should be a no-brainer. I am disheartened that the leadership of my alma mater feels otherwise.

In the wake of this decision I have cut all ties with this institution and they will not be getting a dime of my money going forward.

You obviously have a lot more insight into what's happened than the rest of us, but I'm a little confused. The story says they didn't ever play the anthem except for an instrumental version over the last year or so. Did you have an issue with them not playing anything? An outsider like me thinks "Well, they're back to not playing the anthem, same as throughout most of their history, but now they're playing a patriotic song."

[Quickie]

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

I always found the star spangled banner to be a bit annnoying.

Yeah...that independence thing and all.

Originally Posted by jaywa

In case anyone is interested... I am a graduate of this college, and I can unequivocally state that I am embarrassed and disgusted at the hopelessly convoluted process involved at reaching a resolution on this issue, as well as the decision itself.

IMHO, playing the National Anthem -- our official national anthem -- at any institute of higher learning on U.S. soil should be a no-brainer. I am disheartened that the leadership of my alma mater feels otherwise.

In the wake of this decision I have cut all ties with this institution and they will not be getting a dime of my money going forward.

I agree.

[MatticusMania]

Originally Posted by Quickie

Yeah...that independence thing and all.

Independence is great. Its the song, not its subject matter, that I find annoying.