For the past week or so Colin Kaepernick, the
quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers, has been the subject of many
conversations regarding his decision to not stand during the singing of the
National Anthem during pre-game for several football games. Kaepernick's
reasoning for not standing during the National Anthem, simple America isn't
great. Why did he say that America wasn't great, because of the much
injustice that is taking place within this land that is the land of the free.
Or is it really the land of the free?
Upon the many discussions that has taken place
around Kaepernick's actions I came across a video of a young lady speaking on
the case and she mentioned the full lyrics of the Star Spangled Banner in which
a portion of the lyrics in the 3rd stanza states "No refuge could save the
hireling and slave From the terror of flight or the gloom of the
grave." So before falling into Facebook news like many others who take
what they see on Facebook as truth, I researched whether these lyrics are true,
and low and behold what do I find, the full lyrics of the Spar Spangled Banner
posted on the website of the Smithsonian (see below for full
lyrics). The third stanza says in a nutshell that nothing can save a slave
from being killed, no wonder we only sing the first stanza. So is this really the land of the free, how can a song that
clearly speak on slavery be the song the represents the so-called land of the
free?
Colin Kaepernick's simple statement, which after
reading the full lyrics to the Star Spangled Banner are truly justifiable well
I felt it was justifiable anyway giving the state of our country today.
A statement that sent a lot of individuals in to uproar is the same one
line that Donald Trump is using to run for President. The fact that when
Kaepernick says America's not great it's a problem but when Trump says
America's not great he has the potential of being the next President is just
one example of the state the USA is in. Division among the citizens of
the United States is only the start of the problem and for the United States to
honestly be great we must come together as one, together in unity and address
the many issues plaguing our nation. Check out the video below of Ben Swann speaking on Colin Kaepernick's decision not stand during the National Anthem on Reality Check.
What do you think? Do you think that Colin
Kaepernick's actions are right or wrong?
Star-Spangled Banner Lyrics
Complete version of "The Star-Spangled
Banner" showing spelling and punctuation from Francis Scott Key's
manuscript in the Maryland Historical Society collection.
O say can you see, by the dawn's
early light,
What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the
perilous fight
O'er the ramparts we watch'd were so gallantly
streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bomb 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 through 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, half conceals, half
discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first
beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in 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 that band who so vauntingly
swore,
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion
A home and a Country
should leave us no more?
Their blood has wash'd out their foul footstep's
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.
O thus be it ever when freemen shall stand
Between
their lov'd home and the war's desolation!
Blest with vict'ry and peace may the
heav'n rescued land
Praise the power that hath made and preserv'd us a
nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is
just,
And this be our motto - "In God is our trust,"
And the
star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the
home of the brave.
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