The National Anthem controversy

National anthems are funny things. A couple weeks ago at the Blazer game, for example, there was a huge controversy when, prior to the United States National Anthem they played the "black National Anthem". No, I did not know there was one, either. Nor did I care. Since then I have seen the arguments for and against. I see the people working who say it is "just another way for the black population to self-segregate" and I have seen the arguments that THE National Anthem is inclusive, hence another one is not needed.

Personally I think it is pretty offensive just as I would find the "white National Anthem" offensive if one exists...I don't know if it does or not. Within the borders of the U.S. there is really only room for the National Anthems of sovereign nations...which may or may not include the National Anthems of, say, the Nez Perce if they had one since in theory every "native tribe" is a "dependent sovereign nation", a polite fiction indicating self-rule for the various tribes despite the rather obvious controls put on them such as the state of California voting on whether these allegedly sovereign tribes can add things to their casinos. If they are, indeed, sovereign then the state has no power over them.

Yet it is not just the black National Anthem that is offensive. Let's take a look at the various people offended by the official National Anthem of the United States of America.

"Oh say can you see by the dawn's early light"

Right away you have the handicapped people of the country offended by the National Anthem. I keep waiting to hear "Oh say can you see" interrupted by "no you idiot, I can't...I am blind".

And, of course, those of us who hate mornings are offended by the thought we should be out of bed and conscious within 4 hours of that hideous, horrendous dawn we hate so much...