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National Anthem Banned at Indiana College’s Sporting Events Due to Its ‘Anti-Peace’ Message
Goshen College is a Mennonite school
A Mennonite college in Indiana is under fire for its decisions to refuse to play The Star-Spangled Banner at school sporting events because they believe the song is in conflict with their pro-peace beliefs.
The Star-Spangled Banner as a pro-war rally cry?
According to an online message from the college: “Historically, playing the national anthem has not been among Goshen College’s practices because of our Christ-centered core value of compassionate peacemaking seeming to be in conflict with the anthem’s militaristic language.”
The Mennonite Church is known for being a “peace” church, although there’s no official position on the national anthem.
“It’s obviously about a battle,” Goshen College art professor John Blosser told Fox News Radio. “It’s rather violent. It’s about using violence to conquer and that would be something that many people here would have problems with.”
An instrumental version of the song was played at sporting events last year before school officials decided to ban it outright — a move that was supported by students, although not the surrounding community members.
Goshen City Councilman Harland Lantz told Fox News Radio that the decision is “anti-American.”
“It really hurts,” he said. “(The national anthem) is the American way.”
I think it’s a shame and even a bit bizarre that The Star-Spangled Banner has been banned at a school’s sporting events, but it’s a private, religious school and if those paying tuition are OK with it, who am I to say otherwise? To each his own. There are far more important issues to get all riled up about.
Do you think it’s silly to ban the national anthem for the reasons stated by Goshen College, or do you agree that it promotes an anti-peace message?
Image: Wikipedia
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12 Comments
Gagagolly commented on Jun 08 11 at 11:51 amYou know, I have to be honest, I have thought that our anthem was a little odd with the “rockets red glare” and “bombs bursting in air”…never really liked it, actually, so I can see what they mean…
Beth A. commented on Jun 08 11 at 1:00 pmThe Star Spangled Banner was written about the British attack on Fort McHenry in 1814. It’s about a battle, and has violent imagery, so it doesn’t surprise me that pacifists wouldn’t want to singing it. Since when is singing any one particular song a requirement of being American? It seems to me that the American way is much more about religious freedom and the right to follow the dictates of your conscience than being forced to follow meaningless rituals.
goddess commented on Jun 08 11 at 1:32 pmAnd yet that song and our flag comforted me like nothing else a week after 911 at a baseball game.
For me, it’s about patriotism. Private entity, their choice though. But they wouldn’t be getting any of my hard earned money fr games or tuition. Sure hope they don’t use or accept any federal aid either.
Larissa commented on Jun 08 11 at 2:42 pmThey could play This Land Is Your Land or America the Beautiful (though those songs are like the dueling banjos of folksy Americana) instead if they want patriotism w/o the violence.
Amanda commented on Jun 08 11 at 2:50 pmThe professor quoted in the article doesn’t know what he’s talking about. The song is about a battle, as a previous poster mentioned, but it was a battle in which Americans were defending themselves against attack by the British. We weren’t trying to conquer anyone. If you’re going to take a stand against something, at least get your facts straight.
bwsf commented on Jun 08 11 at 7:18 pmOk, I’m not usually the one shouting “USA! USA! USA!” but I have to chime in here. The song is NOT sending an pro-war message. The song is DESCRIBING A WAR THAT ACTUALLY TOOK PLACE in which our country WON INDEPENDENCE FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY. Good lord, do they teach history at that school?
Angela commented on Jun 08 11 at 9:15 pm@BWSF: “The Star-Spangled Banner” is about a battle in the War of 1812, not the Revolutionary War. The United States already was independent by that point.
Gagagolly commented on Jun 08 11 at 10:45 pmAmerica the Beautiful is way better…or even God Bless America.
Bunnytwenty commented on Jun 09 11 at 11:16 amYeah, another patriotic song would be quite appropriate. I don’t like the fact that our national anthem celebrates war. America the Beautiful would be perfect, and since this is a religious school, G-d Bless America would also be quite appropriate and lovely.
rjw918 commented on Jun 09 11 at 12:29 pmPersonally, I see the National Anthem as being about perseverance when under attack, but I fully support Goshen College’s position.
Let’s not forget the promise we make when we pledge our allegiance:
“With liberty and justice for.”
It seems to me that if I can’t support that college’s liberty to live out the values it adheres to, then I should remain silent when others recite the Pledge.
Dianag273 commented on Jun 09 11 at 1:46 pmHate to break it to all you pacifists out there…. war is necessary sometimes in order to defend a people and way of life…. look at world history… every single nation has had conflict and built on the blood of heroes….our National Anthem is not glorifying war, it’s telling the story of a battle and its outcome… that after all everything our flag is still flying strong… that’s what it means, and I’m proud to stand up and honor my flag while singing the Star Spangled Banner. Isn’t it a good thing that we fought a war, and won, in order for this private school to have the freedoms they are now invoking? Ironic, isn’t it?
goddess commented on Jun 09 11 at 2:07 pmDidn’t you mean Goddess Bless America?
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