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Our National Anthem

Written by: DFA Staff on Jul 3, 2008 10:52 PM EDT

In 1968, in Tigers Stadium in Detroit, Jose Feliciano played a very nontraditional version of the Star Spangled Banner.  It was bluesy and folksy and mellow.  It was like nothing people had ever heard before and he paid a price for it.  Listen to him tell the story:

If you could pick any song to be the National Anthem, what would it be?

Danny
Communications Director

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- Howard Dean is first...

By Annilow on Jul 4, 2008 12:03 AM EDT

...and my national anthem would prolly be America the Beautiful

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- Barry Manilow and ON TOPIC HOW COOL IS THIS?

By Annilow on Jul 4, 2008 12:10 AM EDT

My candidate for National Anthem

Happy Fourth of July All -- you'll be glad to hear I'm going to bed :~)

This is a GREAT SONG!  (The visuals are a little cheesy)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-23BBPK00E

 

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- Maybe it hasn't been written yet

By publius on Jul 4, 2008 12:30 AM EDT

 

What anthem befits a nation founded upon an idea that the People are sovereign?

 Until I hear that one, why not This Land is Your Land, This Land is My Land. . .
This Land was made for You and Me.

Which my freshman US History Professor informed me was not about the natural beauty of the United States.  It was about taking our country back, acre by acre.

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- Don't Fence Me In

By on Jul 4, 2008 12:37 AM EDT

That's a song many of us can relate to now.

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By mprov on Jul 4, 2008 12:52 AM EDT

what a stupid question.  the anthem we have is completely appropriate.  should we end up with some big record label interpretation of America.  the star spangled banner, america the beautiful, while you may have some agenda, are still adequate...sheesh...

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By mprov on Jul 4, 2008 12:54 AM EDT

also, don't forget jimi's moving interpretation at woodstock...1969 i believe...

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- Ridin' in My Car - NRBQ

By Lenny in Iowa on Jul 4, 2008 1:26 AM EDT

Maybe not National Anthem material, but a good little song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MC0OsmADGdQ

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- Oh YEAH!

By Mz*Little on Jul 4, 2008 1:46 AM EDT

Let's hear it for the Jimi version!    I always admired the song, but when listening to it in my car and with no distractions, I marveled at the genius behind the song.  Oh wow, oh wow, oh wow.  absolutly amazing

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By mprov on Jul 4, 2008 1:54 AM EDT

children without a sense of history are a lost generation...

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- From what I understand, the public school system doesn't teach civics anymore. And there is very little history being taught.

By Susan Rowe on Jul 4, 2008 4:22 AM EDT

The public school teachers are forced to teach to the test so they can retain their public funding.  Too much public funding goes into the charter school system through school voucher programs.  Most charter schools are cheaper to run because they are not forced to unionized and they are not forced to do all the things that NCLB forces the public school systems to do.

Forcing Americans to do anything has never been a very good idea nor has it shown to be a successful practice. People of freewill just will not put up with that kind of nonsense after awhile. Their everyday pocketbook and bread and butter issues will always pale in comparison to their personal need for life and liberty especially if they figure out that they have been hoodwinked.  Attacking or using the innocence of people and their children for political gains is not only immoral but is just plain evil in it's nature.

 

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- Ignorance is just not a virtue.

By Susan Rowe on Jul 4, 2008 5:11 AM EDT
The prejudice that Señor Jose Feliciano experienced from the American public is from their lack of knowledge and understanding about the Latin culture's musical tradition of creative improvisational expression. What he did as a artists with this piece of music is considered in his culture to be a complement and something of beauty not an insult.

Americans who attend a lot of baseball games do not in general study diplomacy nor do they normally show much of any manners.

Pass the beer around and throwing things is what happens in a ball park.
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- Pass s/b Passing

By Susan Rowe on Jul 4, 2008 5:33 AM EDT

A singer surprised dignitaries by singing Lift Every Voice and Sing, also known as the "black national anthem," to the tune of The Star-Spangled Banner during the mayor's State of the City address yesterday in Denver. ... watch the full news story HERE: http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2008/07/controversy-aft.html

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- Earlier: Hear, read the Spanish 'Star-Spangled Banner'

By Susan Rowe on Jul 4, 2008 1:03 PM EDT

A Spanish-language, politically driven version of the national anthem hits the airwaves today. Nuestro Himno, or Our Anthem, a reaction to the national, immigration debate, has already sparked plenty of controversy. ... read more: http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2006/04/hear_read_the_s.html

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- Oh come on Susan, using baseball fans as an anology was quite inappropriate

By on Jul 4, 2008 12:35 PM EDT

I've been to three games in the past four days and I didn't see any rude behavior.  And this was at games where there was a HUGE representation of fans not from the home team.  You throw stuff at a baseball game and you're shown the exit gate.

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- Love the game myself.

By Susan Rowe on Jul 4, 2008 1:41 PM EDT
I was and still am a fan of the Big Red Machine. My Dad was a very good player in his local Union's League when I was young.
 
Have you been to any little league games lately?  The parental interactions in the bleachers are interesting to observe. 

Check of the Grizzlies the next time you're in or near the Fresno area.
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- Fresno Grizzlies

By Susan Rowe on Jul 4, 2008 1:48 PM EDT

http://www.fresnogrizzlies.com/

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- Happy Independence Day Everyone!

By Huron John on Jul 4, 2008 6:55 AM EDT

Would that the blog censors valued independnce

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- Oh Say can you see

By Huron John on Jul 4, 2008 9:18 AM EDT

All of the posts consigned to the water-cooler Septic Tank

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- A new and Glorious thread is languishing

By Huron John on Jul 4, 2008 9:49 AM EDT

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