WTHR reports that a small college in Indiana has banned the Star Spangled Banner at sporting events.
Why?
Goshen College’s board of directors says it will find an alternative that honors the country and the Mennonite Church-affiliated school’s pacifist traditions.
The 1,000-student college has been playing an instrumental version of the national anthem, followed by a peace prayer, before games and other events. Some were upset with the school’s decision last year because the song’s lyrics contain references to using war and military might to defend the country.
Art professor John Blosser tells The Goshen News that there is much national pride at the school, but that most people aren’t going to blindly accept what the country does.
So the reasons given were that the Anthem is sooo militaristic and people at this college are all cool and brave and won’t “blindly accept what the country does.” Because, you know, the Anthem is all about blindly accepting everything the country does, right? Wait. I missed that verse.
In fact, the National Anthem was written about the War of 1812 where WE WERE ATTACKED!!! We weren’t killing the British for oil or anything. Heck, we weren’t even supporting Israel against those peaceful victimized Palestinians.
The British had burned down the Capitol and the White House in Washington, and were bombing Fort McHenry in Baltimore. The poem by Francis Scott Key was written about the United States flag still flying, despite the bombardment.
Look, this being America, they have the right not to play the Anthem because that’s what America’s about -freedom.
June 7, 2011 at 3:43 pm
I'm sorry, but you might want to check your history. It was the US that declared war in the war of 1812.
June 7, 2011 at 3:48 pm
I think it all depends on the authenticity of the "Mennonite Church-affiliated school's pacifist traditions". I think it would be completely wrong to attack a school for making a practical and simple choice based on religious and philosophical traditions. Of course, it they make the same choice based on pandering to political correctness, it becomes much more blame worthy.
June 7, 2011 at 3:52 pm
Yes, we declared war— one of the reasons was Britain was impressing Americans into their navy. And while our navy and privateers fought their navy and privateers we did not send an army into England, although we did take some Canadian territory I think. Just because not of all of our history is morally pure does not mean that a nation is not obligated to stand up for its citizens who are being kidnapped.
June 7, 2011 at 3:54 pm
Agreed with Brandon. If this were not a Mennonite school, I would find it questionable. But, given their tradition, it make some amount of sense.
June 7, 2011 at 4:19 pm
It may make some sense, given their tradition, as indicated above, but the story seems to imply that, up to NOW, they had no problem playing an instrumental version. Why now? That's what makes me jaded enough to believe it's based more on a PC than any historical or other legitimate basis.
June 7, 2011 at 4:52 pm
From the article: *Goshen – A small northern Indiana college has decided to stop playing "The Star-Spangled Banner" at sporting events after starting to do so for the first time last year.*
I'm ok with them not playing the national anthem, it was never part of their tradition. However, as much as I admire the Mennonites I believe their pacifism is morally and ethically irredeemable. There is nothing moral or ethical about allowing evil to triumph.
June 7, 2011 at 4:53 pm
There would be no Mennonite Church in the United States because there would be no United States. There would be no freedom of religion as Henry VIII was killing everybody who refused to deify him with the oath of supremacy. Some people indulge freedom as freedom ought to be indulged, but refuse to pass it along to our posterity. What will the Mennonite Church have to pass on to our constitutional posterity, theirs and ours???? Squimishness?
Mary De Voe
June 7, 2011 at 6:44 pm
Ummmmmm … the Mennonites actually ARE pacifists. So maybe it really IS a conscience issue for them or a large number of them, eh? What I wonder is what is their tradition over the life of the school … is this really a recent issue or is it an ongoing disagreement or something else? WTHR isn't going to give you depth on any story.
June 7, 2011 at 7:37 pm
As Jefferson said: "Occasionally the tree of Liberty must be watered with the blood of patriots and tyrants."
The Mennonites luxuriate under the tree of liberty while not lifting a finger in liberty's defense. Next time our country is attacked, let's put them on the front lines to use their awesome power of shoo-fly pie, quiting bees, and horse-drawn buggies to crush the first wave of Jihad.
June 7, 2011 at 9:15 pm
You're confusing the Goshen college Mennonites (pacifist, well-meaning tree-huggers, think of the "More With Less" cookbook) with the Amish and the Old Order Mennonites, who are also pacifists, but live a severely simple life, taking as little as they can from the government. I don't know how to feel about their CO status, but I do know they are pretty rigorous, where the Goshen types are a little too Birkenstocky for me.
June 8, 2011 at 2:26 am
"Yes, we declared war— one of the reasons was Britain was impressing Americans into their navy."
You mean that the British were stopping and searching American vessels suspected of harboring Royal Navy deserters.
June 9, 2011 at 2:57 pm
Guess you have the right not to play it. Many Americans deid in wars for that right , but I think that you are crazy.
June 10, 2011 at 1:25 am
I share the opinion of some on this thread–the Amish are admirable, the Goshen Mennonites perhaps less so; and I also have reservations about the morality of pacifism, particularly of the Goshen variety.
But at Goshen the playing of the national anthem was an innovation, adopted as a kind of experiment only a year or two ago. And it has been abandoned (not "banned") after considerable thought, discussion, and, I assume, prayer.
Those of us who are concerned about the readiness of Catholic schools to sell their souls (compare the bit about Notre Dame, above)might appreciate the Mennonites' decision to adhere to principle.