Anyone agree that fireworks and our national anthem are ... war celebrations?

Question

Oh say can you see.....
Rockets red glare.... bombs bursting in air....

The Fourth of July is celebrated using disturbing icons of war! We sit on bleechers, lawns, whereever and watch the dramatic presentation of "bombs bursting in air" WOW! After all it wasn't literally 'our' land anyway- a lot of Native American people were killed and lost everything.

I am really not as anti America as this I may come across.
It just doesnt seem right to me, it seems hypocritical to celebrate the independance from Great Britain who oppressed the settlers - who oppressed the natives.

What are your opinions?

If you are venturing to a neighborhood party or the family barbicue and fireworks, have fun and be safe!

Answer 1

I disagree. The National Anthem was written after the British fired on a fort all night long on the Maryland coast. The flag never fell. It survived.
That is what our celebration is about, how we survived attacks on American soil all the way to 1814. That's when the British realized they would not be able to make us a colony again.

Answer 2

National anthems are usually written when a nation is forming or thinking about forming. That almost always involves a revolution or war, hence the rallying song would be a war song. I guess then it becomes a tradition thing. If you're going to change the National Anthem, wow, that opens up a can of worms. How often then shall we change it? Once? Once a decade? Once a century? Could we have more than one "live" at once? Anyway, I'm not a national anthem historian, so this is only a guess, but - that's what I guess.

Answer 3

The song which became our national anthem was written by a man witnessing a battle - early in our nation's history, when we were nowhere as secure as we are today and when the perpetuation of our democracy was not assured. He was celebrating the fact that at battle's end, our flag was still standing and we'd survived to fight another day. It's a song about our steadfastness and our continuation as an independent country. It's context happens to be couched in warfare, but that's not what it is about. A song about our economic ascension and our successful navigation of macroeconomic minefields that have hit at other countries just wouldn't be as inspiring, would it?

As far as the Indians - geez! While the native American population at the time of Jamestown can't be known for sure, it is true that the population density of the present day US was very low, and that there was no "Nation". Who says that this whole land mass belonged to them? They had staked no claim to the entire continent. While it is true that many bad things were done to the Indians, many more died - unintentionally - of diseases brought over from Europe than at the hands of settlers. You can't look at the actions of 17th and 18th century colonials and Americans through the prism of 21st century morals. While wrongs were committed back then, had any of us been alive then, we'd have thought in the same way as the people did then, and not with the sense of morality that exists today.

Answer 4

It's my understanding that the anthem was written by a captive on a ship during the american revolution. The anthem doesn't celebrate war, but America's ability to stand through and come out above. "And the rockets' red glare, the bombs 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?"

Answer 5

It wasn't the settlers that oppressed the natives. They actually lived in peace with them. It was thier uneducated children and grandchildren that did that.

And yes the National anthem is a war anthem. It describes the battle that won our independence from a tyrant.......and we need to remember how galantly we had to fight to get there, and now how galantly we need to fight to keep those same freedoms we won more than 200 years ago. It may not be drawn out on a battlefield......... but in the courts and on the streets that are being torn apart by people that don't hold our values and our love of freedom. You may not have to take up arms anymore. But you do need to take up a pen, and vote, and tell our government what we believe in. Because even they tend to stray a little from time to time.

Answer 6

I agree that we are celebrating not only war but concurring "our Land" I am native american and do not agree with war but i do see where you are comming from. Since the start of our nation there has been war against a number of things. So in my opinion we should not be so happy to celebrate the death of both brithish, American and all the other lifes lost just because we won a war.

Answer 7

I whole heartily agree! I also have noticed another of our National insignias that has lost it's meaning! I am, of course, referring to the National flag. Originally, this was to represent the thirteen original colonies and the states of our union! Now it is little more than a symbol of our oppressive government! A government that has had our men and women of the armed forces in a foreign country dying. For what, I ask, so a few oil tycoons can satisfy their greed.

Answer 8

With so many people in this country still trying to be equal, for me it's just a day to have family and friends over for some fun. I do understand what it's supposed to be but over the years it has lost it's true meaning of freedom & independence for all. You be safe & have fun too.

Answer 9

I agree. It's a tad sick but you must remember we are founded by people who put everyone's lives at risk by going to war over who they paid taxes too, but only gave freedom to themselves.

Today is purely White Male Independence Day based on deaths.

Answer 10

Yes.

A majority of national anthems have some reference to war, struggle or victory.