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Should we consider changing our national anthem? I'd like your opinion.?

Let me be clear! I love our national anthem, The Star Spangled Banner. However, I love Ray Charles' version of "America the Beautiful" even more. The music of the Star Spangled Banner was originally "To Anacreon in Heaven," a popular British drinking-song. From the research I've done, it's seems that both the lyrics and the music of "America the Beautiful" is all american.

Yes, I love The Star Spangled Banner. But how cool would it be at the olympics, after hearing constant militant, strident national anthems, to hear Ray tickle the ivory and then start to sing "America the Beautiful"?

I am asking this question in more than one category. I'm interested in seeing if there is a difference in the answers I get in one category versus another. You are welcome to answer this question more than one time but if you do, bear in mind the category. In music answer it as a music question. In politics, answer the question as a political question. Thanks.

Update:

To Sherri K - I didn't think you were bashing me. I think you understand that I just wanted opinions and you gave me yours. So far the only thing that's bothering me is that even though I asked for political answers to done in the political category and music answers to be done in the music category, some people haven't done that. That's not even a big deal - I mean what's a category amongst friends. In the music section, I'll probably pick a best answer which agrees with my thought that "America the Beautiful" is "musically" a better anthem. But in the political section, I'll probably agree with those who want to maintain the Star Spangled Banner. From a political and cultural point of view, it seems the better anthem. I wish we could adopt both. "America" for mellow, nostalgic times and The "Banner" for more patriotic feeling.

Thanks to everyone for your opinions. You gave me new viewpoints to consider. I never realized this would be an emotional issue.

13 Answers

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  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    I always thought "AMERCIA the BEAUTIFUL" should have been our National Anthem from the very beginning. It's a song that's about America.

  • 1 decade ago

    No! Leave the Star Spangled Banner alone.

    "O say, does that Star Spangled Banner yet wave,

    O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?"

    I like the song America the Beautiful also, but that does not mean I want to change the National Anthem.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    Why mess with tradition? sure Ray Charles song is ncie but I prefer our national anthem. What little of american culture we have left.

  • 1 decade ago

    Let's ask the million plus veterans who have given their lives for this Country and that anthem what they think. My answer is No. It stays the way it is..

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  • 1 decade ago

    no way..... never change it.... why does it even need to be considered to be changed...... what would be next the flag, the in god we trust on money, should we change the name of united states of america...... why change anything ... this is the history of OUR country...

    my questions is why do so many americans seem to hate america. they remind me of ungrateful spoiled children .....

    i know that you only asked the question ,... i am not bashing on you... please know that.... but the above is just my thoughts

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    No thanks... Ray Charles was not an inspirational character because of the things he did, why did we even make a movie about him, nonetheless why would our anthem be one of his songs?

  • 1 decade ago

    Everything in America changes for P.C. reasons......heck why not the anthem too. ;p ......ahhh damn wrong category.

  • 1 decade ago

    NO i would not change it for ne thing it is part of our history and we need to keep it as such and keep it. and keep teaching to our children.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    No way in hell If people don't like it they are always free to leave!!!

  • 1 decade ago

    It should be left unchanged.

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