Denver preps for DNC with national anthem snub
posted at 10:30 am on July 2, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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The city of Denver has already begun to celebrate the Democratic National Convention, which officially begins less than two months from now. Pre-events have included the Colorful Food Watch and the Festival of Unpaid Bills, and yesterday’s State of the City speech began with Leftist Patriotism on Display. Instead of singing the national anthem as requested, Rene Marie replaced it with a protest song:
Mayor John Hickenlooper’s annual State of the City address may get more attention for what wasn’t included than what was.
At the start of the event Tuesday morning, City Council President Michael Hancock introduced singer Rene Marie to perform the national anthem.
Instead, she performed the song “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing,” which is also known as the “black national anthem.”
When she finished, the audience responded with mild applause. The national anthem was never performed.
Hickenlooper and city officials got caught completely by surprise, as Marie kept her intentions hidden until the actual performance. None of them acted to stop her or lead the crowd in the actual national anthem either, but by the time they would have realized what was happening, it was probably all over. Marie wanted to make a political statement, and succeeded — in setting off a firestorm.
Angry officials and residents lit up talk-radio phone lines in Denver afterwards. Councilman Charlie Brown declared that the US has one national anthem for all Americans, and that the Star Spangled Banner was the appropriate choice for the event. Marie could express herself in any number of venues, Brown noted, but that official city events should feature the actual American national anthem.
In addressing the media, Marie displayed the self-centeredness of people who hijack events for their own aggrandizement. “When I decided to sing my version, what was going on in my head was: ‘I want to express how I feel about living in the United States, as a black woman, as a black person,” she explained. However, the event wasn’t staged to give Marie a platform for her political views; it was an official speech by the Mayor to communicate the status of city government to its citizens.
Unfortunately, Denver had better get used to this kind of It’s all about how I feel as a [blank] thought process over the next two months.
Update: Be sure to read Baldilock’s take on this, which offers a little implicit criticism for me. In my defense, I never asserted that the song itself was Leftist, but rather the ridiculous display yesterday was. Otherwise, she’s dead on point.
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BHO comment: “Just words. Just songs.”
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on July 2, 2008 at 11:21 AM
What is that harlot doing out in public without a male relative and wearing a burqa? If only the brave Iraqi minutemen/jihadists weren’t being brutally killed by American soldiers they’d be able to stone this cheap Jezebel to death.
rbj on July 2, 2008 at 11:21 AM
.
Bravo, Bravo!
Think_b4_speaking on July 2, 2008 at 11:21 AM
Aw shucks.
Akzed on July 2, 2008 at 11:22 AM
I would like to express how I feel, as a white man, a Euro-American who has become extremely tired of hearing how oppressed and victimized today’s black people are. Your ancestors, if enslaved or mistreated in the 50’s or 60’s, had that right to claim oppression. You born in the 50’s or 60’s need to stop making excuses.
carbon_footprint on July 2, 2008 at 11:23 AM
Iraq, Bin Laden still free, Afghanistan, a sputtering economy, mortgage nightmare, auto industry in the toilet, 5 dollar gas, construction spending down a billion dollars and you’re taking the Dems to task about singing the national anthem.
That is F**KING INCREDIBLY AWESOME prioritizing, people.
right2bright - are the assets of a husband and wife not one pile? Perhaps you should take your opposition to that with God. Once you’ve redefined marriage to suit your needs, then go read one of the 10,000 news stories on the years of missing tax payments. I’m not your mama.
Dave Rywall on July 2, 2008 at 11:23 AM
A black friend of mine was saying that there is an undercurrent of black nationalism that he has never seen before. It is being exploited as usual by the white masters and their Uncle Toms in order to gain power towards becoming a socialist state. I asked him if he was a part of what is coming. His reply was “not really, but I do have a front row seat.” The republicans are going along by nominating someone that even they don’t trust or like.
volsense on July 2, 2008 at 11:24 AM
It’s obvious that one of the factors that will benefit McCain the most are the racist progressive morons who pull stunts like this that sits sooooo poorly with the vast majority of the electorate..only those few who agree with this crap find no offense..
galtg on July 2, 2008 at 11:26 AM
If you want to hear a good version of the song I recommend renting Wattstax on DVD. The song is OK but Rufus Thomas really steals the show on Wattstax. Can I get an Amen, Funky Chicken.
Shtetl G on July 2, 2008 at 11:28 AM
Your post jogged up a lost memory. Here’s a link to a rather interesting picutre. It was taken in Hampton Virginia around 1900. For anyone whose curiosity is aroused Google Bellamy salute and Roman salute. Just a bit of American History trivia that’s been washed away by time and world events.
Oldnuke on July 2, 2008 at 11:29 AM
I’m not as concerned about the anthem as I am about whether there were any fried foods being sold to the crowd.
Keep a watch on Zombie’s page for pics from the convention, that dude gets the best shots.
Bishop on July 2, 2008 at 11:29 AM
Amazing. Yet, she accepted the invitation to sing the national anthem in spite of being unwilling to sing it and admitting same after the fact. And, Hickenlooper wasn’t offended.
a capella on July 2, 2008 at 11:29 AM
Dave Rywall, you are not comprehending what is happening. No one is dissing dims for singing the national anthem. We are concerned that someone has the audacity to replace our nation’s national anthem with a anthem that represents only a portion of our population. This is a slap in the face for all Americans. If you can’t understand that, then you remove all doubt your true feelings about our country and part of the negativity thats seems to be growing.
volsense on July 2, 2008 at 11:30 AM
Hi.
Iraq is becoming more and more of a success each and every day.
Bin Laden is free and not effective living in a dark cave somewhere and not wiping his ass because he is afraid our military will shove a missile up it if he goes outside.
The economy is sputtering–I prefer a sputter to a recession. Despite all the hype and hope that your MSM friends have spread, the economy is rather strong, all things considered.
Mortgage nightmare is correcting itself. It is called a free market economy. Would you rather have socialism?
Auto industry is in the toilet because of unions. I wonder which party loves unions and which party loathes them?
5 dollar gas is only in California where the liberals (including the governator) reign. By the way, had Bill Clinton not vetoed drilling in America a decade ago, we would not be in the shape we are in now.
Construction is freaking booming in Texas. Oh, we are a red state. Go figure.
carbon_footprint on July 2, 2008 at 11:31 AM
That is F**KING INCREDIBLY AWESOME prioritizing, people.
And of course Baracky has the answer to make everything better, a chicken in every pot, right?
Bishop on July 2, 2008 at 11:31 AM
Sure the dude is not a dudette?
carbon_footprint on July 2, 2008 at 11:32 AM
The character of your nominee and his party are priorities in a presidential election, person.
RushBaby on July 2, 2008 at 11:32 AM
From a Q&A on her website
WoosterOh on July 2, 2008 at 11:37 AM
Dave Rayhall
Iraq - All for it!, Bin Laden still free-
Dead as a doornail, Afghanistan-all for it, a sputtering economy-with the Dems cheering it on, mortgage nightmare-ya get what ya pay for, auto industry in the toilet-UncleSamMotors presents the car of the future, 5 dollar gas-Halliburton forever!, construction spending down a billion dollars-No buyers/no sellers, and you’re taking the Dems to task about singing the national anthem-yep, damn sure am.
Government can’t fix the damn potholes in the streets. More government isn’t the answer, and conservatives know that. What boggles your mind is that our love of country trumps our distrust of politicians. Too bad. That anthem represents the good times, and the bad. It doesn’t try to separate them into focus groups.
Limerick on July 2, 2008 at 11:39 AM
.
Well, there isn’t one, but recall Renquist got heat over the singing of “Dixie”, among other American standards being allowed at a confab several years back:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/local/daily/july99/dixie22.htm
Think_b4_speaking on July 2, 2008 at 11:39 AM
A liberal is a liberal is a liberal, spoiled brats one and all.
If they are black, they want payback for the White man keepin’ them down. They are not interested in healing old wounds and moving forward they want pounds and pounds of flesh.
If you are a white conservative, you are a racist. If you are black conservative you are an Uncle Tom and if you are any other race and not liberal, well who cares? You don’t matter to them anyhow, get to the back of the bus.
It’s only going to get worse.
Swinehound on July 2, 2008 at 11:40 AM
I think Texas is the only state that retained the “legal” right to secede from the Union following the Civil War. Something about our prior status as an independent republic or something. Maybe we should explore that option. Build our own wall, drill the hell out of the Gulf of Mexico, have a free market economy that would make Ayn Rand proud… Okay, now I’m drooling all over my keyboard.
aero on July 2, 2008 at 11:40 AM
the mayor was PWND. whatever that means. Hope? Change?
kirkill on July 2, 2008 at 11:42 AM
.
Actually, we lost the right after the Civil War, but we do have the right to split into five separate states. I believe California has the right to split into three.
Think_b4_speaking on July 2, 2008 at 11:42 AM
..
almost, not quite. We have the right to split the State into three WITHOUT the approval of Congress. It is all part of the treaty with our Uncle Sam.
Limerick on July 2, 2008 at 11:43 AM
I’ve heard that as well. I wonder what Snopes says about that?
carbon_footprint on July 2, 2008 at 11:43 AM
Symbolism, Dave, symbolism. The economy, the mortgage industry, construction, auto industry, 5 dollar gas,…we just heard Harry Reid say he was sick of talk about energy, and reaffirm nothing significant will be done by Congress. Same for the rest, other than bailing out those subprime lenders who gave Chris Dodd such a sweet deal. blacks and all other ethnicities pay the same price at the gas pump and in mortgage rates. This gal tells us her race card trumps all that,..just like James Cone and the Black Congressional Caucus. Her vision isn’t about all inclusiveness.
a capella on July 2, 2008 at 11:44 AM
Hee, hee, with our new capital in Crawford!
RushBaby on July 2, 2008 at 11:44 AM
let’s call it four and bury the hatchet.
Limerick on July 2, 2008 at 11:44 AM
Just how old are this woman’s friends, anyway?
aero on July 2, 2008 at 11:44 AM
South Texas
East Texas
North Texas
West Texas
???
What would be the fifth Texas state?
Perhaps we could make Austin a separate state.
carbon_footprint on July 2, 2008 at 11:45 AM
The Sky Is Falling!!!
I love how you left-wingers can rattle off facts about our economy without understanding the first thing about economics. Why don’t you just convert your money to gold and go live in the hills?
VolMagic on July 2, 2008 at 11:46 AM
South Texas
East Texas
North Texas
West Texas
Paul Texas
Limerick on July 2, 2008 at 11:46 AM
LOL of course.
carbon_footprint on July 2, 2008 at 11:47 AM
Because he/she is a liberal; they depend upon government for all their needs.
carbon_footprint on July 2, 2008 at 11:47 AM
Well, pooh. I guess what I’m remembering is that Texas was the only state that seceded that had the legal right to do so BEFORE the Civil War. Is that right?
Anyway, it’s just nice to imagine what it would be like to live without the shackles of liberal stupidity always weighing us down.
aero on July 2, 2008 at 11:48 AM
Wouldn’t it be GREAT, if there was no more “Black caucus”, “Hispanic caucus”, “GLBT caucus”, and we were all just people?
imagine. indeed.
kirkill on July 2, 2008 at 11:49 AM
.
Snopes says it allowed up to four additional states to be carved from the original boundaries, but that unilateral action is superceded by Article 3, which says that Congress and the state must both agree.
Think_b4_speaking on July 2, 2008 at 11:51 AM
Where’s the red meat photo?
Attila (Pillage Idiot) on July 2, 2008 at 11:51 AM
.
It sort of already is…..
Think_b4_speaking on July 2, 2008 at 11:52 AM
As little as I care for McCain, if America votes for Barack Hussein Obama, then our identity as a nation is truly dead. At that point, we will have officially become a balkanized state of the various racial, creedal and cultural identities. The only thing left for us is to be ground under the boot-heel of socialism, which the Lightworker will gladly deliver.
spmat on July 2, 2008 at 11:53 AM
Pee Diddy announced Rene Marie would be his new opening act.
Obama or Die!
dmann on July 2, 2008 at 11:54 AM
Well that will never happen.
carbon_footprint on July 2, 2008 at 11:54 AM
What about this legal right?
JiangxiDad on July 2, 2008 at 11:55 AM
What benefit would we get from carving Texas into five little states? More senators…anything else?
aero on July 2, 2008 at 11:55 AM
LOL
Polling shows Colorado currently for BO. Keep an eye on the polls for change!
swami on July 2, 2008 at 11:56 AM
Well, now, there’s always that one. Which is why they’re always so hot to take away our guns. We Texans in particular have proven time and time again that we’re not afraid to use ‘em.
aero on July 2, 2008 at 11:57 AM
Five dollar gas?
Explain this logic: The dems want Bush to stop filling the strategic oil reserve in an attempt to increase supply and lower pump prices, simultaneously they claim that new oil from drilling will have no effect on prices.
Liberal World™ is a scary place.
Bishop on July 2, 2008 at 11:57 AM
I thought “Get Whitey” was the black national anthem…
Spanglemaker on July 2, 2008 at 11:59 AM
Mild applause. . . WTF. . .She should have been
booooooed out of the state…country.
Texyank on July 2, 2008 at 11:59 AM
Yes, taking Democrats to task for everything, all of this is their baby. In case you haven’t noticed it’s Democrats in power right now and they have held the House and the Senate for the past two years. You didn’t have these problems two years ago, they have all come about since the Democrats took over. And on top of all those problems, they don’t even know what the National Anthem is.
Maxx on July 2, 2008 at 12:00 PM
Please don’t close the border until my family and I are inside. It’s a work in process.
JiangxiDad on July 2, 2008 at 12:00 PM
.
Thats about it, and that is why it will never happen. Well, maybe also getting Austin gerrymandered into a state called “Bizarreland”.
Think_b4_speaking on July 2, 2008 at 12:01 PM
Just come on down through our colony, Oklahoma.
(Run Lim! Run!)
Limerick on July 2, 2008 at 12:03 PM
I can see that the singing was not appropriate at the place and time. But black people have been singing it at functions since the thirties when James Weldon Johnson and his brother penned it. When did it become a “protest song?”
Note the context I just gave the song.
No one has had a problem with it until now.
baldilocks on July 2, 2008 at 12:03 PM
LOL. Frankly, I thought Oklahoma City would be the new capital.
JiangxiDad on July 2, 2008 at 12:04 PM
I really love Texas the way it is, geographically speaking. The shape is such a great brand the way it is. Could you imagine being shaped like the Dakota’s? Wow, nice…rectangle.
carbon_footprint on July 2, 2008 at 12:06 PM
I’m starting to think that some large segment of the black community doesn’t really want a Black President. They want to lose this election and have the “Racist America” issue. If they wanted Obama to win, they’re doing it in a strange way.
RBMN on July 2, 2008 at 12:06 PM
The ignorance displayed in this thread is mind-boggling.
baldilocks on July 2, 2008 at 12:07 PM
I’ll smuggle you in, don’t worry!
RushBaby on July 2, 2008 at 12:07 PM
Truthfully, I don’t think I would have known what she was doing. I would not have applauded, because I would have at least been aware that she was supposed to be singing the National Anthem and that wasn’t it. But I know I would not have recognized the song as the “black national anthem” and therefore would have been clueless about the actual political/racial statement she was trying to make. I would have been confused, annoyed, and offended, but I would not have realized that it was a booing offense until much later. I think I would have given her the benefit of the doubt and assumed she screwed up or was just stupid or something. My first thought would not have been that she was standing up there essentially saying “f*ck this country.”
aero on July 2, 2008 at 12:08 PM
Sorry, the song was composed in 1900.
baldilocks on July 2, 2008 at 12:12 PM
Yesterday I was at Warren AFB in Cheyenne which is close to Denver, doing a project and happened to turn on the radio when I was leaving the base.
Holy cow……you would not believe how upset people in Denver are over this woman not singing the National Anthem. The councilman, Charlie Brown was furious and quite in shock about what she had done. He thought after her rendidion of the “black anthem” that she was going to sing the National Anthem. That did not happen. She should be ashamed of herself. She was hired to sing “the National Anthem” not her version. The councilman wants heads to role and people to be fired or repremanded for this. As well it should happen.
The entitlement attitude and arrogance of this black woman taking matters into her own hands and going against what she was hired to do in order to fulfill her political agenda is the tip of the iceberg with what is going to happen in this country if B. Insane gets elected.
We had better turn out in Nov. and vote for McCain. The arrogance and attitudes of these people is disgusting!
Winebabe on July 2, 2008 at 12:13 PM
Fox had better flog the effing s*** out of this!
Sean68 on July 2, 2008 at 12:14 PM
DamnDang!JiangxiDad on July 2, 2008 at 12:14 PM
I’ll bet this selfish act isn’t the first time in her life that she has been proud of herself.
Dusty on July 2, 2008 at 12:16 PM
“better get used to this”
I think not!
If she was paid to sing a particular song, get the fee refunded even if it takes going to small claims court, get the tax payers money back and make that statement. A customer is entitled to get what they pay for. Ask any wedding planner or mortician what would happen if the musician provides a contrary selection to what the contract arrangement stipulates. What would happen if an actor performs live on stage lines from a different drama than the one staged contrary to everyone in the production and the audience? What would happen if an attorney shows up at court arguing the wrong case “because he could”. No, he can’t.
Because of her complete lack of respect for business arrangements, for our national anthem, for our nation as a union and for her entire community at large, outside of the black community, I’d never give her an opportunity to sing at a public function if I were the authority contracting business and civic engagements. She made her statement: “yes I can”. Nancy Reagan would at least “just say no.”
If I were the Mayor, I’d call in that city employee who extended this “black woman” the invitation to sing and clarify that the employee just broke a matter of trust with the city, and to see that it does not happen again.
maverick muse on July 2, 2008 at 12:17 PM
The singer’s action did nothing to help race relations, I’m sure you’d agree. I’ve actually been hoping you’d show up, baldi. Can you help to dispel our ignorance, please? Give us some perspective beyond the fact that the song was written a long time ago and has been performed at public events for almost as long. Are you saying it was no big deal for her to replace the National Anthem with this song? Are people overreacting, then?
aero on July 2, 2008 at 12:17 PM
Agree. But tell me . How many in your face actions like
that one and countless others before the sheep say enough is
enough. Should have been booooed all the way to Canada.
In a nice way. : )
Texyank on July 2, 2008 at 12:17 PM
She agreed to sing the National Anthem, then mixed the lyrics of “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing” with the melody of the “Star-Spangled Banner.” And she did it without explanation in advance - but plenty of self-righteous justifications afterward.
And we’re ignorant because we object to her deliberate deception? I don’t get it, Baldi, coming from you, whose corrections are so reliably fair-minded.
RushBaby on July 2, 2008 at 12:18 PM
Who said that what this idiot did is more important than any of the things you mentioned?
Look around elsewhere on this site. People talk about lots of stuff.
SouthernDem on July 2, 2008 at 12:18 PM
The black national anthem?
There is only one: Jimmy Hendrix’s “Star Spangled Banner” at Woodstock.
Don’t flatter yourself, Rene Marie, you’re NOTHING compared to Jimmy. You’re a joke. My advice? SHUT UP AND SING.
jeff_from_mpls on July 2, 2008 at 12:19 PM
Indoctrination. Has. Begun. :)
RushBaby on July 2, 2008 at 12:19 PM
Looks like McCain may be 1/2 incompetent, but the Dems are 4/4 incompetent, so they will hang themselves.
Denver will hopefully be the gallows. In this YouTube age, I wonder how the DNC will be able to hide what a freak expo Denver will be…
ParisParamus on July 2, 2008 at 12:20 PM
So, how many national anthems do you think we will have by the time this ordeal is done with?
WisCon on July 2, 2008 at 12:20 PM
In addressing the media, Marie displayed the self-centeredness of people who hijack events for their own aggrandizement. “When I decided to sing my version, what was going on in my head was: ‘I want to express how I feel about living in the United States, as a black woman, as a black person,” she explained.
A sense of entitlement I suspect…. why not throw in a little Cheech and Chong humor and add, “where’s my welfare check biotch”
Don’t like this country, move…. I’m sure Zimbabwe will welcome you with open arms.
Kini on July 2, 2008 at 12:22 PM
Let someone break into Dixie during the middle of the Star Spangled Banner at some political event and see what happens.
carbon_footprint on July 2, 2008 at 12:24 PM
political/
racialracistaero on July 2, 2008 at 12:08 PM
There, I fixed it for you. :)
Rogue Traveler on July 2, 2008 at 12:25 PM
I went to a concert at a church last weekend, and the MC was a comedian, and one of his jokes was that the White House was about to become beige. And of course, the majority of the crowd lapped it up like a bunch of trained seals. I guess the assumption was that black church=room full of Obamatrons.
I am so incredibly sick of Obama and every fruit that has come from his candidacy. It’s b/c of stuff like this story and the concert I went to, that I believe there may be a rude awakening in November. The left is in such a euphoric state that the only thing I see is a crash and burn.
Dubn8tr on July 2, 2008 at 12:27 PM
Are you opposed to fulfilling contractual agreements? Is deception fine if it allows one to make a racial political statement?
a capella on July 2, 2008 at 12:27 PM
Go ahead people . . . allow Obama and his gaggle of leftists to be elected and the demise of the Star Spangled Banner will be the least of your worries. Furthermore, you’ll soon be a witness to the demise of a once great Republic.
rplat on July 2, 2008 at 12:28 PM
Texyank on July 2, 2008 at 12:17 PM
-Martin Luther King Jr.
Rogue Traveler on July 2, 2008 at 12:29 PM
She ended her song with
That says it all.
WoosterOh on July 2, 2008 at 12:30 PM
While the Democrats are always the loudest and most continuous in denouncing racism, they are also responsible for fomenting 99% of it. These are examples of commies that in many cases don’t even know they are commies. Once again the public schools are to blame, this could not happen if they would have received a truthful and well rounded education.
Maxx on July 2, 2008 at 12:30 PM
How many stars are in a flag lapel?
How many Star Spangled Banners are there?
How many National Anthems are there.
One for thee and me?
Kini on July 2, 2008 at 12:31 PM
Black Supremacists have raised cain to get Dixie and any trace of the Confederacy either erased or flogged. Do recall that when the Civil War concluded, african-americans were invited either to stay or given passage and land in Africa if they chose to return and build their own independent nation in Africa. Of the choices made, Rev. Wright and Rene Marie would have their cake and eat it too.
maverick muse on July 2, 2008 at 12:34 PM
I am as well.
Listening to Laura Ingraham and George Will; they aren’t very optimistic about McCain’s chances against him.
I feel if he get’s elected, our country will never be the same.
Am I over-acting?
carbon_footprint on July 2, 2008 at 12:35 PM
No stupid, read the story you quoted…the pre-nuptial agreement prevents John from being involved with her investments. Got it? Newsweek has already backed off, it was the Huffington post that never got the message correct, so you were quoting your left wing rag that was wrong.
Now here is the kicker…she did pay the taxes, that has been reported, she paid them to the escrow account. The addresses were wrong. She had nothing to do with that. So even if it was (and it legally couldn’t be) community property, she did the right thing. The account showed she had paid the taxes, the escrow company corrected the mistake and took the heat.
Newsweek did not, or they said they didn’t, complete the story, they have now backtracked…and as I stated, only left wing fools argue that she didn’t pay taxes, because only they are stupid enough not to understand the facts.
If only Newsweek had completed their report…and if only you had been honest…it was Cindy, not John…Get it?
And I have no idea what the rest of your incoherent post was about, it was weird.
But is was fun schooling you…just like yo’ mama.
right2bright on July 2, 2008 at 12:37 PM
Iraq - much improved since the surge
Bin Laden still free - if he’s still alive
Afghanistan - that’s where the “real” war on terror should be fought, right?
sputtering economy - sure has gone downhill since 11/2006
auto industry in the toilet - it’s about time these SUV-producers got a clue
mortgage nightmare - caused in large part by loose regulations and quite a few borrowers lying on their applications
5 dollar gas (still around $4.10-ish in my area) - caused by oil speculators (still unregulated due to a loophole in a law signed by Bill Clinton at the request of Enron and a few others) and the Dem’s suicidal refusal to allow more domestic drilling to increase the supply.
****
Full disclosure: I myself have played Lift Every Voice And Sing on the piano, accompanying (mostly white) singers, for a celebration of black history month, as well as The Star Spangled Banner.
Bigfoot on July 2, 2008 at 12:38 PM
Actually, I rank this with the two black dudes raising their fists in a Black Power salute when accepting their track medals in Mexico City in the Olympics. Long time ago,.. maybe in 1972? Guess I need to go Google. The message was the same. The deception was the same. My race comes before my country.
a capella on July 2, 2008 at 12:42 PM
.
Yes, it was 1972, and they had their medals stripped.
Think_b4_speaking on July 2, 2008 at 12:44 PM
It was also kind of fun watching.:)
a capella on July 2, 2008 at 12:47 PM
Similar. But not the same. It takes no courage now, and there is no risk. She’s just a harmless hack.
Want to take a risk? Walk down the streets of Manhattan, for ex., wearing a George Bush T-shirt, or carrying a Fox News bag. I’m sure you can think of your own examples.
Being a lib is easy. The revolutionaries of the ’60’s run the institutions now. The conservatives stand outside the gates, but they’re getting mighty restless :)
JiangxiDad on July 2, 2008 at 12:49 PM
.
Oops, sorry, looked it up - it was 1968. 1972 was when two athletes joked around and ignored the anthem. All four lost their medals and were banned from olympic events for life.
Think_b4_speaking on July 2, 2008 at 12:53 PM
[a capella on July 2, 2008 at 12:27 PM]
That was a little facetious. B’s initial comment was clear. She’s not complaining about the inappropriateness of singing it but the knee-jerk racial comparisons. It’s a great song, just as are many other spiritual lifting songs.
Dusty on July 2, 2008 at 12:56 PM
I agree. I live in a very red state, but I feel like I’m “in the closet” politically. (Of course, I do live in a suburb of the liberal enclave of Austin, but still.) I’ve noticed that libs are not afraid to be attack dogs about their politics. They will bring up politics at any social event, with the apparent complete confidence that everyone will agree with them, no one will be offended by what they say, and that they are simply right. Conservatives are much more likely to keep their politics to themselves in mixed social situations. Not worth it to spend what should be a pleasant evening trying to counter propaganda with facts when they simply don’t want to hear them.
aero on July 2, 2008 at 1:02 PM
[Dusty on July 2, 2008 at 12:56 PM]
What a lousy way of phrasing what you wanted to convey. Don’t feed the, um, troll.
Dusty on July 2, 2008 at 1:03 PM
Not that it matters much, but the Olympics were in 1968. Poster version here:
http://www.sportsposterwarehouse.com/mexicocity68ii.htm
Attila (Pillage Idiot) on July 2, 2008 at 1:04 PM
But the singer herself said she did it for racial (racist) reasons. It’s not knee-jerk to take offense when offense is intended. The singer did not replace the lyrics in order to expose her audience to a great, spiritually-uplifting song. She did it to make a point about how racist she thinks America still is. She did it to metaphorically raise her middle finger at the country that gives her the freedom to replace the lyrics of its national anthem without fear of reprisal beyond public outrage. I really wish baldi would come back and explain what upset her.
aero on July 2, 2008 at 1:06 PM
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