Imagine if someone changed the lyrics to the Star Spangled Banner to make a political statement while singing it at a baseball game. Not cool, right?
Check out what happened Tuesday night at the Major League Baseball All-Star game at Petco Park in San Diego:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ottr-H5Zf_c
The group singing “O Canada” is called The Tenors and as you saw, they modified the lyric to the Canadian national anthem to say “All lives matter.” This was clearly a response to the recent events in Dallas and to the Black Lives Matter movement.
The actual lyrics are:
“With glowing hearts we see thee rise. The True North strong and free.”
But, Remigio Pereira, pulled out a sign from his suit that said “All Lives Matter” on one side and “United We Stand” on the other and, he sang:
“We’re all brothers and sisters. All lives matter to the great.”
Pereira acted alone, according to the official Twitter feed of The Tenors.
— The Tenors (@TenorsMusic) July 13, 2016
The Tenors have announced that Mr. Pereira has been suspended from the group for his actions.
For his part, “Lone wolf” Pereira explained his actions, also on Twitter, naturally:
I've been so moved lately by the tragic loss of life and I hoped for a positive statement that would bring us ALL together. ONE LOVE.
— REMIGIO PEREIRA (@RemigioPereira) July 13, 2016
That was my singular motivation when I said all lives matter.
— REMIGIO PEREIRA (@RemigioPereira) July 13, 2016
I speak for the human race and the lives of all sentient beings. Love, peace and harmony for ALL has always been my life's purpose.
— REMIGIO PEREIRA (@RemigioPereira) July 13, 2016
You can imagine the reaction:
Memo to MLB: if you're looking to attract black fans and players, All Lives Mattering the anthem — even O Canada — ain't the way to do it.
— Morgan Campbell (@MorganPCampbell) July 13, 2016
https://twitter.com/HarrisonMooney/status/753022009513168896
#TheTenors used to known as 'The Canadian Tenors.' Now they are known as the 'unbookable Tenors.' #MLBAllStarGame
— Mark Critch (@markcritch) July 13, 2016
We all have our strong opinions about Black Lives Matter and about whether combating that divisive slogan with “All Lives Matter” is an effective response or not. But there are a few things we can all agree on, can’t we?
National anthems should not be altered unilaterally for any political cause.
And, as this Twitter user says:
the tenors proves my theory that there's never a good reason for an acapella group to be in the news
— jason c. (@netw3rk) July 13, 2016
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