By Alex Berger
It is apparent that readers are fixated on other, not-so-uplifting, events that continually keep their eyebrows furrowed. I needed a Fourth of July boost to cheer them up, so I ventured forth into TimesLedger country and took a non-scientific poll to determine what issue with a Fourth of July connection, would brighten their spirits and unfurrow the furrowed eyebrows.I came to a startling conclusion. Aside from the war on terrorism, gas prices, the stock market, Michael Jackson and my column, the next most “kvetching” problem facing my readers is (are you ready for this?) – the battle over our national anthem. Many readers do not like it and would be happy if it were changed. Ah, a light at the end of the tunnel.First, a little history about our present national anthem. A popular perception is that the Continental Army, at the conclusion of the Revolutionary War, sang “The Star Spangled Banner” when British general Cornwallis surrendered to George Washington at Yorktown in 1781. Wrong! If the soldiers sang anything, it was “Yankee Doodle Dandy” (1767), as a slap against the British who used the word “Yankee” to deride the Americans and their cause.To quell that perception, let me fill you in on a little secret: “The Star Spangled Banner” was not sung at Yorktown because it had not yet been written. Francis Scott Key wrote his poem, “The Defence of Fort M'Henry,” many years later, in 1814. His words were eventually squeezed into a 1780s British tune, John Stafford Smith's “To Anacreon in Heaven,” to make the poem fit the music.The tune is not easy. It contains awkward leaps and plunges and is, undoubtedly, the only anthem in the world where people cannot sing it without a gurgle and a gargle. Did you know that the archaic “Star Spangled Banner” was first adopted in 1931? Why, even Andy Rooney has ties older than that.At the anthem's inception, a great economic Depression enveloped the land and many Americans were out of work. The percentage of furrowed brows grew by leaps and bounds. Congress, in its wisdom, felt that the nation needed a little uplift so, in great haste, they did what they did when they should not have.Now citizens everywhere take precautionary measures and wear safety belts before they sing the national anthem, to prevent hernias. If I were a Congressman at the time, I would have voted for one of these alternate choices listed below. They all are more suitable to sing, with less preparation, strain and effort:”America” (“My Country 'Tis Of Thee”) – In 1831, a young clergyman wrote words to combine what he thought was a German hymn. He was wrong. The churchman had unintentionally copied the melody from the British national anthem, “God Save The Queen.” For that faux pas (don't you like my linguistic style?) he was almost defrocked. However, he actually paid a greater price. The poor man was condemned to sing “The Star Spangled Banner” thrice daily, before and after meals for a fortnight. He was believed to have uttered these famous words at his sentencing: “Give me a new anthem or give me death!””America the beautiful” – In 1893, Katherine Lee Bates, took a trip to Pike's Peak and brought her hiking boots. She was so emotionally moved by the scene that she wrote a poem which was later combined with the hymn “Materna,” written by Samuel Augustus Ward, the organist of historic Grace Church in Newark, to produce this inspiring song.”Stars and stripes forever” – For sheer flag-waving and patriotic excitement, nothing compares to this song written by John Philip Sousa in 1896. It was played in 1898, during our war with Spain and, it is one reason why our soldiers rose to the occasion and achieved victory in such record time.”God bless America” – American composer, Irving Berlin, wrote this rousing song in 1918. But it wasn't until World War II that it became a victory anthem. Americans everywhere love it, except, of course, the atheists, the PC advocates and Francis Scott Key. This popular song was considered at one time a candidate for a new national anthem. However, many congressmen and women quickly squelched the idea. They didn't want America's national anthem to be written by a Jewish foreign-born song writer.I, as do many readers, believe that our country needs a better, and happier, signature song to represent America around the world. Why should Gloria and I have to gag every time we sing the “Star Spangled Banner” at Giants Stadium, before the football games? Quite often, it takes until the beginning of the second half for us to finally regain our composures.Readers, whether you plan to travel to our purple mountain majesties (or Pike's Peak); visit our shining shores; or simply meander under spacious skies to your back yards to crunch on fried chicken, hot dogs, corn-on-the-cob, and potato salad during the Fourth of July weekend, won't your eyebrows be happier if America changed its national anthem?For the nay-sayers, to help you make up your minds, I suggest you sing the “Star Spangled Banner,” followed by the singing of the four songs mentioned above. Do it alone, with spouse and/or children, or the family dog. You will discover that the choice is a no-brainer. And, I guarantee you will sing better, you will be happier, and you will lose a furrow or two from your furrowed eye brows. Trust me.Have a glorious Fourth.Reach columnist Alex Berger at timesledger@aol.com or call 718-229-0300, Ext. 141.
