Indiana’s Goshen College Stops Playing National Anthem

Mr. Lantz’s comments on Goshen College’s decision not to play the national anthem shows he is unwilling to consider another’s point of view.  Which is, by the way, why GC started playing the national anthem in the first place, in an attempt to respect another point of view.  Goshen College is trying, maybe Mr. Lantz should, too.

How about “I’d like to teach the World to Sing”?  Throw in the soft drink reference and the school might make a buck or two.

I see no reason to play any anthem at a sporting event.  I’d be happier without it.  Perhaps the school can play their alma mater, or a fight song (although they probably don’t call it that!).

How about America the Beautiful – “God shed his grace on thee

And crown thy good with brotherhood

From sea to shining sea”

 “It’s obviously about a battle… It’s about using violence to conquer and that would be something that many people here would have problems with.”

Maybe the good professor should look at the historical context of what the song was written about before shooting off his mouth.  The anthem was written during the War of 1812.  The United States of America was defending itself against England. 

Goshen college alumna, class of 1983. For most of its near-century in existence, Goshen College did not play the national anthem at sporting events. Nobody noticed (outside the college community). Starting in 2010, for a brief period of months, after an intensive discussion process on and off campus, an instrumental version was played at selected sporting events. Then, after an even more intensive discussion process, this time involving alumni voices and those from other peace church perspectives, this spring the college board decided to return to its tradition and not play the national anthem. And now all of a sudden the nation has noticed, and Goshen College is being subjected to all kinds of scrutiny and criticism from the “America, love it or leave it” crowd. (Not, I might add, from this forum, but in many others I have read.)

This college does not receive federal funding. It is entirely dependent on tuition, grants, and charitable contributions. It is allowed to set its own policies on issues such as whether or not to play a particular song at a particular time. People who claim they and theirs fought for freedom but criticize an institution for exercising its freedom of speech and religion do not understand the nature of the freedom they claim to cherish. Or else they want everyone else to believe “their way.” That is not freedom, either.

Kudos to the college for taking this on, in a spirit of prayer and loving dialogue.

I like “Simple Gifts.”

I think it would be entirely appropriate for this college to play “God Bless America” or “America the Beautiful”.

Goshen should play The Internationale.

It is just a type of allegiance and support to our Country.  There is nothing wrong with it.  I think too many people are now being too  picky about so many things that mean allegiance to our country.

I think it’s crazy to ger all upset that they don’t want to sing the national anthem at their games.  They could sing “America the Beautiful” which is much easier to sing and not about war.

I remember reciting the “Pledge of Allegiance” with my right hand held over my heart in kindergarten and elementary school every morning.  Not because I thought it was the “right” thing to do, but because it was what all of my classmates did as instructed.  In class I learned about our founding fathers and the three branches of our government, legislative, judiciary and executive.  I also remember learning the bill of rights.  And I remember that in order for any of it to work somehow separation of church and state had to happen.  I think the most important lesson for me was to learn of how important balance of power is for all of us Americans.  For a short time the United States of America managed to create a “middle” class that never existed before.  Economically this “middle” class could afford to raise children and afford to provide their children access to a world that they never had access to.  

The former American “middle” class is a historical fact.  Perhaps it was based on idealism that cannot be sustained.  Perhaps the church and state never should have been separated.  But now it is too late.  We have experienced a “middle” class that knows it’s value economically and politically.  

National Anthem?  Who does the song belong to?  Whom does it serve?  What song do the “least of these my brethren” sing?  What is your favorite song?

I would like for all schools and colleges to stop playing our current national anthem. Our current national anthem sucks big time. I love America the Beautiful and This Land is Your Land. Those two songs should be played at schools and colleges instead and they convey the USA the best.