Posted on 08/26/2011 11:56:23 AM PDT by rjsclassics
First it banned the words, now the whole song. Tiny Goshen College in Indiana has banned the "The Star Spangled Banner: at all sporting events because the Mennonite school's president considers the National Anthem's words to be too violent.
The 1,000-student school had already banned the words last year, but the band could still play the music for patriots in attendance. Now, the school has banned the song entirely, according to NBC Sports.
The school’s board of directors told college President Jim Brenneman to “find an alternative to playing the National Anthem that fits with sports tradition, that honors country and that resonates with Goshen College’s core values and respects the views of diverse constituencies.”
Brenneman was okay with that.
“I am committed to retaining the best of what it means to be a Mennonite college, while opening the doors wider to all who share our core values,” Brenneman said. “And I invite others to join us at Goshen College as we make peace in all of its forms, even with the national anthem.”
Art professor John Blosser told The Goshen News that there is much national pride at the school, but that most people aren't going to blindly accept what the country does.
NBC Sports' Rick Chandler weighed in, saying: "I suppose we could have followed the example of the Mennonites and simply fled, giving the nation back to the British. But then we’d all be playing cricket."
Idiots.
I guess being a Mennonite college means being a bunch of Communist pansies.
The taxpayers should “ban” any taxpayer dollars going into this sewer.
The lyrics are about us being attacked, and surviving.
I think that’s exactly the kind of philosophy the liberals hate most of all.
I really do.
They could go back to Germany.
Perhaps the marching band could play Brahms’ “Lullaby.”
I’ll take a risk and defend them - slightly.
They are a religion that has stuck to it’s “guns” through the years (couldn’t help that phrase).
I do, however, find it interesting that they choose the present period to discover that they don’t like the national anthem.
Now, which church would I rather have near me...a Mennonite church or a ......mosque?
Decisions, decisions......
I guess they’ll be banning those sports events that play the song.
The people need to throw out those liberals.
Exactly. If it wasn’t for those “violent” men who are offended by this cutesy shenanigan, these idiots would be goosestepping and speaking German or Japanese.
They need to ban a good 80% of the Bible now too, including the crucifixion.
I’d agree. I can respect Mennonites as I do Quakers and Amish, etc. They have principles to which they want to adhere.
But your questions are valid.
I also question it because (assuming the common 1st verse here) the violence is against us - at least, the way it is written. But maybe they don’t like that, either.
Perhaps they can sing another common patriotic anthem.
Hope every one of Goshen’s sports teams gets shellacked in a shutout in every single game.
Or do they even have a football team? Football is so violent, you know. Somebody wins, somebody else loses. That’s soooooooo unpacifistic.
If they don’t sing the national anthem they should reject all federal subsidies as well. Anything else is rank hyposcrisy.
Or.....perhaps the band could play the BeachBoys tune “Three Girls for every Boy.”
Mennonites and Amish are pacifists through and through. What I find interesting is that this Mennonite school allows football - not exactly a “pacifistic” game.
I, too, wonder about the timing of this announcement. The pacifism I understand, but they’ve been that from the get-go for over a couple of hundred years. Why do the ban now? Why hadn’t they always banned it at their schools? For publicity of sorts? Weird.
I think the Mennonites are pacifistic like the Amish. They can thank the strength of the US, its National Anthem and the mighty military that protects their right to refuse to fight.
A while back schools banned their bands from playing “Tequila” at sport events as a cheer/marching tune because it promoted drinking even though there are no words to it.
**********
Naaaaaahhh.....
These are verrry quiet tribe of Mennonites --
With intentionally limited outlook on our liberties...
Actually a very moral group of kind & moral people--
...Looking at their world through the paper towel tube....
Just sayin...
I know Goshen, Indiana very well and I just find it funny that they have horse and buggy parking at Walmart!!!
They are doing this for attention because no one cares about that school it is irrelevant.
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