College bans national anthem at sporting events (Goshen College -- Oh Say, You Can't Sing!)

Hotair ^ | 06/09/2011 | Tina Korbe

[SeekAndFind]

A small liberal arts college with a strong pacifist tradition recently banned the national anthem at sporting events, after some students, faculty and alumni complained the song glorifies war (h/t Fox News’ “America Live” today). The Chronicle of Higher Education reports:

Fifteen months after Goshen College began allowing “The Star-Spangled Banner” to be played at sporting events, the institution’s board of directors has suspended the practice in response to complaints. … The board of the Mennonite liberal-arts college has asked its president to come up with a song “that fits with sports tradition, that honors country and that resonates with Goshen College’s core values and respects the views of diverse constituencies,” according to a press release.

School representatives say this suspend-and-replace policy is not actually a ban — but they have also said the Star Spangled Banner doesn’t fit the founding principles of Goshen College.

In a Facebook message posted Wednesday afternoon, Indiana’s Goshen College distanced itself from rumors that it had “banned” the playing of “The Star Spangled Banner” at sports games because the lyrics were “violent.”

“Goshen College HAS NOT ‘banned’ the National Anthem. The Board HAS asked President James E. Brenneman to find an alternative to playing the Star-Spangled Banner that fits with sports tradition,” the message clarified. …

Goshen College initially issued a statement Tuesday to Fox radio stating, “Historically, playing the national anthem has not been among Goshen College’s practices because of our Christ-centered core value of compassionate peacemaking seeming to be in conflict with the anthem’s militaristic language.”

I disagree that the Star Spangled Banner glorifies war. Certainly, it suggests some things are worth fighting for — and maybe Mennonites disagree even with that — but it doesn’t glamorize the fight. If anything, the lyrics convey just what fear must pervade a night of battle, what relief must come with the dawn. To see the flag only intermittently by the glare of rockets sounds terrifying — not at all like an experience I’m itching to have. The additional, mostly unsung verses only add to the heavy impression. One line says: “The foe’s haughty host in dread silence reposes.” Another mentions “the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion.” The final verse refers to peace as a blessing.

But while I disagree with the school’s decision, I somehow can’t bring myself to reduce this story to one about a battle with the PC police — because it also touches on religious freedom. The conservative cowgirl in me — you know, that part of a conservative that says “rid the world of lawlessness, but, for the most part, let people be” (credit to writer Ross McCullough for that concept) — says the school certainly has the prerogative to play or not play whatever songs it chooses. It is, after all, a private school run by the Mennonite Church USA. But I still hope school officials are aware of how closely their pacifism seems to resemble paranoia and how far it seems from patriotism: The version of the national anthem the school used before the ban was already instrumental-only.

[SamuraiScot]

The board of the Mennonite liberal-arts college has asked its president to come up with a song “that fits with sports tradition, that honors country and that resonates with Goshen College’s core values

The Internationale?

[Crim]

Uh....dont sports have “offense”,”defense”,and “special teams”....will they ban the “blitz”..”the long bomb”??

Dont Ball teams keep track of “hits”?

Will they get rid of “gaurd” positions?

Will they ban games played with “sticks” wearing “helmets” and “gauntlets”??

or B

is this simply another, in a long record of, usurpation and infection by the America hating libtard religious left...and the gullible menninites get played for suckers...

I’m going with B.

[Da Coyote]

Private school, run by Mennonites.

They are indeed pacifists, and have been so.

I’d give them a pass.

Now, for any public school 1) flying a Mexican “thing” above our flag, 2) banning the pledge, or 3) playing any sort of game indoctrinating 2nd graders about fudge packing...fire them...fire them all.

Heck, let’s just fire any “teacher” that only has a worthless “education” degree and we’ll accomplish more than any other action could.

[Emperor Palpatine]

"I’d give them a pass."


Well, I wouldn't. AFAIC pacifists are cowards and traitors.

To Hades with this sorry lot and their seditious school.

[patriotsoul]

How do passivists play sports? Even Red Rover Red Rover has a competitive edge. What sports do they play?

[Emperor Palpatine]

[Keith in Iowa]

Goshen College Bans National Anthem [national anthem is a message that glorifies war and violence]

	06/08/2011 1:20:41 PM PDT · by SandRat · 42 replies .com/theology/ ^ Resistance to the national anthem at Goshen College In response to Goshen College’s decision to play the national anthem, Nekeisha and Andy Alexis-Baker wrote an open letter to Goshen College urging them to reconsider their decision, asking anyone who agreed to add their names. As of May 27, 2011, 1541 people signed this letter, and hard copies were sent to the Goshen Board of Directors, who announced June 6, 2011, that they reversed the decision and would no longer play the national anthem. Never before have so many Christians, including pastors, priests, laypersons and theologians from around the world, so...
No more national anthem at pacifist Indiana college
	06/07/2011 10:17:26 AM PDT · by Nachum · 46 replies WTHR 13 ^ | 6/7/11 | Staff Goshen - A small northern Indiana college has decided to stop playing "The Star-Spangled Banner" at sporting events after starting to do so for the first time last year. Goshen College's board of directors says it will find an alternative that honors the country and the Mennonite Church-affiliated school's pacifist traditions. The 1,000-student college has been playing an instrumental version of the national anthem, followed by a peace prayer, before games and other events. Some were upset with the school's decision last year because the song's lyrics contain references to using war and military might to defend the country.
Goshen College Board of Directors ask for alternative to playing the national anthem
	06/07/2011 6:56:10 AM PDT · by Newton · 69 replies Goshen College via Drudgereport ^ | Richard R. Aguirre GOSHEN, Ind. — The Goshen College Board of Directors announced today that it has asked President James E. Brenneman to find an alternative to playing the Star-Spangled Banner that fits with sports tradition, that honors country and that resonates with Goshen College's core values and respects the views of diverse constituencies. The Board took the action during its regular meeting, June 3-4, and today released a Decision Statement, which is available at www.goshen.edu/anthem. The Board expressed a strong commitment to advancing with President Brenneman the vision for Goshen College to be an influential leader in liberal arts education with a...

[nkycincinnatikid]

We should all remember that Dwight D Eisenhower was forced by circumstances to miss the funerals of his Mennonite pacifist father and brother.
He was tied up in Europe responsible for planning that D-Day thingy.

[PDGearhead]

What about the teams that they are playing against? Do they have to refrain from singing the national anthem also?

[plangent]

What has changed at Goshen college from 10 years ago. Back then the trustees saw nothing wrong with playing the national anthem, nor did the founders.

What has changed is that an America-hating phlanx of trustees has imposed their hostile will on an otherwise reputable institution.

It’s all about imposing their will; it’s the key affliction of liberalism/Progressives.

[Right Wing Assault]

They need to move to a country that wasn’t founded in some way related to war.

[varon]

A small liberal arts college with a strong pacifist tradition recently banned the national anthem at sporting events, after some students, faculty and alumni complained the song glorifies war

I agree with their decision but for a different reason.

I don't believe the national anthem should be demeaned by using it as an opening act to sporting events any more than using the stars and stripes as the starting flag at NASCAR , drag or dirt track racing events.

Throughout the years, many men and women have given their life and limb to preserve the way of life the anthem and flag represent. They are two of only a few things that have survived without too much tarnish over the years and hopefully can be preserved to be seen and heard with dignity at patriotic events of national significance.

[Right Wing Assault]

How can they allow baseball, basketball, soccer, and softball. Those can be very violent. Or do the coaches not allow athletes to contact the opponents?

The lefties have completed their infiltartion of Goshen.

[newfreep]

Aren't "Shakers" a part of the hip-hop culture?

[oh8eleven]

College bans national anthem at sporting events
IIRC, the playing of the national anthem at sporting events across the country started during WWII.
While I sincerely appreciate the respect, if all sporting venues nationally stopped playing it, I guess I wouldn't be all that upset.

[newfreep]

Yes, I fully know Shaker movement - sorry, my post was a bit of humor. .