[Harmless Teddy Bear]

He realizes that the "slave and hireling" referred to in the song were white boys doesn't he?

No?

My, he really is an idiot.

[stylin19a]

whoa...I didn’t know that either. I just looked up the meaning. Thanks.

[silverleaf]

The “ hirelings and slaves “ were Americans of all colors and socioeconomic classes who were being burned out of house and home and shelled by Britsh bombardments along the shores of the Chesapeake

American slaves faced a decision- join the British ( who ironically had trafficked most of them to the Americas) ); escape and migrate: or stand and fight for common values promised by America even if unevenly delivered and still in struggle .. The British sought to divide American resistance by offering sanctuary to slaves who would defect - but within limits since the British landholders in the West Indies relied on slavery

Here is one account of that struggle
http://www.pbs.org/wned/war-of-1812/essays/black-soldier-and-sailors-war/

The people of Baltimore - all of them - free men slaves rich poor tradesmen aristocrats - watching the battle of Ft McHenry from their windows were trapped, facing a common enemy as “ Americans”” and death and destruction of their homes regardless of loyalties ... Scott was pointing out that joining the British against America saved no one f rom its destruction

This is a good version of all 4 verses , dedicated to victims of 911
Who also died at the hands of a common enemy of American values
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=piT33GV2EMA

[sport]

According to some, Blacks were the only people enslaved in the history of the World. The Jews, or the Children of Israel were held in slavery by the Egyptians for over 400 years. I have yet to see a Jew with a sign on his back with, "My Ancestors Were Slaves", written on it. And another thing they conveniently omit is that before their ancestors were put on the ships they were held in slave pens by other Blacks themselves, who purchased them from other Blacks, or muslims.

I am all for him being deported myself. I have no problem with him believing what he believes. That is his privilege. Let himbelieve it some place else.

[odawg]

Correct. It was a taunt between his free countrymen and the SUBJECTS of the British crown. This writer is an idiot.

I have always read that the music was an old British drinking song.

[Ohioan]

Whoever was being specifically referred to, were specific combatants in a specific conflict. The writer, in jumping on this phrase, is parading his non-identification with the America experience. He would rather proclaim his apparent hatred of the fact that all social creatures have hierarchical social structures--because that is what his fervor really seems to amount to--than honor the brave men, and the bard who celebrated those brave men, who fought for America against a foreign invasion.

It is very likely that there is no one reading this, whose ancestors were never at some time at or near the bottom of some social order, at some time in the human experience. But this King thinks it so great a personal grievance that he cannot let loose of his personal hatred to even think about such a likelihood.

And by the way Mr. King, Woodrow Wilson was out of office, and indeed dead, by the time the "Banner" was made official in 1931,