A Mennonite college in Indiana has completely censored the star spangled banner at athletic events claiming it is too violent (hope they aren't playing anything like football).
Well, actually, what was happening to the Mennonites before they immigrated to America for religious freedom was too violent and oppressive and not in keeping with Mennonite values of peace.
If you don't know the story of the Star Spangled Banner's inspiration - it was more than just a poem written on a ship by Francis Scott Key about bombs bursting in the air.
During the War of 1812, the British had the US on its knees, and all that stood between them invading Washington DC with their navy and landing their troops and completing the overthrow of the country - was Fort McHenry.
Had the fort not held out....the US would have probably had to surrender and the war would have been lost and who knows what would have happened then.
Hence when you listen to the lyrics of the song...the song is a question about an uncertain battle at a time when America's future was not assured.
“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.
Like....blindly accepting defending our freedom.
I get it - even the Quakers were pacifists who wouldn't fight - but - I believe God and Jesus Christ inspired and made this land free but it wasn't without sacrifice and that to fail to remember that is to fail to remember God.
