The Brave

My wife is something of an extreme traditionalist when it comes to America's National Anthem. During the pre-game to the 2014 Super Bowl, Renee Fleming sang The Star Spangled Banner to a very receptive crowd. I still feel the chills as I listened to my country's song performed by a gifted and talented singer who allowed her voice to emote the passions of patriotism as well as excite the energy for the game. But my rave review of that exquisite performance was immediately shot down by the critical ear quickly identified a change in the time signature; apparently the music was set to a 4/4 time. It was musical treason.

Recently I have noticed a trend to slightly modify the closing words of each verse to the anthem. Each stanza ends with the imagery of the red, white, and blue flying, "O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave." The popular edit changes the word home and turns it into "Because of the Brave." Before I go any further, I must say that I am grateful for the dedicated soldiers, sailors and all military personnel who are willing to labor in the cause for freedom; not only labor, but they voluntarily risk their lives to ensure the freedoms that we enjoy. That being said, I think the change misses Mr. Key's vision of what it means to live in "the land of the free."

While some people participate in the armed services, the percentage of living Americans who have donned our nation's uniform is getting smaller all the time. We currently have an all-volunteer armed forces, and there hasn't been a draft for decades.  For those of us who do not serve in the military it is not enough to simply acknowledge what those valiant warriors do on our behalf. It's time to live in own homes and towns and show that this is the home of the brave.

It is time that we turn the tide of apathy and show bravery by going to the polls and casting a vote. It is time that good men and women choose to brave the intrusion that comes from running for office. And it is high time that voters are brave enough to focus on the legitimate issues and eschew salacious probes. We have the chance to be free and we need to responsibly choose to do good things every single day. I do believe the final verse describes how we can all be the brave.

"O thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation.
Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the Heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave."

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