THE PEOPLE’S NATIONAL ANTHEM

 

Few people realize that prior to 1930 “The Star Spangled Banner” was not our national anthem. Before 1930 the song, “America”, also known as “My Country Tis of Thee,” was the national anthem. It was called our national anthem, and if the audience at a political rally or social event was asked to sing the national anthem everyone present sang “America”. However, even though the people of America had made the song “America” their national anthem, when a newspaper columnist (in 1930) pointed out that congress had never officially made “America” the national anthem a bill was rushed through congress making “The Star Spangled Banner” the official national anthem.

That leaves me asking, why was congress in such a rush to go contrary to what clearly seemed to be the will of the people. Well, Laura Ingalls may have given us a clue as to why, in her description of a 4th of July gathering where, after the Declaration of Independence was read, “All at once everyone was singing:

         

‘My country, ‘tis of thee,

Sweet land of liberty,

Of thee I sing.…

 

long may our land be bright

With freedom’s holy light,

Protect us by thy might

Great God our King!’

 

          The crowd was scattering away then, but Laura stood stock still. Suddenly she had a completely new thought. The Declaration and the song came together in her mind, and she thought: God is America’s king.” [From the book, “Little Town on the Prairie,” by Laura Ingalls Wilder, pages 75-76.]

          Consider carefully the words of the last verse (the forth verse of “America”); the words that say, “Great God our King”. That verse was once “America’s” national anthem! In fact, it was still being sung in public schools when I was young. And, that verse declares God to be America’s king.

          Now if you are wondering what difference it makes, consider this. If God is America’s king, then our rulers must obey His Ten Commandments. In other words, if God is our king our rulers are not free to commit murder, nor are they free to give others (namely abortion doctors) a license to commit murder. If God is our king rulers are not free to live sexually immoral lives, nor are they free to promote sexual immorality, or force Christians to accept that immorality as normal. If God is our king, then rulers are not free to attack our religious beliefs, nor are they free to force us to finance schools where our beliefs are ridiculed, or to send our children to schools that work to undermine the faith of our children.

          Do Americans still have the freedom to sing the fourth verse of our original national anthem in public schools, or at political rallies etc.? I say, try it and see! In my opinion, the only people who would try to stop it from being sung are those who do not want America to be ruled by God. And, those who try to overthrow America’s “king” should be regarded as subversives.


[NOTE:  The 1931 movie, "Let Freedom Ring," starring Nelson Eddy, ends with the entire cast singing all four verses of "America". If you watch that movie think about the fact that everyone singing grew up at a time when that song was our National Anthem.]