Artistic freedom my ass. More like opportunistic soap-boxing. I have to wonder how Rene Marie would have felt had the confederate flag been hanging above the Stars and Stripes while she sang her poor substitution. That would have been wrong, just like what she did was wrong. No flag should be flown above the Star Spangled Banner and no song should be sang in place of “The Star Spangled Banner.”

Sure, “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing” reflects the history of blacks in our nation and their struggle for freedom, but “The Star Spangled Banner” reflects the history of our entire nation’s struggle for freedom.

One word describes her actions: disrespect. 

I know I am asking for it, but I have to say that the very same African-Americans (yeah, I know, I used a stupid hyphen-label, I won’t let it happen again) that claim they are trying to unite our country are the ones who seem to me to be the most divisive. Ms. Marie didn’t lift up black Americans with her blatant disrespect and stupidity, she pushed them down. She screamed out loud, “Our anthem, our struggle, and our history, is more important than yours!” and sledge hammered the wedge of racial divide in our nation just a little bit wider. She spit in the face of people like Mayor John Heckenlooper and City Council President Michael Hancock, who made a solid effort to bridge that divide when they invited her to sing at an important public meeting.

Good job Rene, you’re a hero.

Wisdom

 

‘Black national anthem’ stirs controversy for city

posted by: Tiffani Lupenski updated by: Nicole Lewis and Jeffrey Wolf reported by: Thanh Truong updated by: Dan Boniface and: Kyle Clark     18 hrs ago

DENVER – Mayor John Hickenlooper’s annual State of the City address may get more attention for what wasn’t included than what was. “I don’t think it’s fair artistic expression,” said Gov. Bill Ritter (D-Colorado) of the incident. He made the comments on The Mike Rosen Show on 850 KOA on Wednesday. At the start of the event Tuesday morning, City Council President Michael Hancock introduced singer Rene Marie to perform the national anthem. Instead, she performed the song “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing,” which is also known as the “black national anthem.” When she finished, the audience responded with mild applause. The national anthem was never performed. Governor Bill Ritter (D-Colorado) discussed the incident on The Mike Rosen Show on 850 KOA on Wednesday morning, calling it “inappropriate.” “I don’t think it’s fair artistic expression,” said Ritter. [READ MORE...]