Sunday, July 11, 2021 | 2 a.m.
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What’s in a song?
When Francis Scott Key wrote the poem “The Defence of Fort M’Henry,” he was thinking about the British attacking Fort McHenry in Baltimore during the War of 1812.
He couldn’t possibly have known that his words would become the national anthem of the United States of America — Congress made it so in 1931 — and there is no way on Earth he would have known that his plaintive poem penned in the middle of a war would be sung proudly and loudly at every sporting event in the United States, at the Olympics when an American athlete won the gold, and at most other public gatherings in this country as a sign of unity of purpose and commonality of interest of the citizens of the United States of America.
Key wasn’t thinking about America in 2021. He was focused on whether there would be an America in 1814. But his words were both aspirational and inspirational, and they contemplated an America that could be.
“O say does that Star-Spangled Banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.”
With a few exceptions for men and women in the uniform service of this country — cops, Navy Seals, Marines and others in the military, postal and sanitation workers, and those who risk it all every day so we can be safe in our homes and live a good and hopeful life — we no longer appear to be the people in his song. Instead, we are confused.
The meaning is quite clear. Key used the word “and” and not “or” when he wrote about our people being both free and brave.
And, yet, here we are in 2021 and the question must be asked: Are we brave enough to stand up to the anarchists, anti-democratic forces and thugs and fight for our liberty, our right to be free? Or are we something else, something unknown to Francis Scott Key and those who fought so bravely in 1814? And don’t forget the American revolutionaries, our Founding Fathers and the men and women who fought and died in the wars that helped make and keep our world safe.
Religious leaders — the thoughtful ones, the ones who teach the Good Book and the ones who believe hypocrisy and religion don’t mix — are torn between tending to their flocks who are riddled with paranoia, fears, conspiracies and concerns, and making sure the flock doesn’t lead itself off the cliff of ignorance because they lack faith in their fellow man and, more importantly, the fellow upstairs.
Nevada is one of many states that is not even close to 50% of its residents being vaccinated. And it hasn’t been because our governor and other leaders haven’t made the effort. They have. We just refuse to do what is in our own best interests.
So it is no surprise, then, that our COVID-19 cases are creeping up as our mask-wearing and social distancing is all but disappearing.
And, through it all — just like in so many of the red states, which are also going the wrong way in the fight to contain COVID-19 — there are people, many of them, who continue to complain about wearing masks, staying socially distanced, and, wait for it, having to get what could be life-saving vaccinations.
It is as if they are saying that their right to be free carries with it the absolute right to be stupid. Actually, that’s what our Constitution does say. But nowhere does it say people can be so stupid as to jeopardize neighbors, friends, family and fellow citizens. And that’s where the confusion lies.
These idiots constantly complain about our governmental leaders trying to keep us and our neighbors safe. They scream words like “liberty” and “freedom” as they lament governmental involvement in their lives. They claim they have the right to live free of any interference from anyone claiming to act in the public good.
I will bet many of those same people are criticizing government as we speak for not enforcing building codes, inspections and other rules and regulations designed to keep us safe in our beds at night. Sadly, those people who are buried beneath the rubble of the Champlain Towers in Surfside, Fla., might have a different take on government’s responsibility to maintain health and safety for all.
Clark County wants our input on spending the hundreds of millions of dollars of COVID-19 recovery money we got from the federal government. There are so many good uses to help real people with real needs.
Because of that, I am reluctant to suggest that our leaders put some of the money aside for the remedial teaching of history, government, civics and good citizenship to the tens of thousands of Nevadans who seem to have lost their way and their minds. At some point we all have to understand that we are in this thing together, so pulling apart will not help us succeed.
And we should put some of the money toward providing some very good ear doctors to improve the hearing of those in our state who just will not listen to the facts and to reason.
On second thought, save the money.
It is clear to me that all of the common sense and decency one can teach to those who aren’t brave enough to learn will just continue to fall on deaf ears.
And, besides, there are too many good and decent people who can benefit from this windfall.
Francis Scott Key was right. We do live in the land of the free — but to keep it that way, it must also be the home of the brave.
Brian Greenspun is editor, publisher and owner of the Sun.
