08/12/2024
Among the many aspects of the Olympics, including the history and athleticism, is the opportunity for those attendees and athletes to be a part of a classroom of the world. This reality is also shared by fans of the Olympics. In this classroom of the world, we can learn about the many cultural attributes of almost all the countries of the world; more than the member nations of the UN.
We can really learn alot about the different countries of the world; as countries are like faceted jewels that glimmer in the sun. Among the defining facets shared by all nations are: cuisine, music, art, fashion and language. Yet, two sometimes quite apparent, but often overlooked and taken for granted, would be: the history of a nation's flag, and their Nation Anthem.
Doing some brief research online, I surmised that some nations should consider rewriting the lyrics to their anthem. Some national anthems have multiple verses and the latter versus may include more modern aspects of the country. Those first written verses dwell in a deep history of a nation founded centuries ago.
Doing research online, we can only rely on the words we read on the screen. The sources can sometimes be questionable. In other words, while I was reading the English translation of the anthem of other countries, I was hoping I was reading an accurate translation. In what I did read, I was disappointed in the shallowness and antiquity of many of the words; particularly, I was disappointed by what the national anthems of the countries of my heritage mean in English.
However, I was quite impressed with several countries' national anthems including: Russia, India, and Australia. They are love songs tobtheir nation and peoples. Yet, if you were to read the national anthem of the UK, you would come to learn that it is a love song for a long dead Queen. It is my assumption that the UK national anthem was written for Queen Victoria. Obviously, during her reign, it was applicable to Queen Elizabeth II. But basically, it is a love song to a monarch.
But, take for example the passionately penned words of Francis Scott Key (author of the national anthem of America [USA]🇺🇸 The Star Spangled Banner). This was a man that witnessed the battle he was so moved to write about. If you do not know the words to our national anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner (the national anthem of the United States), please learn them. It is the least we can do as citizens of the United States of America. Take the time to read them now... Thank you...
" Oh say, can you see
By the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed
At the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars
Through the perilous fight
O'er the ramparts we watched
Were so gallantly, streaming?
And the rockets' red glare
The bombs bursting in air
Gave proof through the night
That our flag was still there!
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?"
