National Anthem no longer at rallies
Students who attended the winter rally last month might have noticed that something was missing: the National Anthem.
Although many students might not have even noticed that the “Star Spangled Banner” was not sung at the winter rally on Jan. 19, some students did.
And they were curious as to why it was removed.
School leadership officers and the rally committee decided to skip the anthem due to the recent controversy involving unsung verses of the song that are deemed racist.
In recent months, the California chapter of the National Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) has been trying to push for the removal of the national anthem because they view it as racist and anti-black, according to CBS News.
The unsung verse in question contains the phrase, “No refuge could save the hireling and slave…”
Leadership adviser Erin McFerrin agrees that the song is problematic and that action should be taken moving forward to ensure that every student feels welcomed, especially after last year when racial graffiti was found on campus.
“In the leadership class, [we strive on] being really inclusive and mindful of all the decisions we make,” said McFerrin. “We didn’t really know why we were doing [the anthem during] the rally, so we just thought it was something maybe we could take out.”
Many students, such as senior Alexis Hooper, didn’t notice the song was removed until informed.
“I don’t really care,” Hooper said. “The National Anthem is a tradition from many years ago and the only people who really care about it are older generations.”
But some students in this generation feel this decision is uncalled for.
Senior Amir Udler feels the decision was at best, incorrect, and at worst, unpatriotic.
“It comes from a very disrespectful place,” said Udler “[Leadership] said it was in the name of ‘exclusivity’, but in reality, [leadership] is disenfranchising the vast majority of the school who loves the country, and who thinks the anthem should be played.”
Senior Dennis Fiorentinos also disagrees with the decision.
“I respect their decision to make the change and I understand why they did it, but I feel that the anthem doesn’t stand for that,” said Fiorentinos “I feel that California High School honoring and respecting those who have died protecting our freedom is more important.”
Fiorentinos said he was so upset by the decision he contacted various news organizations, such as KTVU and Fox News. After The Californian was published on Feb. 9, KTVU Fox 2 and ABC 7 News both aired stories addressing the controversy. The East Bay Times also published a story on Feb. 13.
The story made national news that day when Fiorentinos was interviewed on Todd Starnes’ Fox radio broadcast. During the 10-minute interview, Fiorentinos explained what happened and expressed his disapproval of the decision making. Fiorentinos was praised by Starnes for standing up for the National Anthem and what his beliefs.
Starnes wrapped up his segment by encouraging his listeners to contact the San Ramon Valley Unified School District to express their concerns about this matter.
Some students and teachers on campus, such as teacher Barbara Carpenter, feel the leadership class should make the decision based on the student body’s opinion.
“I would like to see leadership poll the entire school, and see what the entire student body and staff want, not just what leadership students want,” she said.
Assistant principal Kathleen Martins, who oversees leadership, was unaware this decision was made before the rally.
The National Anthem will not be sung at rallies for the remainder of the year. A decision about rallies in future years will come at a later date.
ASB council declined to comment but provided an open letter published in The Californian that addresses the leadership decision.
Emma • Feb 17, 2018 at 6:13 am
I am a Cal High alum, who moved to Virginia to attend college after graduation. I have never had the desire to return to California after leaving, and this is one of the reasons why. Is it so difficult for these students to love their country? If they truly feel ashamed or embarrassed of America, I plead them to 1) Travel 2) Conduct research of the atrocities that occur around the world (most of them supported by the governments, for example the systematic use of rape by the Syrian Government that’s happening RIGHT NOW during the war). But no, these students are offended by words written so long ago, that don’t even mean what they think they mean! I really think these students need to internationalize themselves, since they want to be so inclusive and multicultural this should interest them anyways, and research other countries’ histories and current events. For instance, in college I learned all the terrible things Britain has done in their history and I was shocked because so many people in America had told me that WE are the most terrible and oppressive country! Not true! Do your research! My last thought is that it’s truly sad to not feel that a country, doesn’t have to be the US, is not your home. It’s sad that these students have no national pride! I feel so emotional whenever I hear our anthem, and I actually feel sorry for those who can’t/won’t feel these prideful emotions! It’s okay to love your country, other citizens around the world love their countries too, not just Americans. It’s also okay to ask better of your country, we can always improve. But to hate your country, to not be proud of it, well… I would definitely want to live in another country if I felt that way! Maybe one day these children (they are children, I thought I was an adult in high school and then I moved away 2500 miles all alone and realized I was a child in high school) will realize that they are privileged simply by living in America. We better all pray to God thanking him we are not at the hands of the Syrian Government in a detention camp. Google that, students of Cal High, and tell me again how you’re concerned about the “issue” of the third, rarely sung verse of our anthem. Please, I’m waiting to hear how the US sucks after you do your research of sexual violence in Syria, the Congo, Algeria, Rwanda, Lesthoto, Bosnia, the list goes on kiddos! Be thankful for where you live and what you have because I know many refugees who are literally dying to live the life you live.
Mario De Sousa • Feb 16, 2018 at 8:16 pm
Interestingly enough if you research the inspiration and meaning of Francis Scott Key’s lyrics you will find the “slaves” mentioned were American seamen that were more than likely white and kidnapped by the British and forced to fight aboard British Man of war ships. The ‘hirelings were German Hessian mercenaries. You would think an educational institution would know American history.
Kirt • Feb 16, 2018 at 12:17 pm
Restore the National Anthem at California H.S.!
Cecilia Wallace • Feb 16, 2018 at 11:00 am
California? Why am I not surprised! What a bunch of selfish, self-centered, spoiled brats. Who raised these imbeciles???
Stephen Metz • Feb 16, 2018 at 10:50 am
I am a 28-year Navy Veteran. I have had the privilege of serving with many fine Black officers and sailors. Of course, as is true of every race and culture, there were a few bad apples. However, the vast majority did their best to achieve our common goal: to serve our country and to protect it, and to preserve the principles on which it was founded. Many of my predecessors, contemporaries, family members, and those who followed us have given their lives for this goal. The national anthem, which memorializes one of those conflicts, has come to stand for the pride millions of us have for this country. It saddens me that a small group of individuals, who apparently have minimal knowledge of the history of this country, and have made little or no contribution to the effort to preserve it, feel free to misread an obscure line in a little-known stanza of the anthem to find a way to claim discrimination. I do not claim that this country is without flaws; but our history reveals that, unlike so many other nations, we actively seek to redress those flaws, not with political posturing, but by action. Want to see what would happen in other countries not so inclined? Look at Venezuela, Cuba, China and Russia, to name only a few.
Beverly Cable • Feb 15, 2018 at 4:05 pm
With this decision it is even evident schools and your teachers, stopped teaching actual American History, and started brain washing the young to conform to their politically correct mind set. I grew up in California, and what is being taught now is quite different from my years in school.
As one of your other commentators mentioned, the words you find so appalling,“No refuge could save the hireling and slave” had your teachers and school board provided you with a proper education, you would know, as the above commentator said “refers to the way the British used mercenaries (hirelings). Also the British had the practice of imprisonment, which forced men into military service (slave). We were at war with England.
History is being change by, in your case the California School Board, who dictates to book manufacturers how and what will be said in their books. If the manufacturers don’t comply, well they don’t receive the lucrative contract to produce, publish and print your text books. Thus history is being changed on a regular basis to fit a politically correct thinking by one portion in the United States, and a small minded group of educators. Compare books from 20- 30 years ago to now. Yes, of course, data will be updated to reflect current events, but what you need to see is how the past has been changed to fit a slanted narrative.
What you are doing is silly innocence, and what you don’t realize, or maybe you do and you don’t care, is spitting on those before you who fought and died so that you can sit in a classroom and trample on America and what made us a unified country, now being divided by nonsense such as this.
If you want a cause to fight for – how about hunger. California has an extremely high rate of homeless, with the majority of the homeless in the state being Mothers and their children. Why not focus on a cause that is real, and needs to be addressed, and that will help America and your state to be strong.
Remember as you are looking back on the past, be reminded that the future will look back on you and the judgment may not be favorable.
Jambes Marks • Feb 14, 2018 at 2:55 pm
As far as I am concerned, the idiots who banned the singing of our national anthem during student rallies should feel free to leave the country and go somewhere else, say, North Korea. They should be joined by that joke of an adviser.
Oh, and take Alexis Hooper with you, too. She is obviously clueless. I guess she blew off her American History classes.
Gary • Feb 14, 2018 at 11:43 am
This story truly bothers me and it’s time the record is set straight. I really hope the students of San Ramon High get the message….
Perhaps a history lesson is in order about the lyrics in question. I truly hope this lesson reaches every student that questions in integrity and full meaning behind the story of the Nation Anthem. And to the teachers that are actually encouraging young people to disrespect American values and traditions. It’s unacceptable and inexcusable.
● The Star Spangled Banner lyrics ”the hireling ” refers to the British use of mercenaries (German Hessians) in the American War of Independence.
● The Star Spangled Banner lyrics ”…and slave” is a direct reference to the British practice of impressment (kidnapping American seamen and forcing them into service on British man-of war ships). This was an important cause of the War of 1812.
Source- http://www.american-historama.org/1801-1828-evolution/star-spangled-banner-lyrics.htm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTOn-SF8L5Y
James Wright • Feb 14, 2018 at 7:56 am
As has been mentioned, the words in question referred to foreign mercenaries and enslaved sailors in the British Navy.
Shouldn’t these students have been taught the TRUTH in their school and shouldn’t ‘Leadership adviser Erin McFerrin’ have KNOWN this and informed the students? Is Erin McFerrin that ignorant or just that dishonest?
Or could there be ulterior motives behind this failure to inform?
And perhaps it might have been useful to explain to these students that the NAACP, who started all of this garbage, was founded by Communists; as was the ACLU, the unions and many other such left-wing organizations.
Don • Feb 14, 2018 at 7:39 am
You took 2 words out of the whole song and took them out of context. No to smart..
By way of comparison. I bet you listen to Rap music..
You have no problem with the N word being used all over the place?? Are going to ban all of the music as well??
This is a real question…
Jim • Feb 14, 2018 at 7:29 am
Do they not teach true History at this school. A simple research project in History would reveal the truth that this is NOT a racist song (third verse) even compared to today’s culture. Even so, if some people are too stubborn to do research and still feel offended by the thrid verse then simply remove the verse and declare to all that the controversial words will not be considered part of the song at your school.. No one ever sings the third verse anyway. Makes a lot more sense than condeming the entire song which has been YOUR nations anthem for many years.
I would pull my child from your school if you can’t play or sing the National Anthem.
Glenn Gemmell • Feb 14, 2018 at 7:15 am
Thank you for your great story.
I’m a Vietnam era veteran, and I’m from Baltimore where the National Anthem was written. I also walked through the Washington D.C. riots for hours in my Navy uniform during the Martin Luther King riots. I’m also white and have family members married to wonderful, loving people of color, whom I admire and deeply respect. That’s the backstory.
I served and fought for ALL THE PEOPLE in this nation, WE ALL DID.
And it’s very dangerous for any organization or individuals to strive to fragment our social fabric with policies designed to divide, rather than to unify this nation. Sadly, I think this is happening with your school not permitting the National Anthem to be played.
We were at WAR when it was written. Yes, there was slavery at that time, as despicable as it was. But, not now—not today. That era was, and still is our history, and it must be remembered and understood, so it never occurs again.
It’s critical to recognized that we’ve moved beyond those times as a nation, and to recognize the progress that has been made.
Some may argue we’ve not gone far enough, that discrimination is active. And I agree. For instance, try to get a job as an older person in today’s world. You will be discriminated against. But… this nation was founded on the premise that ALL people are created equal, and this young nation went to war to defend that right, for EACH of us.
Finally, remember, please remember, that slavery is not a thing of the past. It happens today all over this world. But NOT in THIS nation, NOT anymore. Here we ALL can strive to succeed, and to break the chains of our past.
In closing don’t assume that I am “white privileged”. I grew up poor, in a blue-collar town, working two jobs my entire life to get ahead. Did I achieve all that I wanted to? No, not even close. But I’d rather be in this nation than any other, as flawed as some in your school think it may be.
In fact, I invite them to go overseas and see the difference. Their opinions will change, as their perspectives mature.
Marc Lipnick • Feb 14, 2018 at 6:47 am
Everyone has the right to their own opinion. However, to be so thin-skinned to spoil the enjoyment of such a wonderful patriotic song is a tragedy. If I felt that way then I would just move to another country – e.g. Canada, Australia, or even The United Kingdom.
Mary Wendt • Feb 14, 2018 at 6:43 am
Please students – read your history and get your facts before having such a knee jerk reaction to a word. The Star Spangled Banner’s 3rd verse has absolutely nothing to do with black American slavery. You are doing yourselves a great injustice by actions such as this and you are unwitting pawns in an attempt in our country to pit one group against another. If you want to be taken seriously, get the facts please.
Greg Anderson • Feb 14, 2018 at 6:22 am
The teachers and parents of this school are failures. How about teach the history behind the song and lyrics and not just childishly react seemingly making some sort of statement. Your statement shows your ignorance. So teachers and parents, your kids are a national embarrassment. Well done.
Tim • Feb 14, 2018 at 5:16 am
It is not surprising to me that a liberal school in San Ramon California would allow this to happen. I grew up in nearby Lafayette and I am a retired veteran and this type of behavior is absolutely appalling to me. I find it hilarious that educators pick and choose what parts of history they teach to their students. This is becoming a serious issue and needs to be rectified immediately. As for the comment made by Mr. Ruiz Evans spouting off statements about how 47% of people in California support leaving the union I have news for you, that isn’t up to the handful of crazies running your state it is up to the rest of the union to decide if your leaving. Once again you should know what your talking about before you start opening your mouth.
Michael Johnson • Feb 14, 2018 at 4:51 am
Imagine if white people moved to Mexico and demanded they stop playing their national anthem
Joseph • Feb 14, 2018 at 4:40 am
A few points here. The ignorance of the student leadership isn’t about the students as much as it speaks volumes about the failure of the California public schools, many (not all) of their teachers, and their curriculum. These are often the same mindsets that because of their lack of proper education celebrate and desire socialism as their form of governance. The true meaning of the third verse has been explained above ad nauseam. The unwillingness to see this as the truth no longer poses this as something done in the name of “inclusion” but as a method of perpetuating an agenda.
I am a patriot that not only served my country in the armed forces, but I still do in the public sector. As a patriot I love this country in whole from sea to shining sea until it becomes sea to California border. Yes, I am speaking to the point further up promoting the YesCalifornia movement. News flash. There is a HUGE portion of the country that agrees with you. We are tired of seeing our governance, elections, regulation, automotive industry, and the list goes on driven by a single state that does not even closely match the ideology of the rest of the nation. There is a large part of the population that would love to see California leave the union. I for one think that would be sad. I see Californians as Americans as much as I do Californians. At the moment. Refusing to abide by federal laws, and the integrity of our borders by operating as a “sanctuary state” should be seen as a crime against our nation. And the mindset represented here by the removal of our National speaks volumes to that.
All of that said… the students that this decision doesn’t represent should stand in solidarity with the patriots, the veterans, and the citizens of this country that love this country. If the student leadership doesn’t represent you, you have the right to speak, not only publically, but with your votes. These “values” as represented by this student leadership body are not a surprise to anyone. The anti-American social justice warrior ideology of the members of the student body were known prior to their election. Do not be bullied by those that bully others under the name of perpetual victimhood. Calling a car smart doesn’t necessarily make it so when it so clearly represents performance to the contrary. Calling something “inclusive” by excluding those that disagree with them is the core of hypocrisy.
Delynn • Feb 14, 2018 at 4:30 am
Unbelievable. Our country is collapsing from within.
John K Graham • Feb 13, 2018 at 8:37 pm
The music itself comes from a maritime drinking song, but that’s not the point, plus the third verse had been largely ignored until the past year or so and no one ever sings it. We live in a country where one has the right to be wrong, but that doesn’t include foisting those views upon others; there’s no moral superiority here. This is only symptomatic of narcissism at epidemic proportions, as the only reason someone should make an issue of this matter is to garner attention for the purpose of making themselves feel more important than they actually are. Is this how student advisors promote self-esteem nowadays? Here’s a better solution – have the students write their own national anthem and have it voted upon by the student body.
Richard higgins • Feb 13, 2018 at 8:19 pm
Cut of all federal money, to organizations that don’t believe in the federal government!
George Martinez • Feb 13, 2018 at 7:43 pm
Disgusting that the adults at this school will let a few confused wannabe SJW children make such an uneducated, offensive, and unpatriotic decision like this, solely because this historic and nationally symbolic song has a couple of common words of the day like “slave” and “hireling” in it, which they claim is offensive and oppressive to some victim mentality type minorities. Give me a break, this is a fine example of the hypocrisy and stupidity of the left, they are offended by this National Anthem written hundreds of years ago, yet they are perfectly fine with the lyrics of their current hip hop and rap idols that are far more oppressive and offensive to minorities, women and many others, than our National Anthem ever could be…the children and adults at this school need to Grow Up and realize that this leftist victim mentality will be the end of what is and always has been the greatest country in the world….like I said, disgusting.
Charles • Feb 13, 2018 at 7:21 pm
If the students and teacher would also read history about Francis Scott Keys they would learn that he did own slaves but freed them and even hired them to work on his farm. He as a lawyer defended many African- Americans in is time. He was also part of an organization that once the slave was freed if they wanted to return to Africa he would pay for their passage. He left that organization when it became radical with the abolitionists and then devoted to prosecuting the abolitionists for inciting riots among African-Americans and other people. He believed that the slaves could gain freedom without violence through the normal process of law and peaceful mean. Who else believed this? Could it be Martin Luther King Jr. He wrote the song only after being held prisoner on a British ship overnight and the first thing he saw when he woke up was the American flag still flying strong over Fort McHenry. When he was able to finally return to the shore he saw the devastation that the Naval shelling had caused not only killing the military men but common people. The teacher that supported this action should beef up on her history and teach it correctly. The song has nothing to do with slavery one bit it is a tribute to the service men and the people who not only died but survived the night when Baltimore was under siege during the War of 1812.
Vivian • Feb 13, 2018 at 4:51 pm
I was a little disheartened after reading the article about your student leadership making the decision of banning the National Anthem at your high school pep rallies. Before committing to such an unpatriotic decision study the lyrics more closely. Look at them from the time when Francis Scott Key wrote them. It was during the time of war and he created the lyrics with the war of 1812 in mind. The line that seems to be misunderstood, “No refuge could save the hireling and slave”, refers to the way the British used mercenaries (hirelings). Also the British had the practice of impressment, which forced men into military service (slave). These men had no choice they were American seamen that had been taken, it had nothing to do with their race. By forcing this as a racist problem makes it more of a racist problem. Don’t fall for all the hype created in this country to keep us divided. He meant for the Star Spangled Banner to be a symbol of triumph over all adversity.
Marcus Ruiz Evans • Feb 13, 2018 at 3:46 pm
True Californians.
People like to ignore the fact that Kaepernick started the protest, and was from California. And that Black Lives Matter started in California. And that 47.5% of Californians were not opposed to leaving America in a poll by Ipsos/ Reuters in Jan 2017.
These are all facts.
Deal with it.
– Calexit movement / Yes California.org
USMarine • Feb 13, 2018 at 2:50 pm
I hope you remember who fought and died for you to even have the ability to talk about the national anthem without boots on your necks. Erin Mcferrin I hope for your sake very soon you are reminded of what the national anthem means.
Mike Billips • Feb 13, 2018 at 2:22 pm
It’s unfortunate that those offended by the lyrics are not better informed about the wars and political conflicts between the United States and Great Britain from 1775 to 1815. “Hireling and slave” was a frequent way for Americans to condemn British troops and sailors, as well as “Hessian mercenaries” that the British contracted from small German principalities to fight alongside their own army during the Revolutionary War.
British Navy sailors were often impressed, or forced into involuntary servitude by the British government, which Americans considered tantamount to slavery. The practice of impressing American sailors on the pretext that they were British subjects was a major cause of the War of 1812, which Key’s song commemorates.
The verse makes perfect sense if one considers Key to be celebrating a victory over the impressed British sailors and mercenary Hessians, and makes no sense whatever as a celebration of killing enslaved Americans. The verse VERY CLEARLY states that the “hirelings and slaves” had boasted that the War of 1812 would result in the end of the American republic, which it calls the “land of the free and the home of the brave” in contrast to the home countries of the British and Germans.
I hope this note will stimulate interest in the history of the period. I commend the students for their political activism, but I think they might want to do a bit more research.
I don’t recall from my own high school days that we ever played the national anthem before pep rallies, but the country was a bit less obsessed with patriotic demonstrations in the late 1970s.
Lt. Cmdr. Mike Billips, U.S. Navy Reserve
Christopher L. Silver • Feb 13, 2018 at 2:03 pm
Figures.. can’t edit. Devisive was the term I meant. Ugh!
Christopher L. Silver • Feb 13, 2018 at 1:52 pm
So in trying to be inclusive…you become decisive? I’m generally not a fan of cnn but this one has some quick history lessons you appear to be missing in your thinking. Perhaps you should be thankful you live in a country, and be proud of the country the provides the freedom of choice you just made. Albeit a misguided one. Are your history teachers failing you? https://www.cnn.com/2016/08/31/opinions/star-spangled-banner-criticisms-opinion-clague/index.html
Craig Henry • Feb 13, 2018 at 1:22 pm
This is despicable, gutless behavior kowtowing to the lowest common denominator. Who do these morons think created this country at the risk of their lives,, their fortunes, and their sacred honor so that these snowflakes can insult their contributions.
John Thomas • Feb 13, 2018 at 1:18 pm
Ugh… this is the problem with education today, well in this case a LACK of education.
THAT IS NOT WHAT THE 3RD VERSE SAYS!
Francis Scott Key defended slaves in court and fought against slave trafficking. Mark Clague, PhD, Associate Professor of Musicology at the University of Michigan, stated, “The social context of the song comes from the age of slavery, but the song itself isn’t about slavery, and it doesn’t treat whites differently from blacks. The reference to slaves is about the use, and in some sense the manipulation, of black Americans to fight for the British, with the promise of freedom. The American forces included African-Americans as well as whites. The term ‘freemen,’ whose heroism is celebrated in the fourth stanza, would have encompassed both.
I have low expectations from our education system today because of SJW outrage at something they don’t understand or comprehend the historical significance of what is being talked about.
JADE • Feb 13, 2018 at 9:13 am
NOW CHILDREN GET TO MAKE THE RULES?
HOW ABOUT IF THE KIDS OR THE PARENTS FUND THE SCHOOLS NOT TAXPAYERS?!
Michelle Anderson • Feb 13, 2018 at 7:26 am
You should lose all city, state and federal funding!!!! This is awful….
Grayson • Feb 12, 2018 at 6:40 pm
We live in outrage culture. A small vocal minority bullies people into not triggering them. Stop being professionally offended and focus on issues that matter.