Thread by @alliegorical, For the first year since 2000, I was not asked to sing [...]

Allison H-G

alliegorical

For the first year since 2000, I was not asked to sing for a patriotic and/or religious ceremony on this Memorial Day. Which is honestly just fine. Behold, a thread of rewritten patriotic hymns, because the original texts are problematic at BEST:

These alternate lyrics to America the Beautiful, as sung by my college friend Krista: https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=9BMKaj4jD4I">https://m.youtube.com/watch... https://m.youtube.com/watch...

A gorgeous revisit of the Battle Hymn of the Republic by @audreyassad, entitled "Your Peace Will Make Us One": https://youtu.be/GTQWSfzY2mw ">https://youtu.be/GTQWSfzY2...

Then again, I do love the second verse of America The Beautiful in its 1904 edition. America, America, God mend thine every flaw. Confirm they soul in self-control, thy liberty in law.

Somewhat tangentially, but not really: @brianmclaren on rewriting militaristic Christian hymns: https://baptistnews.com/article/brian-mclaren-time-to-re-write-pro-war-hymns/#.XsxwZWkpCdM">https://baptistnews.com/article/b...

Brian McLaren: It’s time to re-write pro-war hymns

Brian McLaren, a leader in the emergent church and postmodern Christian movements, has rewritten Onward, Christian Soldiers, which he said reflects a disturbing pro-war theology. For decades,...

https://baptistnews.com/article/brian-mclaren-time-to-re-write-pro-war-hymns/#.XsxwZWkpCdM

"When I am in a congregation that sings songs like these — songs that consciously or subconsciously play into hostility and fear and imperial or warlike sentiments — I feel that we are flirting with dark and dangerous currents that are very unsacred."

And I guess that& #39;s the biggest rub for me. I don& #39;t like glorifying war or violence generally, but these hymns -- and this holiday -- have been appropriated in praise of empire. And the texts of these hymns& #39; faith tradition are prettttty clear on how God views empire.

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