To illustrate different views of the same subject, we listened to five different versions of the national anthem ("Oh, say can you see . . .)--from a very traditional navy band and chorus version to Jimi Hendrix, hip hop artists, the Latin All Stars, and Whitney Houston at the Super Bowl. We then divided ourselves into groups based on which rendition we felt best expressed the "American dream" to us. We talked in small groups and then reported back to the larger group.
One of the themes that emerged was how much better we were able to appreciate other people's choices after we had a chance to listen to them discuss their thoughts and reasons for picking a particular version, rather than focusing on our own choice solely.
I liked the Latin All Stars version of the national anthem best--mostly because of the poetry, which, even in translation was beautiful:
In fierce combat, a symbol of victory
the glory of battle
(My people fight on)
the march toward liberty.
(The time has come to break the chains.)
Throughout the night they proclaimed:
"We will defend it!"
Tell me! Does its starry beauty still wave
above the land of the free,
the sacred flag?
I sense some similarities here to the famous Chicago poet, Carl Sandburg, from "The People, Yes":
In the darkness with a great bundle of grief
the people march.
Where to? what next?
