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E-PrinceAt my graduation this June, the national anthem will not be sung.
Until 1969, Princeton had a tradition of singing “My Country, ’Tis of Thee” at commencement. Around the time of the Second World War, between 1943 and 1949, “The ...
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This article makes a powerful point that the national anthem should be sung at graduation.
The author should have been more critical of the entire princeton administration. That darn Canadian President of ours clearly has no feelings towards America. We need to show her some patriotism or kick her out.
It is interesting that Princeton would specifically have a policy against singing the national anthem. It goes along the same lines as some other Princeton "traditions" which are perhaps blindly kept despite their downfalls... grade deflation, residential colleges, banning fraternities, the sleep-inducing precepts....
"We have an international outlook only because of our American heritage"?
wat
while we understand your love for Amurrica, don't "misoverestimate" the American values and heritage- Princeton and America's values and curriculum are rooted in the Western liberal thought. Why shouldn't we sing La Marseillaise or God Save the Queen due to the French/English fundamental importance in Princeton's values and curriculum?
The guy's probably right, but the pretentious overanalysis and posturing reinforces some really unfortunate stereotypes. Nothing said in all this that couldn't have been said better in three or four well-constructed sentences. If you're going to write for the school newspaper, take some damn journalism training for goodness' sake.
The irony of your nickname...
it's a good article. well-written and researched- don't see why that isn't a good thing. He is also a guest columnist. Asshole.
Thoughtful, well-written and provocative. And it's about time Princeton get over itself!
And I seem to remember that the morning after prom very few of us were prepared for the high notes of "Old Nassau" let alone "The Star-Spangled Banner". Commencement's fine the way it is.
@I graduated
What a sorry, shitty excuse for not wanting to sing the national anthem. I'm going to be as hung over as I've ever been the morning after prom next year, but I'd better get the opportunity to sing the national anthem through my headache.
@13: You misunderstand. My patriotism is secure enough that I don't require a University ceremony to affirm it, and I was just as happy for a shorter Commencement after the long ordeals of Baccalaureate, Step Sing, Class Day, and prom leading up to it. My guess is that most Americans in attendance feel the same way.
You needn't insist on the opportunity to sing "The Star-Spangled Banner"; you have it. It's a free country.