Dawn’s Early Light (Captivity In Print)

Listening to the Star-Spangled Banner at the ROTC ceremony at Harvard last week, I reflected again on our nation’s choice of a description of armed struggle and resistance for its anthem. Vivid combat imagery, though understated as patriotic messages go. It was there at nightfall, we saw it during the night, by the light of explosions, is it still there? Over the brave, free men who are fighting for this country? That’s all there is to it, from the perspective of an emissary detained by the invading British when he went to seek a doctor’s release. Armed struggle and triumph may not be unique as anthem themes, but I’d guess a description of those events as viewed from captivity probably is.

So what does our adoption of an anthem about armed struggle and captivity say about the American character?

http://www.julescrittenden.com/2009/06/12/dawns-early-light-2/