National Anthem: My emails with Vaneta Becker
Submitted by stephen on Tue, 01/10/2012 - 20:28
Sen. Becker,
Is it true that you're introducing a bill that would fine someone if they didn't meet a set of "standards?" [in singing the National Anthem] I find this very detrimental to our freedoms... It's simply a song and everyone should have the right to sing it how they please. I joined the military to protect freedom of speech, and this is not what I or any other servicemember would call freedom. Please pull this billbecause it is very disconcerting.
Regards,
Steve Weaver
Dear Steve,
Thank you for taking the time to contact me to express your views on Senate Bill 122. I appreciate having the benefit of your opinion.
I authored this bill in response to a constituent who felt that respect for our national anthem was declining. Jim, a disabled Vietnam veteran from Senate District 50, requested that I propose legislation to address the issue.
SB 122 states that when the national anthem is played or sung in a public place, it must be performed in its entirety without embellishment. It may not be played as dance music, as an exit march, or as part of a medley. The bill states that an individual intentionally violating one of these standards may be fined twenty-five dollars.
Two other states have enacted laws similar to the one I have proposed. The law in Massachusetts states that the Star-Spangled Banner must be performed without embellishment, and furthermore may not be performed as dance music, an exit march, or a medley (ALM GL ch. 264, § 9 (2011)). The maximum fine for breaking the Massachusetts law is one hundred dollars. According to the Michigan Penal Code, the national anthem must be performed without embellishment and in its entirety (MCLS § 750.542 (2011)).
Recently, Josh, a young Marine, visited the Statehouse to speak to the Indiana Senate. Injured in combat while serving his country, he stood at the podium on not one, but two artificial legs. In doing so, Josh was a living reminder of what "home of the brave" truly means. This bill is for people like Josh and Jim: service men and women- past, present, and future - who have fought and will fight so that we can enjoy the freedoms we have today. The national anthem is our nation's song, and it should be sung with the respect and dignity that it deserves in honor of our veterans and our country. The purpose of SB 122 is to encourage people to perform our national anthem as it was originally written and sung.
Thank you for writing to me and expressing your views. I look forward to hearing from you on other legislative issues in the future.
Sincerely,
Vaneta Becker
State Senate, District 50
Thanks for writing me back Vaneta,
As I understand that servicemembers are moved by the anthem, I for one served 7 years in the Navy so people could freely express themselves. In what I thought was a truly free country, I served not so that others would be forced to sing a song, whatever the song may be, in a way deemed appropriate by any authority figure, but rather to allow them to freely express themselves however they saw fit -- as long as it hurt no one. Why must we force people to do things in a certain way? Why must you impose fines on someone who wants to express themselves freely? Legislation like this does not serve to make us a better or more freer county, it plunges us into a more rigid society where we must watch what we say and do or face the consequences, even if we have hurt no one.
I feel for those who feel passionate about the song, but alas, but you can not and should not force the respect (in certain ways) for an anthem. This is definitely not American. If I could speak with Josh or Jim, I'm sure they would say the same thing. I'm sure they'd like us to retain our freedoms, not matter how large or small.
I urge you to reconsider this by looking at freedom on a base level. I know people elect people such as yourself to craft legislation in response to perceived needs, but you must weigh this with fundamental concepts of freedom and liberty. These are ultimate truths that we should not trample. These are the rights of the people, and rights I have served and would die to protect.
Thank you,
Steve
Is it true that you're introducing a bill that would fine someone if they didn't meet a set of "standards?" [in singing the National Anthem] I find this very detrimental to our freedoms... It's simply a song and everyone should have the right to sing it how they please. I joined the military to protect freedom of speech, and this is not what I or any other servicemember would call freedom. Please pull this billbecause it is very disconcerting.
Regards,
Steve Weaver
Dear Steve,
Thank you for taking the time to contact me to express your views on Senate Bill 122. I appreciate having the benefit of your opinion.
I authored this bill in response to a constituent who felt that respect for our national anthem was declining. Jim, a disabled Vietnam veteran from Senate District 50, requested that I propose legislation to address the issue.
SB 122 states that when the national anthem is played or sung in a public place, it must be performed in its entirety without embellishment. It may not be played as dance music, as an exit march, or as part of a medley. The bill states that an individual intentionally violating one of these standards may be fined twenty-five dollars.
Two other states have enacted laws similar to the one I have proposed. The law in Massachusetts states that the Star-Spangled Banner must be performed without embellishment, and furthermore may not be performed as dance music, an exit march, or a medley (ALM GL ch. 264, § 9 (2011)). The maximum fine for breaking the Massachusetts law is one hundred dollars. According to the Michigan Penal Code, the national anthem must be performed without embellishment and in its entirety (MCLS § 750.542 (2011)).
Recently, Josh, a young Marine, visited the Statehouse to speak to the Indiana Senate. Injured in combat while serving his country, he stood at the podium on not one, but two artificial legs. In doing so, Josh was a living reminder of what "home of the brave" truly means. This bill is for people like Josh and Jim: service men and women- past, present, and future - who have fought and will fight so that we can enjoy the freedoms we have today. The national anthem is our nation's song, and it should be sung with the respect and dignity that it deserves in honor of our veterans and our country. The purpose of SB 122 is to encourage people to perform our national anthem as it was originally written and sung.
Thank you for writing to me and expressing your views. I look forward to hearing from you on other legislative issues in the future.
Sincerely,
Vaneta Becker
State Senate, District 50
Thanks for writing me back Vaneta,
As I understand that servicemembers are moved by the anthem, I for one served 7 years in the Navy so people could freely express themselves. In what I thought was a truly free country, I served not so that others would be forced to sing a song, whatever the song may be, in a way deemed appropriate by any authority figure, but rather to allow them to freely express themselves however they saw fit -- as long as it hurt no one. Why must we force people to do things in a certain way? Why must you impose fines on someone who wants to express themselves freely? Legislation like this does not serve to make us a better or more freer county, it plunges us into a more rigid society where we must watch what we say and do or face the consequences, even if we have hurt no one.
I feel for those who feel passionate about the song, but alas, but you can not and should not force the respect (in certain ways) for an anthem. This is definitely not American. If I could speak with Josh or Jim, I'm sure they would say the same thing. I'm sure they'd like us to retain our freedoms, not matter how large or small.
I urge you to reconsider this by looking at freedom on a base level. I know people elect people such as yourself to craft legislation in response to perceived needs, but you must weigh this with fundamental concepts of freedom and liberty. These are ultimate truths that we should not trample. These are the rights of the people, and rights I have served and would die to protect.
Thank you,
Steve
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