no national anthem at steeler-dolphin game

[Mortimer]

This is probably a much better thought:



Letter: National anthem has no place on gridiron stage
Sunday, December 2, 2007


With the failure to present the national anthem at the Pittsburgh Steelers-Miami Dolphins Monday Night Football game, perhaps the team and the National Football League are on to something.
Singing the beautiful and stirring theme of our nation always has been out of place at an event where many individuals who have painted parts of their bodies black and gold come to watch a rough contact sport, to engage in rip-roaring rooting for their team, and to become intoxicated. The singing of the national anthem at such an event makes as much sense as saying grace at a strip joint.

The national anthem, in all its majesty, should be sung at events that afford it the dignity it deserves. A professional football game not only does not qualify, but singing it on such an occasion is an insult to the patriotism and heartfelt sentiment that the anthem was designed to evoke.

Oren M. Spiegler
Upper St. Clair