Yesterday, my girlfriend Liz and I attended Yankee Stadium for the third time this season. And, all three times, the Yankees have won. Without digging through all my old ticket stubs, I’m relatively certain I’ve never been to a game on July 4th before.
Maybe it’s because I’m older and slightly more jaded than I was as a youngster but I felt as though the tributes to the country on its birthday at the Stadium yesterday were rather lacking. I will, though, say that the woman from West Point who sang the National Anthem and God Bless America (more on this later) had a great voice and brought some life to those songs.
Easily my favorite part of the day was the reading of the Lou Gehrig speech by current Yankees. Though it was recycled, it was still touching. Perhaps showing the whole clip of Gehrig’s speech without anyone else reading would be better, but this still works well. I had to hold back the tears, I’ll admit (“No, babe. It’s just sweat.” An awful lie considering we were shaded in Section 208 until about the 5th inning).
While it was nice to see soldiers scattered throughout the stadium and they got nice hands, it didn’t feel as though there was enough of a reminder that yesterday was the Fourth of July.
Most noticeably absent was a prolonged tribute to The Boss. The display of World Series trophies during the game was a nice subtle reminder of Big Stein’s dominance as an owner, but to put his name on the scoreboard and make mention of it only during the “Fan Marquee” portion of the game seemed wickedly weak to me.
As for the other patriotic mumbo jumbo that was lacking, I think I know why. While I’m generally not a fan of empty patriotism, if there’s a time I’ll allow it, it’s the Fourth of July at a baseball game. But in a Yankee world of God Bless America during every seventh inning stretch, that song has lost any bit of specialness it once had. Sure it’s nice when someone sings it live rather than having to hear the scratchy Kate Smith version, but it’s just not that special. Maybe if the Yankees changed it up, at least for a day, and included America the Beautiful, My Country ‘Tis of Thee, or, hell, even This Land Is Your Land. Perhaps then the day would’ve seemed more Fourth of Julyish. Whatever that truly means. Anyway, a belated Happy Birthday, America.
If you enjoyed this article, please consider sharing it!
10 Responses to On the Fourth
Leave a Reply
TIQ IQ
It is wartime, after all, and while the Kate Smith version seems to grate on just about everyone I think opting to stop it would be interpreted (perhaps rightfully so) as sending a message. The Yanks have done an awful lot for servicemembers, whether it is part of a conscious effort at marketing or at philanthropy or not they are welcome measures, and if enduring Kate Smith is the price we pay I’m happy to do it.
It’s false patriotism at its worst. It has lost all its meaning. Its just rote at this point. There is no point to it at all.
How is it false patriotism at its worst? Nobody is harmed. It’s not jingoistic. It’s a moment of remembrance for those fighting and those who have been lost. Some people roll their eyes and some people take it to heart. It’s a personal decision whether to fall into the first of those categories or the second.
The routine makes it forced as does the attempt to force everyone to participate. The rote nature makes it void of all meaning.
It’s wartime and little more is being asked of you than that you stand and avoid causing offense to those around you. It’s not much.
Why should I have to worry about causing offense to anyone at a baseball game. Some baseball fans would like not to subject to political indoctrination at a baseball game. And some actually believe it shouldn’t be wartime anymore and we should bring our troops home. Regardless, when something becomes routine it loses meaning.
It has lost its meaning to you. Clearly not to everyone. You and the Peter Abrahams of the baseball world come across as spoiled children by taking such a pithy, noncontroversial celebration of the country as a personal affront.
I really hate singing GBA at every game, but then, I hate playing the national anthem before every sporting event too. So take that for what it’s worth.
Nonsense. We just don’t share your political views that is ok to force people to perform rote patriotism.
No, I don’t share your view that the offense caused to a handful of smug cosmopolitans such as yourself is reason enough to discontinue a tradition that everyone else seems to at least tolerate, and that honors Americans who risk or give their lives in uniform. Politics have little or nothing to do with it.