It was such a powerful moment for me. After Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan and Bush, it was the first time a POTUS could sing along with "my music." I realized that my generation had finally grown up.
I thought of that moment when I read this article about a rich old white lady suggesting that President Obama represented a "different America" because he sang "Let's Stay Together" by Al Green.
“It’s the difference between the songs that they’re singing,” Mrs Welch said. “Mitt Romney didn’t exactly do a beautiful job on that song, but think about what he’s singing, OK? I mean it’s that patriotic song and he goes all the way through it. Then you’ve got the very cool Barack Obama singing Al Green. That is the two different Americas. Isn’t it?”Let me put this as clearly as I can to Ms. Welch...no, you're full of shit. The only place those "different Americas" exist is in your racist ageist mind.
Of the many things that are offensive about what Ms. Welch said, one of them is the inference that patriotic songs are the purview of people in "her America." WRONG!!!!!!!
ANY excuse to post Marvin singing the National Anthem. I swear its one of the only times I really enjoy listening to it!
ReplyDeleteI can't help myself. She's right about me being from a different America.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHqUipinDyw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eS4v431Mlak
Vic78
Whatever America Whitney was singing about is the one where I want to live!
DeleteProps for showing up Suzy 'Miss Ann' Welch, SP! She had the nerve to insist on Twitter that her racist dog whistle was a thing we black folks just made up. She can have a roomful of seats.
ReplyDeleteebogan63.
Love that Marvin Gaye rendition. He had that audience really listening to what he sang - how many people who have sung the Star-Spangled Banner can claim that?
ReplyDeleteThe ultimate irony? "America the Beautiful" was written by a socialist. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-07-03/this-land-was-made-for-you-me-and-its-critics.html
ReplyDelete