Call me "old school", and I'm sure some of you will call me worse, but I was disappointed and then disgusted with the version of our national anthem that was chosen by the the local radio station to open the music played during the fireworks display. So much so that I turned off my radio! I could hear from others around me that the music somewhat improved, but the damage had already been done, both to my patriotic heart and to my ears.
Francis Scott Key was probably turning over in his grave when the version played last night was concocted! I wonder if any of the forefathers or countless people who have bled and died for this country would feel honored by it. Something needs to be done about upholding at least some of our traditions in our country because they are what make whatever we are. Maybe that's why we're losing the feeling?
haha when I heard the Hendrix version start playing I told my friend that there were going to be a lot of people upset over that.
Quite frankly though, I don't see how a different version of the song can be more or less patriotic. Does flying a bigger flag than your neighbor make me more patriotic than them? (does flying a flag period make me patriotic?)
If I were Francis Scott Key I would just be glad that the song is still around....
I'm sure men from the Nam era and later would appreciate it, as it is a style of music contempary with those times...so I'm going to answers yes there....
As far as upholding traditions in our country...how do we pick which traditions to keep and which to toss? Traditionally we get rid of unwanted people by...killing them...small pox blankets....good old fashion war parties...extreme I know, but still.
Honestly after like 5 years of the same music in the same order...I thought a change was pretty cool. They mixed some different stuff in with more traditional music, trying to cater to all demographics perhaps? If it happens again...spend 5 mins humming the traditional tune? turn down the radio?
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"The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter" -- Winston Churchill
Over the past 10 years KACY has donated a total of about ten thousand dollars to the fireworks fund. Most years it was the highest amount donated by anyone and many years the fireworks might not have happened without them.
If they want to play the Jimi Hendrix rock version of Star Spangled Banner on the 4th of July, just like hundreds of rock stations across the country did, then I think it is OK for them to do that.
BTW: When it was played at Woodstock, the Hendrix version was being played as a protest to an unpopular war . To me, there are few things that could be more appropriate on the fourth of July. It is the freedom and Democracy (big D) that we are celebrating. If you don't get it, just let me know. I'll explain it to you.
How about a big thank you to KACY for their support for the community, instead instead of whining about them playing a version of a song that has been played in TV commercials and on the radio for FORTY years?
Besides, the Star Spangled Banner was an old British drinking song that someone else stuck Key's poem onto. Francis Scott Key never had anything to do with the song. He was a poet.
I'm not even sure if they played it this year (since my radio went off during the 2nd song), but someone should tell them that "Born in the USA" By Bruce Springsteen is not as patriotic a song as most people think it is.
SG speaks the truth...but you should know by now that people don't actually listen to the lyrics haha. Although the way things are going, songs about the hardships veterans face might actually be patriotic...or at least accurate.
Yes, they did play it, by the way
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"The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter" -- Winston Churchill
I figured. They play it every year. And every year I think "don't they listen to the lyrics before they choose these songs"? haha
Anyone else think the old classic patriotic anthems from the WW2 era and before would be much more patriotic than Jimi Hendrix? (although I love Jimi, don't get me wrong... just not in this situation)
On the bright side, at least they don't play the National Anthem in spanish (yet).
I think everyone is taking this way too seriously.
Don't go too far before WWII, because the Star Spangled Banner wasn't always the national anthem. It was "Hail Columbia" Given the fact that nobody can remember it, it must not have been too catchy.
Herbert Hoover signed a bill making it the anthem in 1931. Every 4th of July, it is played in one form or another. Not everybody likes the modern versions, the Jose Feliciano or Pearl Jam versions. During the 1968 World Series, Feliciano sang a bluesy version and people opposed that one too. Rightfully, they say, but there is no limit on adopting a national song to a different style. I think it is OK. Just like the Hendrix version. Xavier Cugat even played a version in his Cuban salsa band. How's that for diversity?
By the way Born in the USA is a protest song, too. Oughta look up the words.
I guess when we own our own radio station and can afford to contribute $10,000 to the firework display, we can play which ever version WE like. For me, it would be traditional. Isn't it great that we live in a free country? The radio is not controlled by the government (yet) and we do not have to listen to it if we don't like it.
I was going to answer pretty much all of your, um, comments, but decided to let them go as with your sense of tradition.
Except for one. I agree that you can not speak for Vietnam Era veterans, or those who have served beyond that era. Or can you even speak for veterans? Without giving too much away - I am the wife of a Bronze Star winning Vietnam Veteran and happen to know quite a few of his fellow buddies. I can guarantee that none of them would have appreciated the Hendrix version of our National Anthem. After 200 + years, some things you just don't change and these guys would get in your face and tell you so. So, don't attempt to speak for other people.
And, lastly, if you had read my comment as precisely as I read yours, you would have seen that indeed, not only did I turn my radio down, I turned it OFF.
-- Edited by DorothyintheRubySlippers at 08:18, 2008-07-09
So, I'm confused. Is it better to change the music, or just play the same john philip sousa each year. Is it OK for a rock station to play rock music for the 4th? Are they doing a good thing by being involved, funding it and playing music, or is it just a wasted effort that nobody cares about? I didn't see anyone saying anything at all nice about it. So if someone pays for a free fireworks show and plays music for you (also free), does that mean something good to enjoy, or are they just bad people for doing it?
I've seen a number of free things in Ark City, from the Cowley band to concerts to fireworks, and nobody seems to like them very much. The only thing I hear is along the lines of how rich and arrogant someone must be to spend the money, kind of like in this blog, and how nobody appreciates them for doing it.
If everybody that showed up had to pay admission to the fireworks, it would have been about $150.00 per head. It cost $12,000 to put it on and none of that came out of tax dollars, grants, or other non-donation funds.
I know first hand that the banks never get anyone saying thanks for their donations. You gotta know that that goes through their minds the next time someone has their hand out begging for money for another donation.
At what point does Mr. Burns just say "____ it, I'm going to Aspen with the money" instead?
Answer me that one Homer. Do they just owe it to you? If so, for what?
I'm dying to know.
How do you really feel about the probably $50,000.00 per year you benefit from with free events through the donations of the banks, radio stations, businesses, newspapers and civic clubs?
Anyone give a ----? Or is it just a waste of money and effort?
For at first having thought everyone was taking this way too seriously, you seem to have become pretty defensive on the part of the businesses and their tax-deductable donations for fireworks or whatever other "charitable" community project they choose to commit to!
I believe I have in past years seen positive response from the community about the 4th of July celebrations printed in the Traveler. And also about many other "number of free things". I feel you are making a generalized statement when you use the word "nobody" in saying people don't like free things around here very much.
No, I do not feel feel I am owed anything by living here that my taxes do not pay for. And I personally make an effort to find the person responsible for any event I attend and thank them for their time and effort. Everything is not about money to me.
And that brings me back to my original reason for starting this topic. I didn't care for the version of the National Anthem played at the fireworks display put on by countless donations from .01 to $10.000 (your fact). I'm sure there were similar displays all across our great country where people from all financial situations had made donations of what they could. And personally, I would put my money ( what I didn't donate ) on the National Anthem version that the majority of those people heard having been the good old version I wish I would have heard.
Hopefully I'm going to move on from this topic now. And one thing I do agree with you on is that it got waaaay out of hand. As it seems most topics of dissention in Arkansas City do anymore.
While I'm waiting for the board to be updated I saw down below that we have a new member- Welcome KACY. And btw- I love Jimi's version and have no problems with them playing it- I actually get chills when I hear it.
Hello! This Marshall Ice, General Manager of 102.5 KACY. First of I'd like to thank the Arkansas City Fraternal Order of Police, Spring Hill Golf Course and all those who tuned in for our broadcast during the fireworks. We appreciate the feed back and will consider it in the future.
Just for clarification here's the play list. Jimi Hendrix: Star Spangled Banner Ray Charles: America the Beautiful Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers: American Girl Simon and Garfunkle: America Neil Young: Rockin' in the Free World Lee Greenwood: God Bless the USA
If I can be of further assistance please feel free to contact me,
Marshall Ice General Manager KACY 102.5 FM, LLC 106 N SUMMIT ST ARKANSAS CITY, KS 67005-2258 620-442-1102 kacyrocks@kacy.fm www.kacy.fm
I will withdraw the nam comment, i was leaning more towards people from that timeframe and later being more likely to enjoy (or at least entertain) the Hendrix version than those who listened to a different style of music. I think it's pretty safe to say that the time period you grow up in does not reflect the time period of music you listen to, so it was faulty logic anyways.
I could have sworn I heard Born in the USA, but it could have been on the radio at some point or another that night, so I'll take your word for it this time...seeing as you are the general manager and all haha.
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"The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter" -- Winston Churchill
Just because someone makes a tax deductible contribution, don't act like they aren't really giving away real money.
It works just like your tax deductions. If they make a donation, they don't get it back from the government. The only thing they get is the ability to say to the IRS they made less money, but only by the amount they gave away.
And you know what? They did make less money. For real. Honest. They gave it away. Cash. To support Ark City.
The only "benefit" they get is not having to pay tax on the money they gave away. They don't actually get anything back from the IRS for doing it.
So, still they gave away about 80% that they would have had after taxes, out of their pockets, just as sure as if they had burned it.
Over the span of a year about $50,000 to $80,000 of donated money goes into things like concerts, Arkalalah, Fireworks and such.
My point being that they really don't have to do this.
Give them a break. Maybe buy Marshall a cold brewsky the next time you see him and tell him that even if you don't like Hendrix and the Star Spangled Banner (which I can't even imagine, but that is me), that you appreciate the efforts. And the bankers too.
Still nobody has said they appreciate it. It's probably too much trouble, although there is plenty of room to complain about songs. I'm really interested in knowing.
Does anyone care one way or the other? Or is it a waste of money and time?
It's just like voting-if you dont vote-dont complain,so, if you dont DONATE dont complain, and if you did donate, you can only complain proportionally as to your donation
I was feeling like Diogenes with his lamp, but not searching for that one honest man, I was searching for that one Ark City resident who would put down the complaining about the music and recognize that there was something good about them going to the trouble of donating money and playing music for the town. The real shame is that it is only one person. Doesn't say a lot for Ark City, does it?
