Recently I saw a piece on TV. They were asking people to sing our National Anthem “The Star Spangled Banner.” No one knew the words and what was worse they made up words if they didn’t know them…some just hummed. I guess I find humming less offensive than making up words.
I cannot remember when I learned that song. Probably in the first grade. I must have been paying attention because I still remember the words. In my grade school days..we did “stuff” like that, sang a song over and over until we knew the words by heart, learned every word to the Pledge of Allegiance too and stood up to say it with our hand over our heart. We prayed too..before lunch. I will be the first to admit that I prayed a lot in school..(oh please let me pass that test.)
Seems to me that things are getting all messed up. We don’t speak the same language anymore, some people won’t get their butts out of their lawn chair for the flags in a parade..where or what went wrong that we stopped being proud of being American? Did we get too busy? Or are we just lazy..too lazy to teach our kids the words to “The Star Spangled Banner?”
I had a foreigner try to scam me yesterday morning.
I answered the freaking phone..In broken English she said “Heddoo this is Saffrickia I ams a computer especialist and the computer in ya home is havin problems updating. I am a tranned specialist and can fix it over the phone.” R.E.A.L.L.Y. She went on to say that she was qualified to fix computers..and if I didn’t let her fix my computer it was going to crash. R.E.A.L.L.Y. I said “My computer updated just fine this morning and my husband is a computer genius.” She said Tanks and I said “Goodbye..go ahead and try to scam someone else because it ain’t workin here sweetie.”
I can see where an elderly person might fall for this scam. No doubt they want your credit card number over the phone to do the repairs.
I am happy that I am “with it” enough to recognize a scam artist. Happy that I can still remember the words to “The Star Spangled Banner” I maybe tone deaf, but I can still sing each and every word. AND if I am at that parade I will be standing for the first bunch of flags.
Happy 4th of July! :)
I had much the same experience with someone calling about my computer and I handled it much the same way you did and invited the person to never call me again.
ReplyDeleteI agree totally. I love when those people call and say their name is something like Dakota, gives me a chuckle. I'm also glad that my mother-in-law no longer answers the phone if she doesn't recognize the number. I can see her getting scammed (and she doesn't even own a computer...).
ReplyDeleteI love my country and respect my flag and taught my children the same.
Happy 4th of July!
I had to sing the song while I finished reading your post. I have forgotten a couple of the words, but I know most of it still. We were taught differently back then, weren't we? It truly is a different world today. Is it because the young people have never known anything else and have forgotten how fortunate we are? Probably. Happy Independence Day to you and yours! :-)
ReplyDeleteSame to you! Happy fourth, and I sure agree with you.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree. Happy Fourth!
ReplyDeleteBasically we have stopped answering the phone. We don't have call display, and figure if someone actually wants to speak to us, they'll leave a message. The scammers and telemarketers generally don't leave messages.
ReplyDeleteHappy July Fourth!
You are so right! I know that school kids really don't have learn the anthem. I, like you, had to memorize every word, and it stayed with me. The other night I was watching a rerun of 60 minutes with an interview of David McCullough, and he said something which I've been saying for years. Kids these days do not know the geography of our country. So sad... a generation or more with no knowledge of this important subject. But they sure know how to up/download their junk and every technological feat. I'll get off my soapbox now.
ReplyDeleteHave a happy fourth!
Peace,
Muff
Enjoy the day!
ReplyDeleteWe get those scams over here too.
I get very discouraged by the shift in Patriotism.... but then, things have changed and maybe we all need to revisit what our Country is all about!
ReplyDeleteAs for scam artists... I have seen my dad get scammed. He was a very bright guy, but dementia and paranoia have given him a different outlook on things. It is sad to see him fall for the person on the phone. Luckily, we caught one scam and hopefully there won't be another!
Always bothers me when people screw up the national anthem. It is still a source of pride for me.
ReplyDeleteI'm right there with you, standing for the flag and singing the anthem and NOT getting scammed. In fact I sang the National Anthem just last night at the soccer match, with a giant flag "waving" on the field and bombs bursting in air.
ReplyDeleteHappy 4th to you!
Happy fourth of July to you.
ReplyDeleteThere are changes in society. We were changes in society. Grandpa wasn't happy with me. Yes, things could be better. Yes some people show no manners whatsoever. I think it has always been that way. I still think Our two countries are still
the of the best in the world!
My singing may embarrass you but I will sing. I will stand with my hand over my heart and respect the flag for the wonderful things it stands for...may it stand for all those things again one day.
ReplyDeleteHope you have had a wonderful day. RAIN and thunder here all day!
ReplyDeleteME TOO! ME TOO! I always stand and put my hand over my heart. I so agree that our country has become lazy not caring if things of patriotism are respected anymore. It is very sad!
ReplyDeleteLinda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
Yes, it is a different world. We have become complacent and lazy and too darn greedy. Always chasing the almighty dollar and forgetting about things that really matter like family and country. I will take another crisis to unite us, what a shame. But I must add that our government has changed as well and I have lost so much respect for many of our "leaders", another shame.
ReplyDeleteWhat Ryker said.
ReplyDeleteThat, and it is no longer considered 'in good taste' to 'be American'. I wish all those people would go somewhere else, but nowhere else would have them!
Hope you all have a blessed weekend, Connie! ♥