Christian College Lifts Ban on National Anthem

It has been 116 years since The Star-Spangled Banner has been played at Goshen College. But this year, as the Christian college lifts ban on national anthem, an instrumental version of the song will be played before many sporting events in the campus. This move, of course, was met by mixed reactions by the students of the small Christian school.

The national anthem was banned in the first place because it clearly emphasized love for country above love for God. It’s implied message of using war and military to defend the nation is against the teachings of Christianity. However, with the urging of some concerned parents and the public, the Christian college  lifts ban on national anthem. They also lifted the ban in order to make the school less discriminatory and more welcoming of others who do not share their root faith.

Many current students of the school feel that this is not a good move. A social networking group was immediately formed to urge the school to keep the old policy. But the school is going to keep the policy in place until it is reviewed again by summer of next year. According to administrators, this policy will be helpful for the school athletes since they have been the ones who usually have been criticized for  not playing the national anthem before their games.

Many people have been opposed to this change but there are some who feel that playing the instrumental version of the song is an acceptable compromise. This way, people will not be outright hearing the non-pacifist lyrics of the national anthem.

“Source: USA Today”