by Sherry Umlah<\/p>\n
Throughout the world, people unite to collectively sing their nation\u2019s anthem: a song that often tells the story of a country\u2019s history, traditions, cultural beliefs and the values shared by its people. A nation\u2019s anthem serves as an educational tool for significant historical and cultural events, unites its people through pride and patriotism, and is often a source of controversy as societies long for national attachment and a sense of belonging.<\/p>\n
Highlighting their growth through historical events, or expressing their appreciation for religious rights and cultural freedoms, the lyrics of anthems educate a nation\u2019s people about their country\u2019s core values and identity. As explained in the Journal for the Theory of Social Behaviour, \u201cmost national anthems contain lyrics that store collective memory of the past, thus creating knowledge of the past\u201d (Liao, Zhang, and Zhang 106). For example, the lyrics of \u201cThe Star Spangled Banner,\u201d an anthem with which Americans are most familiar, were written by poet Francis Scott Key who witnessed the British bombing of Fort McHenry in Baltimore during the War of 1812 (\u201cAmerica\u2019s Song\u201d). It was during this historical event that Key, inspired by an American flag waving during the battle, wrote the following words:<\/p>\n
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight<\/em>
\n O\u2019er the ramparts we watch\u2019d were so gallantly streaming?<\/em>
\n And the rocket\u2019s red glare, the bombs bursting in air,<\/em>
\n Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there (\u201cThe Star-Spangled Banner\u201d).<\/em><\/p>\n