Is the Star Spangled Banner the best choice for our National Anthem?

No. The Banner is a perfect song for America. It ASKS us if we are still keeping ourselves free. Other anthems speak of great glory, great struggles, or how they are a great people. This sugar coating, like America the Beautiful, is not what our America is about. Francis Scott Key didn't know if America would survive that night when he penned what became our anthem. We never know, even today, if America will be here tomorrow. The fascist triators tried to break down our door just 6 months ago, just like they tried in 1934. I think that it is hard to sing is a GOOD thing. Dictatorships are easy, you just do what your told. Freedom is never easy and it never will be. Therefore I say it's the perfect anthem because we need to keep asking ourselves if our Star Spangled Banner still waves!!

I'll have to agree with on that point America The Beautiful speaks of our bounteous land and it's natural attributes, a God blessed land. It asks for the peace to be found in brotherhood. It speaks of the strife that served as its birthing pains, and the strife we still endure but are still a place of freedom and light. The same light that brought our ancestors to its shores. and the hopes for its future.

https://genius.com/Katharine-lee-bates-america-the-beautiful-lyrics

Yes, full stop.

I think it is dated and I wouldn't mind an updated anthem.

Oh HELL YES!!!

I agree with you on America the Beautiful and, as a matter of personal opinion, I don't think anyone could top Kate Smith's voice while singing it.

I am almost 100% positive that the Star Spangled Banner is *not* the absolute best choice for our National Anthem. Because BEST is a hard task to accomplish. And to TRULY be the best, it must not only be better than every choice CURRENTLY available, it must be better than anything previously available, as well as songs not even created yet. I can say with relative surety that somewhere, someWHEN, there is a better option.

I just don't know what that option is. And no, America the Beautiful, is not that option.

In today's political, racial, and anti-everything climate, the answer is YES. "America," God Bless The U.S.A and "God Bless America" have the word "God" in it. Yankee Doodle is anti-equality with the following line..."As rich as Squire David". Might I suggest "This Is America" Song by Donald Glover. I highlights what the rest of the world thinks of the US.