What are your thoughts on the third verse of the national anthem?

As the saying goes, you learn something new every day. Don't be ashamed that you learned more about the National Anthem at age 21...it only took me 61 years to gain this knowledge...thanks to you. ;-) As a naturally curious person, I examined several articles on the web to learn more. The Wikipedia entry was particularly useful and enlightening: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Star-Spangled_Banner

As for my thoughts, it is what it is. The poem was written long ago, and, as someone else already mentioned, the world and this country was a different place then. Thank you very much for the post.

I assume you specifically mean the "No refuge could save the hireling and slave" phrase. My understanding is that the British offered slaves their freedom to fight against the rebellious upstart nation. Francis Scott Key was a slaveowner himself, so I don't surmise he wished doom on them. As far as anthem goes, it's mine and I'll embrace the goodness of it and the freedoms it represents to shore up all that needs to be strengthened (and that a lot)

I remember fifth grade or so that there were more verses. Could not have told you a single word of them by the sixth grade. I read an article about it last night. Key was a slave owner, anti-abolitionist, had published something about Africans being an inferior race, and maybe a bit gleeful about the slaves the British were giving their freedom to if the fought against the United States getting killed. He thought they were traitors. How you could think something you considered inferior and property and not real men traitors I don't know. I remember decades ago some congressman or senator had a move to change the anthem to America the Beautiful. I think it was because the Star Spangled Banner is kind of a clunky song or maybe because it's about a battle, not the third verse.. It's only been the anthem since 1931? That surprised me too. I don't know. It's odd mentioning the slave right before the land of the free. If it were right now and we were picking a national anthem I would not want our current one. But, I really like the verse we all sing. If it was changed to America the Beautiful I would not be mad but I also don't think I would be for it. I'd be like, well ok. Maybe Lee Greenwoods Proud to be an American . That's what they played every day at reveille and retreat when I was in the 3ID. Everyone went to Attention when it was played at events. If it was changed back then it probably would have been welcomed. Lot easier and fun to sing. It's a tough one. I can imagine the howls and the horrible things that would be said if a serious effort were made to change. Mostly by people who don't know all the words of the first verse. But, maybe it does take big things to change and make America a better place. It would be a powerful message that we want to admit our past mistakes and really make America the Home of the Free with equality for all.