It pains me deeply to say this, but a former U.S. representative who I grew to loathe during his single term in office is correct to blast Lady Gaga’s recent rendition of the National Anthem.
Gaga substituted the phrase “home of the brave” with “home of the gays.” That drew intense fire from former Rep. Allen West, R-Fla., who called her improvisation “reprehensible.”
Gotta say it: West is right.
Gaga has been a gay-rights activist at least for as long as she’s been in the public eye. I do not begrudge her activism in that regard. Everyone ought to have a cause, and Gaga has chosen to take up the cudgel for the plight of gay people. At some level, I share her concern that gays are treated shabbily by society.
But … there are some things one mustn’t mess with and where I come from the “Star Spangled Banner” is one of those things that must remain true.
West said this on his Facebook page: “Having served in the US Army for 22 years alongside some very brave men and women, I find Lady Gaga’s defiling of our National Anthem reprehensible.” Gaga’s rendition was delivered this past week at a gay pride rally in New York City.
I don’t recall hearing about it when it happened. But it does frost me terribly when I hear of someone twisting lyrics whose meaning borders on sacred to many millions of Americans. I consider the National Anthem to be in that category of lyric.
I don’t care in this instance one bit about the nobility of one’s cause. Leave the “Star Spangled Banner” lyrics alone.