DownloadDec. 1, 2008 issue
Goshen draws criticism for not playing anthem
By Celeste Kennel-Shank Mennonite Weekly ReviewPage:
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Goshen (Ind.) College will have further discussion on its tradition of praying instead of playing the national anthem before sports events after a conservative radio talk show host with an audience of 4 million criticized the practice.
“For us at Goshen College, the national anthem issue has provided the opportunity to discuss one expression of being faithful to the lordship of Christ,” President James Brenneman said in a statement Nov. 20.
“Mennonites from our inception have struggled with being caught in the debate of being in this world not of the world, loyalty to Christ and loyalty to the homeland, of freedom of worship and assimilation to a broader culture. We believe there will be continuing conversations on ways to show love of country and ways to live out our faith as part of an historic peace church.
“We will be exploring avenues for that further conversation while continuing to discuss issues more critical to the future of Goshen College and Mennonite Church USA.”
The controversy began when an Elkhart resident who attended a women’s basketball game at Goshen Nov. 1 contacted Tim Demant, Goshen athletic director, wondering why the anthem had not been played before the game. After Demant explained the college’s position, the man e-mailed again to say he opposed the policy and planned to send an e-mail sharing his criticism to media outlets, including national talk shows.
On his New York-based The Mike Gallagher Show, eighth in the nation in audience size, Gallagher criticized Goshen in a Nov. 7 broadcast, then invited Bill Born, dean of students, to speak on the show Nov. 10.
In that broadcast, Gallagher said he appreciated “the Christian nature of the Mennonite church,” but was concerned about whether Goshen was teaching against war in U.S. history.
“How would any student get an honest assessment of war at the Goshen College environment?” Gallagher said.
Born responded that Goshen teaches the U.S. history from a factual basis.
“We address it as honestly and forthrightly as we can given the facts of our history as a nation,” Born said.
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Comments
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What surprises me is not that Goshen College doesn't play the anthem at games, but that many other Mennonite colleges (including Bethel College in Newton) do.
I think it is appropriate to ask schools like Bethel how they can justify this with the teachings of Christ.
Here are the lyrics of the 4th verse of the song (rarely sung except at formal ocassions). I would ask what business would any Mennonite follower of Christ have in singing or even standing for this song when it is played...
From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Star-Spangled_Banner
"O! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand Between their loved home and the war's desolation! Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation. Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just, And this be our motto: 'In God is our trust.' And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
I'm sorry but those lyrics are blasphemous. In my opinion, any "Mennonite" college that celebrates our nation's history of war and militarism with this song, has lost its way and its Mennonite identity.
I'm proud of Goshen College for standing firm in following its conviction in this way.
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Here's a blog post I wrote in response to this story...
http://jmbzine.com/2008/11/23/praise-for-goshen-college-but-saddened-to-hear-of-other-mennonite-colleges-selling-out/
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Good for Goshen. There's probably room for debate among Mennonites on the question of the anthem (though I'm against it, myself), but it's irritating to see this Gallagher fellow beat up on a community he'd probably never heard of before this, just to have something to get his audience upset.
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I agree with Jeremy Yoder. Invite Gallagher to the Goshen campus. Question him about how much he knows about Goshen, or Mennonites or peace theology.
Then invite all those who have contacted Goshen by email or letter or phone call to "Come and see"--very Jesus like!!
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If the national anthem is not sung for reasons stated, is it not inconsistent to fly the US flag? Further, for what reason does GC fly the UN flag? That makes no sense to me.
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If Goshen flies the UN flag, it makes perfect sense to me. "For Gpd so loved the world . . ."
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Therefore it makes perfect sense to me that all Mennonite Churches should fly the UN flag as a message to everyone that God so loved the world.
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