Went to the Hollywood Bowl last night. As usual we sang the National Anthem accompanied by the Los Angeles Philharmonic. The guest conductor was a Brit, one Bramwell Tovey. He commented on the fact that not only did we do a great job with the Star Spangled Banner, but we cheered and applauded at the end.
In Britain, he says, you are lucky to even find a place where their National Anthem, God Save the Queen, is played.
That says a lot about the differences between the two countries. Britain seems to be losing its heritage, as we are building and confirming ours. Of course, multiculturalism is about, but most emigrants here realize that they are Americans first, and Mexicans, Vietnamese, Canadian, or whatever second. That’s the only way it can work.
If not, why come here at all.
JVH
