But this mystery deepened when I happened to see a movie and read the national anthem recently.
The movie was The monster that challenged the world. It might seem pretty funny why I was watching such a movie on TNT mystery night. The main reason was the word "world". I have always loved Johnny Chacko and his Gaint Robot, and was expecting to see something similar. The Robot flies all over the world in its adventures. All i saw in the movie was a slimy creature terrorizing a few people living in a naval base next to a river. It ventured out of the river only once and left me puzzling as to how exactly it challenged the world!?
I got a chance to read the "Stars and Stripes Forever" which is the national song
which i have seen even Bill Clinton singing with a hand on his heart. I have
heard several songs of various countries which obviously extol the virtues of
their country and its symbols like the flag etc. But it was
the first national song which takes chauvinism to a new dimension. The words
say that stars and stripes is the best flag, all the other flags are not good
and its the flag representing freedom. I was very surprised on how such
a song could have ever been chosen as the national song !! It might have been
very appropriate when it was a cry against the british but the lines do sound
a little strange now. I would gladly stand corrected if anyone finds/thinks
the following lines have a different interpretation -
Other nations may deem their flags the best
And cheer them with fervid elation,
But the flag of the North and South and West
Is the flag of flags, the flag of Freedom's nation.