This familiar anthem The Star Spangled Banner is America’s long-standing unchanging tradition that plays at each sporting event nationwide, school events, assemblies, Independence Day events, etc. When the U.S entered World War 1 a man named Francis Scott Key gave this poem he wrote to his brother, who noted that key’s poem fit the melody of The Anacreontic Song. It started out playing in the World Series game in 1918, where from that point in time it has played all sporting events since then. The Star Spangled banner exemplifies how traditions, including anthems, origin narratives, as well as symbols meet the need of a national group, also known as an invented tradition. Even if it’s for just a moment of time, regardless of class, race, gender, …show more content…
Some may argue that although it is a tradition it certainly does not mean required, while others would say people do it each day, so no big deal why can’t they just say it to keep everyone pleased. Does it shape them into being patriotic if it is just a daily routine that they are “supposed” to? Well to answer those questions if they feel forced to do these traditions they don’t comprehend it doesn’t bring out happiness. Then why do they partake in their country’s traditions if they don’t know or care about what it means to create a national identity? As soon as people stop singing their anthems, stop saying their morning pledges, or stop attending rituals traditions end then Nation’s power downfalls. Chapter three of Gendering Paradoxes discusses examples of traditions in depth, such as celebrating the Kings birthday or the morning assembly. In the first paragraph of chapter 3 performing patriotism Adely speaks to the staff at the school, as they discuss about celebrations for the Kings birthday the secretary asks a solid question. “All the girls? Can’t we send some of them out? Not all of them will be willing to go anyway. ” (Adely 57). She brings up an excellent point about how some of the girls would make up excuses for instance their parents wouldn’t allow them to participate. It sounds as though practicing these traditions is by force “At Al-Khatwa girls were engaged in rituals and …show more content…
The state would be softer with kids than when they are older. There are plenty of kids who have no idea what they are doing, they do it to keep their parents along with authority peaceful. They could pray, or wear the clothes, attend the morning assembly, dance and perform without knowing what any of it means. There is a high possibility that that’s the case. For example, yes the hijabs are a choice when they are younger, but “In this city it would be difficult to remain an unveiled woman in the long run” (Adely 74). The clothing symbolizes a vital part of their culture no disagreement on that, except traditions change. This specific tradition might have been less important when these girls are young, however as time passes it becomes more important to them if they wear it or not. Chapter two discusses culture more in depth. An important lesson to grasp is that people learn culture through norms, values, symbols, as well as mental maps of reality (Guest). It is not permissible to assume these girls know what they are doing right away, being taught is different from understanding. A student can sit in class all day learning about their country’s history, little do they learn about how they can relate what they learned to their own lives. As mentioned before the school, parents, and the state enforces the students to