The words on this discarded
beer can are familiar. “Land of the Free” is proudly proclaimed, along with
“Home of the Brave” and “Indivisible Since 1776.” Indivisible? Well, the attempt
to divide was certainly made in a bloody conflict that dragged on for years,
but in the end the political entity known as the Union held.
Near the top of this
recyclable (but no returnable; was it brought to Michigan from another state?)
some of the words of the national anthem appear. Only the first few lines, and
even those are incomplete, as the lines were made to arc upwards toward the
pull tab, cutting off all but “Oh say can ... proudly”/”we hailed at the ...
Whose broad”/with two remaining lines appearing in full, ending with the words
“so gallantly streaming?”
Against a red background at
the bottom of the can we may read “LIBERTY & JUSTICE FOR ALL.”
I found this beer can at the
side of one of my favorite walking roads, presumably thrown from the window of
a passing car or truck.
Is littering less
objectionable if an empty can is emblazoned with patriotic sentiments? Are
customers for this product more patriotic than drinkers of Canadian beer? Is
the company more patriotic for using the national anthem to promote and market
its product? The Budweiser company calls this beer “America.”
Respect. Disrespect. National
symbols. I’m thinking about it all.
