Apparently, the General Assembly won't have enough to do in the coming session, so Republican state Sen. Vaneta Becker of Evansville is helping fill the void. A constituent told her of being upset over the "disrespectful" changing of words in the singing of "The Star-Spangled Banner"at a school program. Now Becker has introduced a bill proposing that the state set standards for singing and playing the national anthem. I find myself in rare agreement with the ACLU:
The bill probably doesn't violate the Constitution, but ACLU of Indiana lawyer Kenneth Falk says he doesn't know why legislators would want to specify how any song should be sung.
Wonder what the standards for playing the anthem might be. No tubas! The key of C is forbidden! Becker says her bill is aimed only at those who "make intentional changes" in the anthem, not those who sing it off-key. Whew. I think I just escaped felony charges.
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If I were to add one amendment to the US Constitution, I'm not at all sure how it would be worded, but the gist of it would be to prohibit "Miss Grundy-ism".
Trial lawyers know that "De minimis non curat lex" - the law does not concern itself with trifles - but for some reason, legislators at all levels seem to spend most of their time trying to settle trivial matters. C. Northcote Parkinson said, "Men enter local politics solely as a result of being unhappily married"; a lot of these trivial matters sure sound like guys are trying to get an unpleasant woman off their back.