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.
