At a 6am spinning class, a short-lived burst of mysterious energy during Kanye West’s “Gold Digger” faded quickly. I thought: What am I doing here at this ungodly hour? Why am I not sleeping? I turned down the tension knob on my bike to a flat road setting and decided to fake my way through the rest of the class.
Then Donna, the instructor, announced that the next song would honor the troops in Iraq. “If they can serve out there in the desert, then you can turn up the tension on your bikes.” Suddenly the studio filled with the sound of the National Anthem, a traditional marching band version with no vocals.
Arguably a spinning class is not the proper context for “The Star-Spangled Banner,” but America is a uniquely flag-happy nation that welcomes any opportunity for patriotism. We dutifully rose from our seats into the hill-climbing position, our legs gallantly spinning. By the end of the anthem, I felt invigorated. Land of the free. Home of the brave. Even in a spinning class, America’s pride manages to reverberate in our hearts.
Later that day, I read an AP article titled “Bush Urges People to Exercise,” which was not nearly as inspiring. “I exercise a lot because it’s good for my mind and it’s good for my soul,” said Bush, a mountain biker. Jesus Christ. What of Bush’s puny mind and his weak soul? During the same interview, Bush added, “A lot of the dietary problems are what people eat. Our obesity problem is not just an exercise problem, but a bad diet.” Good lord, Bush cannot even speak clearly about something as straightforward as our national fatness.
America would be much improved if, whenever Bush opened his mouth, someone blared a recording of “The Star-Spangled Banner” to drown him out. Whatever he is saying, do not look to Bush for guidance, strength, or inspiration. Look instead to that glorious composition that evokes the history, struggles, and triumph of our people. Remember our heritage. Keep it holy.
