Singing an anthem prior to a sporting event is a statement about community and should be a civilizing activity. It should serve as a statement that, although we are adversaries on the field, we hold certain things in common. It should be a statement that says we will abide by the rules and respect the outcome, regardless of how it falls.

It is a terrible shame that the SSB is seen as a statement of nationalism in its most negative sense - self-congratulatory, ethno-centric, avericious, etc. Nationalism should not have to be equated with militarism. We should be able to acknowledge and celebrate what we have in common without demeaning or diminishing those who are not us.

Unfortunately, for a relatively young country we have a lot of history to live down. Fortunately, most of us are not afraid to see our failures cited in the same history books with our great achievements.

"Oh say, does that Star Spangled Banner yet wave o'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?" - It is a hard song to sing; it's even harder to live up to.