National Anthem

While we're talking about Orioles fans yelling "O" during the national anthem ("Stop yelling ‘O' during the national anthem," Readers respond, April 6), in Atlanta, I have heard it sung, "and the home of the Braves," and no one gets bent out of shape over that. But what about the singers of the national anthem? We have seen scratching, tugging and rubbing of various parts of the anatomy. We endure the warbling of those that try to sound like a diva and the shrieking of those who think that they should be able to break all the windows in the surrounding buildings by screeching out the word "FREE-E-E-E-E-E."

I am not a big football fan and certainly not a Baltimore Ravens fan, but I did notice, during both playoff and Super Bowl performances, how Ray Lewis would have his hand over his heart and sing along with the national anthem. He was also, unashamedly, crying. From reading, I understand Mr. Lewis is deeply religious. I can't help but think that Mr. Lewis is very thankful that he was born and raised in the greatest country in the world, was able to attend free public schools, and excel at his chosen line of work!

Oh Say Can You See …half a million dollars? A rare first edition of the sheet music for "The Star-Spangled Banner" sold for $506,500 at Christie's Auction House in New York Friday, doubling pre-auction estimates of its value and setting a world auction record for sheet music. The two-page piece of sheet music, published by a Baltimore printer in 1814, was sold to a private U.S. collector who wishes to remain anonymous, Christie's spokeswoman Sung-Hee Park said. It is one of only 11 copies of that first printing known to exist, and apparently remains the only one in private hands.

In response to Charles Hilton's talk of the yelling "O" during the national anthem ("Stop yelling ‘O' during the national anthem" Readers respond, April 6)I can not say how disgraced I am to have someone in Baltimore feeling this way. The "O" is a sign of city-wide pride. The words to the anthem are not changed or altered to disrespect the nation. I will offer to pay Mr. Hilton's gas so he can pack up and leave our fine city if he does not like what we are about. Finally I would like to remind everyone that we wrote the song here in Baltimore, so why should we not be allowed to show our city pride?

March Madness is over just in time for baseball to fill the sports void, and like most Oriole fans, I fluctuate between cynicism and cautious optimism. In fact, the only reason I even bother to go to Oriole Park is because I get two free tickets every year from my employer. And it doesn't surprise me how many people go for the same reason, which speaks volumes about the cost of attending sporting events. For me, it's not just about the price. Winning would be nice and would incline me to attend more, but I have a bad taste in my mouth over sports in general.

WASHINGTON -- President Bush said yesterday that "The Star-Spangled Banner" should be sung in English and that the national anthem would not hold the same value when sung in Spanish. "I think the national anthem ought to be sung in English," Bush said in response to a question at a Rose Garden news conference. "People who want to be a citizen of this country ought to learn English, and they ought to learn to sing the national anthem in English." The president's remarks come as a Spanish-language pop version of "The Star-Spangled Banner" is being circulated to Spanish-language radio stations, with proceeds from the single "Nuestro Himno" supporting national marches for immigration reform that could lead to citizenship for millions of illegal immigrants in the United States.

Friday the Aberdeen IronBirds will kick off their 10th season in high style, with a home-field contest at Ripken Stadium against the visiting Hudson Valley Renegades. The match-up's first pitch is slated to be thrown at 7:35 p.m., with the stadium's gate opening at 6 p.m. Before the game gets under way though, the IronBirds' front office has a few events planned for the hometown faithful. Budding country music star Brett Eldredge, of Atlantic Records, is set to sing the national anthem just prior to the game's beginning, and will perform God Bless America during the seventh-inning stretch.

Was I the only one to take offense at the disgraceful rendition of The Star Spangled Banner at the Superbowl? Above and beyond the fact that Christina Aguilera flubbed the lyrics was her embarrassingly tasteless presentation of our national anthem to millions of people around the world. If we are determined to come across as a country of loud, ignorant barbarians, she does the job. Mary Lou Wickham, Glen Arm

The gang at Mission BBQ is inviting the public to have lunch with a group of World War II veterans visting from California. You'll find no sunshine patriots at Mission BBQ , these guys stick to their mission of honoring Americans in uniform every day. So, go, and get there at noon for the daily singing of the National Anthem, and stay for the good barbecue and a chat with the vets.

Christina Aguilera might not be looking for redemption after she botched the National Anthem on Super Bowl Sunday. But if she is, she should consider giving it another try here in Baltimore. Hear us out, Christina. The Brooklyn Cyclones, a minor-league affiliate of the Mets, have offered Aguilera an opportunity to sing the National Anthem at one of their games this summer, but the Grammy Award winning singer deserves better than that. That's where Baltimore comes in. Christina, we know you " got caught up in the moment " as you said Monday, and that you're capable of getting this right.