Imagine turning on the Super Bowl next year and instead of hearing a pop icon belting out the "Star-Spangled Banner", you hear them sing the beginning lyrics to R. Kelly's "Ignition."
One person, identified as S.R. from Wilmington, N.C., is trying to make that happen.
S.R. states in the petition that he or she would like the Obama administration to "recognize the need for a new national anthem, one that even a decade after creation, is still hot and fresh out the kitchen."
The petition goes on to implore the president to "recognize the evolution of this beautiful country and give us an anthem that better suits the glorious nation we have become."
"We the People" is an online platform created in 2011 by the White House to petition the U.S. government. Anyone can use this platform; all they have to do is create an account on the White House's website, www.whitehouse.gov.
Petitions must start with the sentence "We believe the Obama administration should..." After a petition is written, the author must choose three categories it can be filed under, ranging from topics like economy, energy or job creation. The website then searches for similar petitions in case the author wants to sign an existing petition. If no similar petition exists, the petition is published and it is the author's responsibility to share the link. Petitions become searchable on the website if they reach 150 signatures within 30 days.
"This is a natural extension of American-style democracy in the modern technological time," Michelle Bliss, a political science instructor at the University of Memphis, said. "Anyone can petition for redress of grievances to government, all they have to do is click 'sign here.'"
Bliss said the national anthem is useful for a cultural identity, a kind of continuity passed on from one generation to another.
It could be changed if the song were inspiring and gave a common rallying point, she said, like if the country were experiencing a national trauma, a song that would address the current mood of the citizens would be more relevant than an 80-year-old song.
If Bliss had her choice, she said she would like the country's national anthem to be Lady Gaga's "Born this Way."
Francis Scott Key's "Star-Spangled Banner" became America's national anthem in 1931. Before that, "My Country Tis of Thee" and "Hail Columbia" served as hymns of American officialdom.
"I think that making 'Ignition' the national anthem is a joke," Kevin Ellison, communications major, said. "I think they should make the song 'We are Young' by Fun. our national anthem because of the lyrics 'we burn brighter than the sun.'"
Tim Jeans, an international business major, said he thinks it is stupid to try and change the national anthem, and doesn't understand why people have to make a big fuss of everything.
"Our national anthem needs to be impressive sounding like the Russian national anthem," Rhiannon Dirlam, a foreign language major, said. "Their anthem is very intense with a choir and loud, intense instruments."
Sean Matthews, a biology major, said he thinks our national anthem should be "one big musical about our country's history."
As of 5 p.m. Wednesday, the petition had 5,733 signatures. The goal is to reach 100,000 signatures by April 2. To view or sign the petition and see other petitions, visit https://petitions.whitehouse.gov.
