Letter to the Editor – Only in the USA

As a boxing enthusiast, I didn't fail to watch the rematch between Hopkins and Taylor in their middleweight championship of the world, live on television.

It was a very exciting boxing fight. Both fighters traded blows that could match the fury of hurricane Katrina. I enjoyed the fight all throut. I imagined myself at the ringside, cheering for Taylor.

But what captivated my interest was during the opening of the game. I think of it otherwise. Uniquely as it is, to me it's a down-to-earth disrespect to the United States of America as the most powerful nation of the world.

The championship fight was opened by the singing of the Star Spangled Banner, the national anthem of the United States of America.

The Star Spangled Banner was sung in a very unusual way, and to my humble opinion, it was unacceptable for a national anthem to be sung that way.

A singer and celebrity, a certain R. Kelly belt out to the crowd on a rock style the Star Spangled Banner and a couple was dancing inside the ring.

In my humble opinion, the Americans are no longer taking the national anthem of their country a song of value and virtue but as an ordinary song to be sung in karaoke bars and ballroom dancing places.

If the most respected and powerful congress of the world, the Congress of the United States of America approves it to be sung that way, so be it.

But por Dios por Santo, I would like to caution the men and women in our Philippine Congress not to allow anybody to downgrade our Philippines National Anthem to be leveled to the music in karaoke bars and ballroom dancing places.

Remember Pinoy ako, Pinoy tayo. Unfortunately, we are also known to be blind imitators.

Salcedo C. Gines
Bliss, Labangon
Cebu City