Bin Laden and the national anthem

For all his fanatical zeal to bring down America, Osama bin Laden did Americans a favor in one tangential way.

He helped us become more patriotic.

Thanks to the terrorist leader who masterminded the 9-11 tragedy, Americans ever since have been more aware of their freedom. Returning soldiers are usually greeted with gratitude and respect, as are cops and firefighters.

But what I also noticed since September 11, 2001 is that more people sing the national anthem at sporting events. More people remove their hats and are unafraid to sing out loud. Maybe it takes things that make us appreciate things.

I have seen the national anthem bring sports fans to tears, but never before 9-11 – unless it was the Olympics. Since then, I’ve seen it happen fairly often.

Some have said in the aftermath of that tragic day that anthems were meaningless at American sports events. I say it’s one of the few times people can feel a sense of security and solidarity. The anthem isn’t sung at most public meetings, concerts, political rallies, award ceremonies or religious services. But at sports functions It promotes both sportsmanship and patriotism. It reminds us that not every nation can gather under such circumstances.

I didn’t write about 9-11 until about a week later. It took that long for me to sort out what I wanted to say. I wrote about people butchering the anthem by forgetting the words or distorting the delivery and that from then on, people would probably sing loud, clear and true. That hasn’t entirely happened. I still see players slouching, bouncing and talking during the anthem, though not as often. I still see people talking and working, too. But mostly I see more patriotism at games than I did before 9-11, even a decade after the fact. Sometimes I even see people singing the words aloud, even if others around them stand silent.

The death of bin Laden is a reminder of the awful grief we felt 10 years ago. Hopefully it will also again remind us that true patriotism should never be outdated. Let the games continue, and may the anthem continue along with them.