As Major League Baseball begins its delayed season opening on April 7, let’s add another tradition to America’s treasured pastime — reciting the First Amendment before the game begins.
For decades, we solemnly rise as the public address announcer intones, “Ladies and gentlemen, please join us as we sing ‘The Star-Spangled Banner.’” Or in some cases, our attention is drawn to an opera star or pop singer who comes on the field to perform the national anthem, as we all mouth the words while waiting to see how high the last few notes will be belted out.
This ritual can be more than a hallowed tradition. It can speak to our pride as Americans, in “the land of the free and the home of the brave.” Reciting a mere 45 words right before — “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances” — would provide more meaning to this song.
Many people have sung it for years without any real appreciation for its significance in our country’s historic fight to maintain vital constitutional freedoms, which remain the gold standard for the world. In recent weeks, we have witnessed the clampdown of free speech and press by Russia’s Vladimir Putin with understandable horror, reminding us of the red line that is required to have democracy prevail over autocracy.
Reciting the First Amendment before “The Star-Spangled Banner” can create a greater sense of unity in our highly polarized country, too, since it transcends political party affiliation or leanings. That’s because the First Amendment serves all Americans and as such, should be celebrated before each game by everyone. It also would remind us that if players and coaches decide to kneel in protest when the national anthem is played, they are doing so in reverence to free speech protections that enable them to express themselves without fear of any government reprisals.
And for those who think the words will be too difficult to remember without an accompanying tune, it’s easy to flash them on the stadium Jumbotron — problem solved.
At a time when government prohibitions on what can be read in classrooms seems to be re-emerging, and as the safety of journalists increasingly is being threatened, beginning each MLB game with a recital of the First Amendment would represent a powerful affirmation, in the stands and among TV viewers, of our core constitutional values.
It would represent the perfect prelude to singing “The Star-Spangled Banner,” and no doubt would pump up the crowd even more as part of anticipating the two words that everyone always waits for with great anticipation — Play Ball!
