Readers respond to last week’s Feedback Friday topic, which was:
Maryland’s State Song
Do you agree with the elimination of “Maryland, My Maryland” from the state’s cannon?
Do you have a suggestion for an unofficial state song?
Here’s what you said:
If we get rid of history, we are doomed to repeat it!
Susan Engle, Edgewater
I am opposed to eliminating the song. It's our history, don't cancel it. It's tradition, don't cancel it. Stop canceling our history!
Carla Clemons, Annapolis
I do not agree with the elimination of the State song.
Dana Strotman, Edgewater
Get rid of Maryland, My Maryland as state song.
Catherine Stirling, Annapolis
We this is just another way to erase history tearing down statues does not change history nor do changing songs.
Edward Stratton, Severn
The state song is just fine. Leave it alone.
Nancy Callahan, Annapolis
You cannot change history so best to know history and learn from it. Our Maryland state song (and monuments etc.) has meaning to many and should not be changed at the whim of a few. Anything can be offensive to anyone so where does it stop? Our country has come so far from civil war days that we elected a black president, President Obama. Apparently that bit of history is ignored as there is now a big push to say we are a racist country! All citizens need to push back against this narrative as we know that the vast majority of us treat our fellow citizens with equality and respect.
Julia Simpson-Jones, Edgewater
I am so over all of this nonsense. I couldn't care less what our state song is, and I'm guessing many others feel the same, yet our lawmakers have been spending countless hours arguing over this for over a decade now, instead of focusing on things that are actually important to the state. Seriously, who cares?! Make the Maryland state song "The Thong Song" for all I care, Sisqo was from Baltimore! There you go, it's perfect! But seriously, don't you guys have more important things to focus on? Awesome usage of our tax dollars and resources guys. Really, top notch!
It would seem that people nowadays are more concerned with "being the most woke," than being the most productive. Since everything is apparently racist now, incidences of ACTUAL racism are starting to look like a joke. No one can seem to tell the difference anymore, and I feel horrible for the people who have been victims of true racism, because they're never going to be taken as seriously when you have everyone consistently crying wolf.
Makes me wonder which overpaid white lawmaker is going to tell us which "racist" thing we should all "feel offended by" next though. They're probably going to tell us we should get rid of all trees because they're reminiscent of lynching's, like that one high school in Oregon is arguing about currently with their Evergreen Tree mascot. Yup. That's where we're at guys! People are now offended by trees. God help us.
Talia Grover, Annapolis
Here's my candidate for the new state song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rbns0vkIt30
Jeff Holland, Annapolis
People everywhere are becoming overly sensitive about anything they find they can wine about. It's getting boring--and so are they. Acknowledge history for what it is and was. Laugh about it. Cry about it. Then get on with making the future great!
Jim Shaffer, Annapolis
ABSOLUTELY MAINTAIN AND RETAIN THE STATE SONG MARYLAND,MY MARYLAND.......HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE IS EXACTLY WHY IT HAS BEEN THE STATE SONG FOR ALL THESE YEARS ....
CANCEL THE CANCEL CULTURE..
WE THE PEOPLE OF MARYLAND
Gerard Hall, Annapolis
Absolutely agree with getting rid of it. And for those who oppose getting rid of it--I doubt any of them even know the words, so no loss.
Peggy Young, Chester
Many things today, not just state songs, reflect a different time and culture. I hope that when authorities eliminate things that have stood for hundreds of years, great thought goes into a replacement. Emotions need to settle so that replacements do not erase history and are modernized to reflect progress.
Donaileen Dondero, Edgewater
Stop trying to erase or delete history. No one wants to eliminate references to the Holocaust! Wake up you idiots! You serve the food of the people and not every damn special inters eat group!
Thomas Meyer, Annapolis
Leave the song just the way it is.
Anthony Parkinson
Please keep the song.
Kimberly Herman, Crownsville
Drop it and replace.
Al DiCenso, Easton
I would like to see the lines that are offensive rewritten and modernized but would like to retain the song somehow.
K. Magruder, Centreville
Drop the song, it is borderline racist and definitely creepy. It's time that we remove distasteful reminders of the civil war. The lyrics in this song are not something we want to associate with the good people that live in this state. I am a lifelong Marylander and this song does not represent me.
Joseph Cox, Annapolis
I agree with removing Maryland, My Maryland and suggest a contest for a new song.
Leslie Ferrari, Bowie
Yes! Maryland My Maryland should be removed as our State Song. I am in favor of a committee to review potential replacements, including new songs by state residents.
Mark Hildebrand, Annapolis
Please keep the Maryland Song. please.
Marilyn Liebrenz, Arnold
I think people can find fault with anything. History that you don't like just change it. It is the same with our National Anthem ,Pledge of Allegiance, Statues and even the Constitution of the United States. Our history was not always good but you need to learn from it. Now it is our state song. I have sang this song and never thought about it being a Southern Sympathizer song. Again nothing is sacred.
Donna Sherlock, Annapolis
I am sick and tired of everybody changing history. I feel really bad for the children growing up today who will not hear the truth about what went on in the world before they were born.
Kay Shultz, Stevensville
Leave as is!
Garrett Jones, Stevensville
Leave the state song alone.
John Blauvelt, Arnold
I do not believe in wiping out our Maryland History. I do believe that changes need to be made during these times living in our United States for equality and unity. I do not believe that erasing Maryland history will change or improve any of that.
Kevin Schenk, Jessup
This madness needs to stop. Letting a handful of disingenuous people direct policy is insane. Hogan should think long and hard of what he is about to do. This will continue until someone stands up to them and say enough is enough. Look at the destruction they are having on our neighborhood and country. We need to build up not tear down.
Tom Miller, Easton
I totally agree with not having this as a state song but would be supportive of someone writing new lyrics so the melody could continue.
Al Todd, Annapolis
Why do so many people think that in order to advance our thinking we must destroy every bit of our history? Bad actions were part of our history and pretending they did not happen is foolish. We do learn from our mistakes, if we know what they were. Remembering and knowing why the mistakes were made can help us to understand what was wrong and will help us not to repeat those mistakes. The song is history not praise.
Carol Wilson, Annapolis
Yes. replace the song! I have lived here for 60 years and never liked it. It is not about Maryland. It is about war.
Pat Burt, Annapolis
We need at least a revision of the words in the song, if not a new song.
Cathy Sewell, Trappe
While I don't like all the verses, the first verse is fine.
Karen Sutter, Grasonville
You do not have the authority to erase history. This is exactly what you would be doing by "deleting" our states song. I implore you to not entertain irrational ideologies from leftists. Our country has already succeeded in taking down numerous historical statues in the name of "equity" or "tolerance." The issue is, when confronted to specifically elaborate on the context of their argument, they scream "racist" feeling cornered in an argument they know they will lose. Leave Maryland as it is and let these extreme leftists not be afforded first class service at the expense of our entire state. Stand up for what is right and withhold your duties as a public servant.
Annaliese Toolan-Miller, Arnold
No, I do not agree with removing the state song, Maryland, My Maryland. It’s sad that these are the things people worry about today. The poem was written in 1861. It was a different time for our country. Parts of Maryland supported the Confederacy, it’s part of our history, and that can’t be erased. Unless that’s the goal.
Laura Heatherly-Reiss, Stevensville
Maryland my Maryland should absolutely be kept as the State song!
S. Bailey, Annapolis
I do not agree with eliminating “Maryland My Maryland” from the state cannon. It is my view that people that want to do this are interpreting the lyrics in the song based on current social definitions which differ from when the lyrics were written.
While it may be true that current social values differ greatly from those of the past, I think we should try to learn from the past. I agree that many social practices of the past are by the standards of today considered to unjust and as such some believe they should be shunned and products of those standards should be destroyed.
If we turn our back on our history – including the worst of our history – and destroy the products of those times, are we not blinding ourselves to the past? If that is so, how can we learn and improve ourselves? Does the elimination of the Maryland My Maryland lyrics that some find objectionable really improve us culturally or does it just appease some while angering others?
The social history of our country has some ugly periods that can’t be denied. However, elimination of the historical existence of those times does nothing to advance and improve our country. Instead, hiding and ignoring our past flaws only makes us prone to repeat our mistakes.
If there are lyrics in the state song Maryland My Maryland that are objectionable, perhaps it would be better to learn from them then hide from them via elimination of the song. Perhaps it would be a good idea to attempt to understand the viewpoints and social environment of the time the lyrics were written rather than conclude a meaning using the standards of current time to interpret what the lyricist had intended to say.
Rick Schimpf, Pasadena
It is inappropriate to retain these secessionist lyrics as an official symbol of the State of Maryland. They will still exist; nothing we do today can erase them. They are part of our history, but they don't merit a place of honor that an official state symbol conveys.
Pete Lesher, Easton
Do not want to change the state song. We are eventually going to erase all of our history by "removing" things that people don't agree with!
Brenda Groves, Davidsonville
The cancel culture has gone too far. It needs to stop. It was the history of the time. Let's not erase it!
Kevin Cox, Pasadena
