The national anthem of any country provokes feelings of patriotism in its citizens. It plays a great role in reminding the people of their country’s rich history and beliefs. There are many ways that the national anthem can be used to promote a traditional view of patriotism. The music as well as the lyrics of the anthem include a lot of detail about the country’s history, traditions, and beliefs. The national anthem is a very respected part of every countries culture which is why many people stand up in honor of their nation when it is being played. The national anthem can also be used to confront national challenges and make people aware of the problems going on. For example, since 2016 some athletes kneel on one knee during the national anthem to protest racial injustice in the United States. Similarly, in 1971 Jimi Hendrix played the national anthem in his own way to express his opinion and emotions about certain things in the country. Although his version of “Star-Spangled Banner” had no lyrics, the way the different sounds mixed and clashed together showed a lot of emotion. Parts of the song sounded like a war scene, with a lot of different loud and screeching noises. It is believed that this was Hendrix’s way of protesting against the U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War. People also believe that Hendrix was protesting the racial discrimination faced by people of color in the country with his performance. His performance was justified by the fact that he was part of the 101st Airborne so not only was he aware of the hardships faced by people in the military, he also was an honorably discharged veteran. This was also during the time of the civil rights movement. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated just a year prior to this performance so Hendrix’s decision to play his version of the national anthem might also be a way to show his struggle with discrimination as a black male. Hendrix’s choice of playing the anthem the way he did, did not sit well with people because they believed he was being disrespectful towards his country. They were projecting their own feelings of nationalism on the issue. I also believe that many viewers found his performance transgressive because they were not ready to accept that there were problems going on in their country. However, I believe that Hendrix had all the right to play the national anthem in his own way. The United States Constitution allows freedom of speech and guarantees the right of protest to all of its citizens so Hendrix did have the authority to speak about the future of the country.