• America the Beautiful
• America (My Country ‘Tis of Thee)
• Hail to the Chief
• Yankee Doodle
• Taps
• Pledge of Allegiance
• Oath of Office
Unlike buildings and monuments, songs and oaths consist of nothing more than words and musical notes. Yet they are among the most powerful symbols.
Most nations have an official song, typically called the national anthem. Several other songs have become unofficial symbols in the U.S. They include Yankee Doodle, which became popular during the Revolutionary War.
The national anthem and Pledge of Allegiance are also among our most controversial symbols. There have been efforts to replace The Star-Spangled Banner with a different song. Some people refuse to sing the national anthem or recite the Pledge of Allegiance to begin with.
What do you think? Is it unpatriotic to refuse to sing the national anthem at a public event? And are the people who do sing it all patriots? Should the Pledge of Allegiance include the words “Under God,” which were only added in the 1950’s?
The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism - 
