“Words fail me. My eyes fail me from the most fundamental ubiquitous place. Tears stream like the red white and blue cloth in honor . The most moving rendition, most soulful and most authentic representation by a woman, an artist and obviously supreme-being who does not sing to appeal to or ears.. but beyond the soul. Much deeper. The precipice of our being in which most of us never tap into because it is so much easier to stay at the surface. Feelings are scary thing . The precipice of my being has been completely shaken, my emotions stirred , thoughts provoked and my mind at ease. In this time of Great Divide for a country that has, is and will always be great, this is the reminder of in which we all need to serve in our daily lives. Beyond the Pines , beyond the soul and always from the heart.” – Joseph Farias III

“I’m calling “The emperor has no clothes” on this story from Fox News.

After a moment of silence for the fallen Wayne State Police Officer, Franklin’s rendition of the National Anthem was an abomination. It was the anthem that would never end. I found myself wishing someone would trip over a power cord just to make it stop. And why must Detroit keep going back to its Motown past for nationally televised events? Detroit has both a present and a future.

I would have preferred an invitation had been made to the fans to sing it themselves, perhaps led by the jumbotron with words just to keep us all together. Listening to 60,000 people sing the Star Bangled Banner, even with the tone deaf, would have been a better kick-off to the game both for those in attendance and everyone watching from their family rooms.

Imagine the TV cameras moving slowly through the crowd, showing young and old, hands over their hearts, hats off, showing respect to the country for which an officer, sworn to uphold, died protecting just the day before.” –Thomas Gagné