Random question: re: the importance of patriotic songs. Wow! Good question! I DO think they are important, for several reasons. I believe pride in one's country is a very good thing. What better way to show that pride than through song? These songs are an important part of our heritage and history. Many of them are just downright beautiful tributes; both the text and the tunes! AND... for the record, I would LOVE to see "America the Beautiful" become our national anthem. It's a gorgeous tune, and much easier to sing than SSB. The text is a much better one than the war depiction of Mr. Key. THere is a place in our repertoire for SSB, but I like to see our National song be one of peace and beauty, rather than one of war and violence.