Music and Cultural Diversity | Cultural Diversity and Literature

The universal language of music

Music is universal. Every language, every culture, every nation is represented in a song known as the National Anthem. Listen to the anthem representing America and the story it tells of never losing hope that our national flag will continue to fly despite war or hardship.

Next, go to YouTube and find a national anthem from another country. It could be a country you have a direct connection with, one that have seen in the news, or one you just find interesting.  If it is a non English speaking country, please select a version that includes the English translation.

Listen to the anthem multiple times so that you can best understand the story the anthem is telling. Once you select your video, click on 'share,' then click on 'embed,' and finally click on 'copy' found at the lower right. Next, click inside the textbox below, then click on the "Insert" menu and select "Online Video" from the menu.  Select the option where you 'paste' the embed code.  If necessary, reference the video on the References page.

Address the following:

1. Explain why you chose this video and in what ways does this nation differ from America?

2. Compare the two anthems in terms of tone and tempo.  Is one faster than the other or have a stronger beat?  How does this add to the anthem's message?

3.  Compare and contrast the two anthems in terms of unity.  How do the stories reflected in the lyrics promote the same things? How are they different? 

4. In a world moving away from the idea of 'separate' nations, is the role of the national anthem still relevant?  Defend your position. 

The story below reveals the reality that sometimes othering or sexism or other forms of social injustice cause significant damage in a person's life.  

Lin's Story

I remember the sting that day brought to my soul. A burning kind of sting that is still sore today.  It was early April and my 9th grade class was about to line up to head to the auditorium. Awards day was a big deal to everyone but me. For me it meant more teasing, more rolling eyed glances, more not-belonging.

I had a gift my grandma always said.  Not all girls could do what I do with numbers and equations. By 9th grade I could do calculus and differential equations in my sleep. I loved how things fit in mathematics. Every symbol, every integer had a role to play and everything worked together in unison to reach a final answer.  If only people worked together this way.

That day started with the usual question from one of the mean kids. 'Hey. When are you moving back to Asia, Math-brat?'  That was easier to shrug off than the constant teasing that I was a freak of nature for doing 'boy math.' 

I took my seat in the auditorium ignoring the constant kicking against the back of my chair and the barrage of teasing mixed with insults coming at me from every angle. I remember wishing I wasn't smart and hoping my gift would go away. I should have felt proud when Mrs. Jackson, our principal, announced I was the winner of the Achiever in Mathematics award, but it didn't feel like winning. I walked across the stage seeing the angry stares coming from the mean kids.  I knew I would never belong as long as I did math.

It was an easy choice really. When I stopped working equations, I had time to hang out and soon the mean kids weren't so mean anymore.  I spent my time talking about guys and learning how to use make up. Who needs math anyway?    

Address the following questions:

1. What stereotypes (there is more than one) do you see demonstrated in this story? How did these connect to your own life experience? Could you relate to Lin's situation in some direct way?

2. Othering can be life altering. Have you ever done something, or in Lin's case, stopped doing something due to peer pressure? Did you regret that decision?