I Take It Back

San Francisco being notably friendly, I mean.

All cities have problems in the form of stupid young men. But this particular violence may correctly be labeled an only-in-San Francisco story.

An a cappella singing group was visiting the City and invited to a private party. They launched into our National Anthem, and were mocked. A fight may have ensued, for which everyone, possibly including the singers, should take responsibility. The singers retreated, but were attacked in the street by a mob of thugs called in by an uninvited guest. One of the singers has a broken jaw.

What makes this only-in-San Francisco?

First, that the fight should start over objection to singing the "Star-Spangled Banner". It's not a great song, but there are some lovely arrangements for it, and at no time should any performer thereof be made to pay for someone else's misapprehension of the song's momentary political implications. San Francisco's a tough town, its national image notwithstanding, but I'm not sure the tough boys in other cities so easily embrace mindless anti-patriotism.

Second, the uninvited guest who called in his "boys" and started a street brawl is reported to be from "a prominent Pacific Heights family". This is where the richest of the rich live, an area that is an absolute delight to cruise around in if you like huge houses and can avoid the extra security patrols. What a fine example of the new elite.

Where else will a privileged rich kid start an anti-patriotic fight against musicians? Makes sense to me. Okay, I shouldn't bash the City if I can't make a strong case. But these columnists seem to think they can.

Anyway. Fuck all those fuckers. Fuck them for objecting to the "Star-Spangled Banner" (and anyone else who objects to it on principle*); and fuck them for taking their hopeless angst out on a group of young male singers, a cappella singers at that. It's not like they were punk hardcore rappers or some shit.

UPDATE, thanks to a toss from Sal: The SFist weighs in. Let it be said this is getting attention because it really isn't typical San Franciscan behavior.

*There may be times when the National Anthem is sung as a form of harrassment, depending on context. This clearly wasn't such a time.