In a 38-8 vote, the Maryland Senate has voted to replace lyrics referencing the Confederacy in the state’s official anthem.
The Washington Post reports that the Civil War-era song included lyrics calling the Northern states “scum” and referring to Abraham Lincoln as a “tyrant.” The song also encouraged Maryland residents to arm themselves and join the Confederacy.
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“I think it’s time to get rid of the verse that basically criticizes and makes us look bad,” Sen. Ronald Young (D) told the Post. “The [song] is degrading to Maryland and should not represent us moving forward.”
The bill was met with pushback from some senators, who said that the lyrics show how far the state has come.
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“Our history has some pretty bad blemishes on it,” Sen. Robert Cassilly (R) said to the Post. “[But we should] use it as a teaching point and move forward…The idea of excising our history—that’s not America.”