"God Bless America"

[lazarus]

I am so sick of this song. Apparently it's being sung at Camp Casey right now.

Why not "America the Beautiful"? You know, it celebrates our beautiful land, and doesn't tell atheists they're not welcome.

Sigh.

[rexcat]

1. For the most part atheists are not welcome in this country.

I was informed by one of my wife's uncles that I was on the fringe because of my lack of belief in a god. Christians show so much compassion for their fellow humans on this planet.

:puke:

On edit: One thing we can do is take out the "b" in bless! :evilgrin:

[BiggJawn]

2. Yes, but they're SO "Persecuted"...

Disagree with one, or say you're an Athiest but would be open to seeing PROOF of the GAWD, and you're "Bashing" them....

[onager]

3. A weird thing I saw in North Carolina...

It was the start of the school year back there, and one of the schools in the Raleigh-Durham area decided to make the first day of school "Celebration Of Diversity Day."

Well, that's a great idea. The newspaper article mentioned that this particular school has students from many different countries and ethnic/religious backgrounds. (Not too surprising. That area of North Carolina has several large universities, like Duke and UNC, that bring in lots of furriners. And Yankees. There's no difference to some of the locals...)

Anyhow, I was enjoying the newspaper article until it mentioned the schedule for "Celebration Of Diversity Day."

"The assembled students then stood, recited the Pledge Of Allegiance and sang 'God Bless America.'"

:wtf:

[GOPFighter]

4. I've always wondered why god should bless America

Even if i wasn't an atheist I would be offended by this song and the phrase. To me it implies that god should bless America over all others. Does this mean those who sing it think we are more deserving? Why?

And what have we done lately to deserve being blessed? We've started a war. a religious war at that. Personally I think innocent Iraqis deserve some blessings right now.

Of course if god wants to bless us by getting rid of our freeptard president, I'll take it!

[goddess40]

5. God Bless America and no one else

I can't remember the name of the movie that's from but it sure is true. It is a continuation of my daddy can beat up your daddy that some people never get over.

[salvorhardin]

6. Chris Rock

Head of State

[shrike]

7. Actually, America the Beautiful has God references as well

I personally don't have a problem with either song, and I must be the only person I know who likes the Star Spangled Banner.
But actually, the best non-sectarian (and secular) song is "This Land is Your Land." Delay's people may have desecrated "If I had a Hammer," but at least they didn't sing poor Woody's song: the man would be rolling over in his grave if they had.

[lazarus]

8. Damn, you're right

I just had forgotten the "god shed his grace on thee", like he's got some form of grace dandruff or something.

I do like This Land is Your Land. Let's choose that!

[onager]

9. Those two songs are Evil Twins...

When Woody Guthrie was hobo'ing across the US during the Depression, he heard Irving Berlin's bombastic, God-bothering ditty "Zeus Bless America" a lot.

Guthrie got so annoyed that he finally sat down and wrote his own song, with the original title "God BlessED America." It was deliberately intended as a musical poke in the eye to Berlin and all the Summer Soldiers and Sunshine Patriots.

Guthrie later changed the title to "This Land Is Your Land."

It only became acceptable as a "patriotic" song by leaving out two verses:

Was a big high wall there that tried to stop me
A sign was posted, said “Private Property”
But on the back side, it didn’t say nothing --
This land was made for you and me

One bright sunny morning in the shadow of the steeple
By the relief office I saw my people--
As they stood hungry,
I stood there wondering
If this land was made for you and me?

The whole story here:

http://www.univie.ac.at/Anglistik/easyrider/data/Land.htm

[shrike]

10. Great story

We have a CD, "A Tribute to Woody Guthrie," with Odette, Bonnie Raitt, etc. Love listening to it.

[melv]

11. It is posted at my son's elementary school

the school board says they can keep it there because it is on a background of the flag.