Rant on "God Bless America"

fyffer · Post by **fyffer** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 8:09 am

Warning: This thread has the potential to generate discussion which might render it rubber-room material, though that is not my intention. Mods, feel free to move if you deem appropriate.

So, I was watching the All-star game last night (Baseball, for those of you who live under a rock, or not in the States, or simply don't care), and I confess: I'm getting sick of "God Bless America". Now before you flag-waiving Merkins start bashing me for being unpatriotic, let me add: I'm one of the most patriotic people I know. I still get choked up at most (definitely not all) renditions of the "Star Spangled Banner", and "America the Beautiful" always gets me. But I'm sick and tired of GBA being treated as a "backup" National Anthem.

During the ballgame last night (as at all MLB games, I think), someone came out and lip-synced (a different rant for another time) GBA, prefaced by the announcer asking those in attendance to stand a remove their hats. To what does that song owe that sort of respect? I stand for the National Anthem, remove my hat, and place my hand over my heart, or, if I am in my Militia unform, I stand at strict attention. But "God Bless America"? Please.

Somehow in Post 9/11 America, This schmaltzy song has garnered almost the same status as the *real* National Anthem, and it does not deserve it. I'm no atheist, and I appreciate the sentiment, but it's just not the National Anthem. Period.

Walden · Post by **Walden** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 8:14 am

But it's by Irving Berlin!

Jack · Post by **Jack** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 8:17 am

I'm unpatriotic, but that song can still stir emotions in me. The best version I have ever heard is by a Canadienne, Céline Dion. I'm sure it's on YouTube if you want to hear it.

fearfaoin · Post by **fearfaoin** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 8:17 am

An old lady once yelled at me for not standing during Lee Greenwood's
"Proud To Be An American". Oh, my goodness! What in the world??

P.S. I like the censor's choice for replacing Dubya-Tee-Eff.

Denny · Post by **Denny** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 8:18 am

Walden wrote:But it's by Irving Berlin!

that's the problem, innit?

'never forgiven 'im for "Anything You Can Do"

I.D.10-t · Post by **I.D.10-t** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 8:18 am

“God bless America” along with “Hail, Columbia” has historically been used as a national anthem until "The Star-Spangled Banner" became the official one in 1931.

I think that you could make an argument that it does have some historical justification outside of it’s modern use in jingoism. Of course the salute that was used was a bit different at the time...

Jack · Post by **Jack** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 8:22 am

This is the version I was talking about:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_Bless_ ... e_versions

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6fl4QgItA4

fyffer · Post by **fyffer** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 8:58 am

The only thing worse than seeing someone Lip-syncing GBA would be subjecting myself to watching Celine Dion melodramiticizing the song.

I'm so *not* clicking that link.

Flyingcursor · Post by **Flyingcursor** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 10:11 am

I'm not opposed to that song but standing for "Proud to be an American?"
What the Florp?

Besides, if this is the "land of the free" then you have a right to not stand any time you choose.

BTW, if we're going to censor internet acronyms how about these ideas:

OMG -> "Gosh"
LOL -> "That's amusing"
ROFL -> "That's highly amusing"
ROFLMAO -> "Now that's darn amusing"

What do the mods think?

djm · Post by **djm** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 10:21 am

I object to "darn". I might accept "golly gosh" in it's place, i.e.

ROFLMAO -> "Now that's golly gosh amusing."

djm

larrym. · Post by **larrym.** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 10:59 am

Jack wrote:This is the version I was talking about:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_Bless_ ... e_versions

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6fl4QgItA4

Anyone from the greater Philadelphia area know full well that the definitive "God Bless America", in fact the only version even worth listening to, is by the late, great Kate Smith.

Celine Dion? Excuse me while I lose my lunch...

__________________

Larry

Jack · Post by **Jack** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 11:17 am

Céline Dion is one of my musical heroes. So sue me.

fearfaoin · Post by **fearfaoin** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 11:59 am

Flyingcursor wrote:LOL -> "That's amusing"

Then we'd have such constructs as, "I That's amusing'd"
On the plus side, maybe people would stop using "LOL'd",
when it should clearly be "LedOL".

BillChin · Post by **BillChin** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 12:37 pm

For the All Star game at the last year of Yankee Stadium it was the obvious and only choice. After 9/11, the first game at the Stadium, it was adopted as the 7th inning stretch song, with a NYPD officer doing the singing. Some other teams also have it in their park, though many still only sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame."

Considering the historical context of this last All-Star game in what many consider the cathedral of what used to be the national past time, God Bless America was the only thing that could have been sung.

Did anyone else get chills seeing some of the oldtimers such as Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Ernie Banks, Yogi Berra? Baseball remains a timeless game, though it has been sullied with big money, drug scandals and the like. Still, for those with a memory and historical context, there is no game like it, and no stadium approaches the history of the house that Ruth built.

Innocent Bystander · Post by **Innocent Bystander** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 12:40 pm

Jack wrote:Céline Dion is one of my musical heroes. So sue me.

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