Why should God bless America?

[michaeledward]

The tune is familiar, the words are bastardized.

Why should God bless America?
She’s forgotten he exists
And has turned her back
On everything that made her what she is
Why should God stand beside her
Through the night with the light from his hand?
God have mercy on America
Forgive her sin and heal our land

The courts ruled prayer out of our schools
In June of ‘62
Told the children “you are your own God now
So you can make the rules”
O say can you see what that choice
Has cost us to this day
America, one nation under God, has gone astray

Why should God bless America?
Shes’s forgotten he exists
And has turned her back on everything
That made her what she is
Why should God stand beside her
Through the night with the light from his hand?
God have mercy on America
Forgive her sins and heal our land

In ‘73 the Courts said we
Could take the unborn lives
The choice is yours don’t worry now
It’s not a wrong, it’s your right
But just because they made it law
Does not change God’s command
The most that we can hope for is
God’s mercy on our land

Why should God bless America?
She’s forgotten he exists
And has turned her back on everything
That made her what she is
Why should God stand beside her
Through the night with the light from his hand?
God have mercy on America
Forgive her sins and heal our land

(Reading from 2nd Chronicles 7:14) If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and forgive their sin and heal their land

God have mercy on America forgive her sins and heal our land

​

I don't think a choir should ever sing in 'song' form (chorus, verse, chorus, verse, chorus), and some of the modified melodies are, I think, clever, but awkward.

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This song was sung preceeding a Republican Presidential Candidate Debate. On the dais next to the choir were several (but not all) Republican Presidential hopefuls.

It is my understanding that none of the candidates made any mention of this song.


I can't help but wonder why, it is the Liberals, that get attacked for being unAmerican. Seems to me, this song is as unAmerican as I have ever heard.

 

[bydand]

Words fail me! I agree 100% with you, that has to be the most un-American thing I have heard. I'm repulsed they would allow that.

 

[Phoenix44]

Who hosted the debate?

 

[Brother John]

it's rhetorical.


It seems to me to be challenging the religious American's as to where they stand morally and ethically. It sounds like it's more of a call to return to the Judeo/Christian ethics that a lot of American's hold dear.

I don't think it's un-American.
I don't particularly LIKE it, nor do I agree with it....but I don't think it's un-American.

Your Brother
John

 

[Phoenix44]

I'm curious as to who sponsored this particular debate. The song is an appeal to the Christian Right, one of the groups that the Republican Party considers its "base." So I don't think it's American or anti-American. It is what it is: election PR.

 

[bydand]

Oh, I know it is rhetorical in nature, and that it is something that the religious "right" would do. But it just goes against my grain to distort a song that means so much to so many. I have watched people tear up when hearing it sung different places. To use it to make a political statement is inexcusable in my eyes. Even though I consider myself a Republican, it just PO's me to no end.

 

[michaeledward]

On Septeber 17th, 2007, the 'Values Voter Debate' was held in Broward Country Performing Arts Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

The position themselves as "America's Largest Voting Block".

Questions came from 40 of our nation’s leaders including: Paul Weyrich, founder and President of the Free Congress Foundation, Phyllis Schlafly, founder and President of Eagle Forum, Don Wildmon, founder and Chairman of the American Family Association, Judge Roy Moore, with the Foundation for Moral Law, Rick Scarborough, Vision America, and Mat Staver of Liberty Council.

In attendance, from the Republican Presidential candidates were: Mike Huckabee, Ron Paul, Alan Keyes, Sam Brownback, Duncan Hunter, Tom Tancredo, and John Cox.

Mr.s Thompson, Guiliani, McCain and Romney declined to attend.

http://www.valuesvoterdebate.com/

www.valuesvoters.org

e are citizens of the United States of America and subjects of the sovereign Creator, acknowledged in the Declaration of Independence as the Supreme Ruler and Judge of the World. We hereby declare our belief in the self-evident truths established by the Declaration, to wit, that we are all created equal and endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; that human governments are instituted to secure these rights, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. We strongly affirm our allegiance to the Constitution of the United States, as it was framed and amended in light of these truths, to provide for a republican form of government, which means a government of the people, by the people and for the people, in which they make laws and govern themselves through representatives they elect.

I am not, and refuse to subject myself to someone else's interpretation of a "sovereign Creator". I find it offensive.

or some decades now supposedly “liberal” and “progressive” forces within our society have waged an insidious campaign to corrupt and destroy the moral foundations of our liberty. Under the compassionate guise of government welfare and social programs they have eroded our fortitude and self-discipline, taxed away our independent resources, and in particular undermined the centrality of family as the locus of individual self-reliance. Under the guise of sexual freedom and self-determination they have corrupted our sense of responsibility for our own offspring in the womb and for our biological relationships in general. This ultimately affects all relationships that draw upon the capacity for self-sacrifice we ought naturally to learn and practice in the context of decent family life. Under the guise of scientific knowledge, and a fallacious separation of religion from public life, they have thrown off the yoke of reason, and denied our sovereign right to acknowledge, as a people, the existence and authority of the Creator. But the Creator’s being and will represent the principle of unity that makes possible both the diversity of individuals and the orderly community that, on the whole, they may become. Thus, though they masquerade as the champions of community and compassion, these self-styled “liberals” and “progressives” have discarded the principle of unity, the sense of a common good, indispensable to both.

An attack on fellow Americans .... with friends like these, who needs Al Qaeda?

These quotes are taken from the Values Voters "Contract with Congress".

 

[Gordon Nore]

Even seen as PR, the use of this song could backfire. Its message brings me to mind of 'Rev' Phelps' GodHatesAmerica.com from the WBC. The message itself seems more unGodly, perhaps, than unAmerican. It implies the Almighty would turn away from an entire people because some portion of that people opposes school prayer of favours abortion rights.

 

[Kennedy_Shogen_Ryu]

I'm replying to this thread as a Canadian.

I won't comment on the politics of the U.S.A. as admittedly I don't know much at all about them except that Bush doesn't seem to be the greatest leader in the world. But I've talked to several American MA's as well as several American military servicemen, and they have never been anything but respectful, professional and fine drinkers!
​

 

[Carol]

Yet another person/group with an agenda clamouring for attention. Stop me if you've heard this one before. *yawn*

I'm replying to this thread as a Canadian.

I won't comment on the politics of the U.S.A. as admittedly I don't know much at all about them except that Bush doesn't seem to be the greatest leader in the world. But I've talked to several American MA's as well as several American military servicemen, and they have never been anything but respectful, professional and fine drinkers!
​

High five my respected and honoured neighbor. :highfive:

 

[Kennedy_Shogen_Ryu]

High five my respected and honoured neighbor. :highfive:

I'll take the high five but I'd rather get a beer

 

[Carol]

I'll take the high five but I'd rather get a beer

Beer it is, then :cheers: (as long as it was brewed up there and not down here )

 

[terryl965]

Yet another person/group with an agenda clamouring for attention. Stop me if you've heard this one before. *yawn*





High five my respected and honoured neighbor. :highfive:

I second Carol thoughts.

 

[Kennedy_Shogen_Ryu]

Beer it is, then :cheers: (as long as it was brewed up there and not down here )

Alexander Keith's it is then, I could also go for a good ol' Irish Ale hmmm hopefully this doesn't turn into a friendly drinking contest would hate to get into one of those whole Canadians can outdrink American arguments.....:drinkbeer

 

[michaeledward]

Yet another person/group with an agenda clamouring for attention. Stop me if you've heard this one before.

I can't help but wonder, if you are refering to the candidates, or to the hosts?

 

[Mr. E]

For some reason, I am reminded of when Hillary Clinton sat through a speach by Suha Arafat as she gave an anti- semetic speach worthy of Goebels and said nothing during her following speech- and even hugging Suha afterwards.

I remember talking about it with people at the time. Some of us speculated that with the tension of public speaking, she may not have been paying close attention. There was also speculation that after being ambushed like that, diplomatically speaking there really is little you can do except distance yourself in the future from the ambushers. But I can't recall a statement from the Clintons on why she did what she did. If there was one, it might explain some of the reasons these political hopefulls didn't storm out either.

I just tried a google search, and was unable to find any comment on it from the Clintons. The closest I could find was this from USA Today.

The first lady already has been dogged for not supporting a shift of the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, and Jews cringed when she hugged Suha Arafat, the wife of PLO chairman Yasser Arafat, after a speech in which Suha Arafat accused Israel of spraying poisonous gas in Palestinian areas.

So I know I am not having memory problems.

If anyone can find a site where she gives her reasons for not doing anything as Suha made such a statement, it might give insights into this incident.

I can say that if any of these political idiots come back for a second round with this group, you have to assume that there are ok with the message being said.

 

[tellner]

I've tried to think up replies to this. I've gone through "polite", "indignant", "derisive", "companionable", "more in sorrow than in anger" and a few others. None of 'em worked. So I'll give it to you straight from the heart.

It's a crock. It's anti-American. It's a repudiation of the bedrock principles this country was founded on. It spits in the face of freedom. It's about half a step from Fred Phelps. And the only difference between this particular screed and the ravings of Mullah Omar and the Taliban is that the mullahs have cooler hats and better beards while we have cuter girls and better beer. And from my admittedly quirky perspective it's unutterable blasphemy against G-d Almighty, Master of the Universe.

This country was not, no way, no how in no wise founded on Protestant Fundamentalism and Know Nothingism. It's something we've had to fight against from time to time. But despite the best efforts of the theocratic revisionists we still have never descended into those depths. The fundamental law upon which our legal system is based does not invoke the blessings of the Deity. It does not claim the protection or special favor of the Almighty or any other cosmic force. In fact, the only time the Constitution mentions religion it is in the negative - "...no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States"

This country was founded on the principle of citizens coming together through their representatives to "form a more perfect Union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity". There's nothing about forcing children to recite Protestant prayers in school or pregnancy terminations. G-d is not used as a rhetorical club to beat others with when the scalpel of logic and the light of facts can extract the truth of a matter.

You are free to have whatever religious or spiritual beliefs you want or none at all. As Jefferson said "it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no God. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg."

"Liberty and Justice for all". Those words, penned by a socialist public school teacher pretty much sum up my ideal of government. Given that, free people can pretty much work out anything that needs to be done. But when you say "I'm right because my Big Guy in the Sky will kill you if you and everyone else who disagrees with me, now do what I tell you to" - which is what you're doing here - you are giving in to the basest, cruelest, most murderous and vile excesses of tyranny and oppression. Freedom is the freedom to be just like you. The penalty for failing to march in lockstep with your fantasies is death and eternal damnation.

You're welcome to that rather depraved and self-idolatrous view of the world. I'll defend your right to it and to express it to anyone who wants to listen. But it's a lousy way to run a country. That's how the Taliban made a complete hash of what was left of Afghanistan. That's how we got the pogroms, the Klan, and the hideous religious wars of Europe which this nation's founders wanted to avoid.

Your post is also remarkably selective in the sins which it decries. There is an awful lot of things which the Scriptures and the stuff the Christians tacked onto the end of them consider evil. Strangely enough, making European Protestantism a State religion isn't one of them. The things which you showcase as evidence of our depravity are precisely the wedge issues which one wing of one political party decided to use to get an electorally important segment of the population to give them votes and money. In other words, only the things which give wealth and power to people you like are important to G-d. You are treating the Almighty, Creator of all the Universes, the Ultimate Reality and Divine Unity like a thing to give you what you want. They don't divide people in a fashion which gives you the power to compel obedience from anyone who opposes your vision.

So yes, I hope the Holy One, Blessed be He, forgives this nation its sins. But I'd put the sin of pride a tad higher on the list.

 

[Tez3]

I've tried to think up replies to this. I've gone through "polite", "indignant", "derisive", "companionable", "more in sorrow than in anger" and a few others. None of 'em worked. So I'll give it to you straight from the heart.

It's a crock. It's anti-American. It's a repudiation of the bedrock principles this country was founded on. It spits in the face of freedom. It's about half a step from Fred Phelps. And the only difference between this particular screed and the ravings of Mullah Omar and the Taliban is that the mullahs have cooler hats and better beards while we have cuter girls and better beer. And from my admittedly quirky perspective it's unutterable blasphemy against G-d Almighty, Master of the Universe.

This country was not, no way, no how in no wise founded on Protestant Fundamentalism and Know Nothingism. It's something we've had to fight against from time to time. But despite the best efforts of the theocratic revisionists we still have never descended into those depths. The fundamental law upon which our legal system is based does not invoke the blessings of the Deity. It does not claim the protection or special favor of the Almighty or any other cosmic force. In fact, the only time the Constitution mentions religion it is in the negative - "...no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States"

This country was founded on the principle of citizens coming together through their representatives to "form a more perfect Union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity". There's nothing about forcing children to recite Protestant prayers in school or pregnancy terminations. G-d is not used as a rhetorical club to beat others with when the scalpel of logic and the light of facts can extract the truth of a matter.

You are free to have whatever religious or spiritual beliefs you want or none at all. As Jefferson said "it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no God. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg."

"Liberty and Justice for all". Those words, penned by a socialist public school teacher pretty much sum up my ideal of government. Given that, free people can pretty much work out anything that needs to be done. But when you say "I'm right because my Big Guy in the Sky will kill you if you and everyone else who disagrees with me, now do what I tell you to" - which is what you're doing here - you are giving in to the basest, cruelest, most murderous and vile excesses of tyranny and oppression. Freedom is the freedom to be just like you. The penalty for failing to march in lockstep with your fantasies is death and eternal damnation.

You're welcome to that rather depraved and self-idolatrous view of the world. I'll defend your right to it and to express it to anyone who wants to listen. But it's a lousy way to run a country. That's how the Taliban made a complete hash of what was left of Afghanistan. That's how we got the pogroms, the Klan, and the hideous religious wars of Europe which this nation's founders wanted to avoid.

Your post is also remarkably selective in the sins which it decries. There is an awful lot of things which the Scriptures and the stuff the Christians tacked onto the end of them consider evil. Strangely enough, making European Protestantism a State religion isn't one of them. The things which you showcase as evidence of our depravity are precisely the wedge issues which one wing of one political party decided to use to get an electorally important segment of the population to give them votes and money. In other words, only the things which give wealth and power to people you like are important to G-d. You are treating the Almighty, Creator of all the Universes, the Ultimate Reality and Divine Unity like a thing to give you what you want. They don't divide people in a fashion which gives you the power to compel obedience from anyone who opposes your vision.

So yes, I hope the Holy One, Blessed be He, forgives this nation its sins. But I'd put the sin of pride a tad higher on the list.

Tellner, sorry if I'm being really thick here but whose post are you referring to here?

 

[michaeledward]

For some reason, I am reminded of when Hillary Clinton sat through a speach by Suha Arafat as she gave an anti- semetic speach worthy of Goebels and said nothing during her following speech- and even hugging Suha afterwards.

I didn't realize that Suha Arafat was an American citizen and voter. Or maybe you wish to discuss manners?

 

[tellner]

Tez, I was referring to Michael's original post that started this thread.