Sometimes, it is the small things that matter.
Since 9-11, attendees at Major League Baseball games have been subjected to the singing of God Bless America during the seventh inning stretch. People are often asked to give proper reverence to the US Military as God Bless America is sung.
Not me. I will not do it. I find the singing of God Bless America quite offensive and, as a pacifist, I find the continued glorification of US militarism inappropriate.
When the National Anthem is sung, I remove my hat, place my hand over my heart, and sing. I am proud to be an American. Again, I do find the overt homage given to the US Military might quite offensive, with the jet flyover, honor guards, and the like, but I realize that most Americans do not share my pacifistic inclinations, so I do not show my disapproval of the militaristic show.
The same goes for LimaLand Motorsports Park, a local dirt track I frequent during racing season. They begin the racing program with a prayer. They ask everyone to stand and remove their hats. I refuse to do so. When they sing the National Anthem after the prayer I stand, remove my hat, place my hand over my heart, and sing. Again, I am proud to be an American but I refuse to give a Christian prayer one moment of respect.
The United States is a secular state and I proudly pay respect to the American flag and the I proudly sing the Star Spangled Banner. However, I will not show respect to overt displays of Christianity in public spaces. I think the song God Bless America and Christian prayers have no place at sporting events. When I go to a sporting event I am there to watch the sport and I have no desire to show fealty to the cultural religion the United States.
Small things? To be sure, but it is in the small things that our character is tested and strengthened.
Why may I ask are you proud to be an American? I have never understood the patriotic stance of Americans. I live in New Zealand (amusing that your spell checker tells me that Zealand is spelt wrong), but im not proud of that fact, why the hell should I be. That which NZ achieves has little to do with me and being proud of a landmass with a population of humans inhabitating it just seems silly.
I take great pride in the land of my birth, a land that gave my Hungarian ancestors a home. I take pride in our freedoms and the opportunities I have to live life as I see fit. By American standards I am poor but by world standards I am a rich man. I truly am blessed to have been born in such a land as this.
America has her faults. We are far too interventionist and we wrongly assume that the American way of life is the best way or only way to live. We use our political and military clout to advance on agenda worldwide and I am increasingly uncomfortable with this. We have internal social problems that need solved and it is a scandal that we have people without jobs, nutritious food, and medical care.
But, for all our faults…….people still immigrate here in droves and I take great pride in that.
Bruce
The US isn’t perfect, and I don’t agree with every policy of my country, but if we have so little to be proud of, why have we always had so many immigrants willing to leave everything they ever knew and come here for a fresh start. This country was built by generations of immigrants who came with nothing and were so very grateful for just the CHANCE to start over here. Now that the country is full and built already, we still have people wanting in, even if they have to ignore our laws and come illegally. There’s something here they want badly enough to live outside the law to try to get it.
What other country has ever had so many immigrants? Australia was built by immigrants, but most arrived there in prison ships. Many countries have a lot of people trying to get out, and few trying to get in.
When I see shipments of food going to countries in distress labeled “A Gift from the People of the United States” I feel a swell of pride. I felt equally proud after Hurricane Katrina when tiny countries we had given aid to offered some form of help right along with the large countries. It was a sign that they had not forgotten.
I am a property owner and a tax payer. I do have a stake in what the country accomplishes with everyone’s money put together. I might ask why are you so disassociated from your country.
I want to see Bruce respond to this!
He said he was proud to be an American, stands and sings for the anthem. I don’t think that is disassociation from the country. Many people just feel awkward praying at a sporting or any other event. I often wonder, which team god is rooting for.
God never seems to root for my teams.
We lose way too often.
Bruce, I was replying to Guest. So sorry, but I would like to see how you would answer him.