God Bless America... Why?

[Hotwire]

I was watching George Carlin's latest special, and he made this same point. God bless America? Why? What does the phrase mean? Is it a request, a demand? And why is it only America? Why not Darfur? It's people are being slaughtered. Why not Mexico? It's people risk persecution in this country just to find a job? Why not China and Tibet? My point is, what really makes America so special that we are the only one's deserving of God's blessing? It seems to me, that if we are going to request a blessing from God, maybe we should show a little humility, and not put our own country, the wealthiest nation on Earth, ahead of those less fortunate.

[Captain Planet!]

God Bless Japan for All of Their Electronic Goodies?

[odiin]

America sneezed.

[Space Moose]

Originally Posted by odiin

America sneezed.

In that case it should be 'gesundheit'.

[raybia]

Originally Posted by Mal'Akai

I was watching George Carlin's latest special, and he made this same point. God bless America? Why? What does the phrase mean? Is it a request, a demand? And why is it only America? Why not Darfur? It's people are being slaughtered. Why not Mexico? It's people risk persecution in this country just to find a job? Why not China and Tibet? My point is, what really makes America so special that we are the only one's deserving of God's blessing? It seems to me, that if we are going to request a blessing from God, maybe we should show a little humility, and not put our own country, the wealthiest nation on Earth, ahead of those less fortunate.

I don't think of that term excluding other countries and America is more than a country, its an idea; an experiment. If that experiment works then it can be the model for every other model on Earth.

However its my belief that the American experiment, as designed by the founding fathers, is being tampered with by enemies of democracy so that the America we see today is far from what was envisioned by the founding fathers.

If the enemies of America have their way then America will cease to exist and in its place will be something that will clearly not be democracy.

Ironically these enemies are those who are already in positions of power to shape American laws, policies both domestic and foreign, economy, social culture, etc.

[Figs]

Originally Posted by raybia

I don't think of that term excluding other countries and America is more than a country, its an idea; an experiment. If that experiment works then it can be the model for every other model on Earth.

However its my belief that the American experiment, as designed by the founding fathers, is being tampered with by enemies of democracy so that the America we see today is far from what was envisioned by the founding fathers.

If the enemies of America have their way then America will cease to exist and in its place will be something that will clearly not be democracy.

Ironically these enemies are those who are already in positions of power to shape American laws, policies both domestic and foreign, economy, social culture, etc.

Agree with all.

I don't know maybe some of those other countries that the first poster listed should get the balls to fight back...instead of us helping a lot of the time.

[bullets]

It's basically " I love America " reiterated.

If you go to Boston, Ma. there is an engraving on the side of a bridge that reads:

The best neighborhood this side of Heaven

I don't think that should be taken offensively or out of context and neither should " God Bless America" . You could be in Spain and say " God Bless Spain" (in espanol) .

[lazur]

Originally Posted by Mal'Akai

I was watching George Carlin's latest special, and he made this same point. God bless America? Why? What does the phrase mean? Is it a request, a demand? And why is it only America? Why not Darfur? It's people are being slaughtered. Why not Mexico? It's people risk persecution in this country just to find a job? Why not China and Tibet? My point is, what really makes America so special that we are the only one's deserving of God's blessing? It seems to me, that if we are going to request a blessing from God, maybe we should show a little humility, and not put our own country, the wealthiest nation on Earth, ahead of those less fortunate.

It's what those in America say about their own country. Do you really think similar phrases aren't used in and about other countries?

[SuBe]

Originally Posted by raybia

I don't think of that term excluding other countries and America is more than a country, its an idea; an experiment. If that experiment works then it can be the model for every other model on Earth.

However its my belief that the American experiment, as designed by the founding fathers, is being tampered with by enemies of democracy so that the America we see today is far from what was envisioned by the founding fathers.

If the enemies of America have their way then America will cease to exist and in its place will be something that will clearly not be democracy.

Ironically these enemies are those who are already in positions of power to shape American laws, policies both domestic and foreign, economy, social culture, etc.

Wonderful Post. And those enemies are on both sides of the aisle, and both parties are more concerned with keeping their jobs, not what is best for the citizens that they represent.

[Prison Mike]

Originally Posted by lazur

It's what those in America say about their own country. Do you really think similar phrases aren't used in and about other countries?

yeah, I agree. Only people in America will say it. I doubt people in China would say "God Bless America". They would say "God Bless China" or whatever country you are in. The point is, you want God to bless whatever country you are from.

[TLH]

Gotta love George Carlin; the only man alive who can say "**** people with cancer" and get away with it, which he did when I saw him live, and everybody laughed.

[bullets]

How many of these countries want god's blessing anyway?

[Apollo]

Originally Posted by Captain Planet!

God Bless Japan for All of Their Electronic Goodies?

[lazur]

Originally Posted by raybia

I don't think of that term excluding other countries and America is more than a country, its an idea; an experiment. If that experiment works then it can be the model for every other model on Earth.

However its my belief that the American experiment, as designed by the founding fathers, is being tampered with by enemies of democracy so that the America we see today is far from what was envisioned by the founding fathers.

If the enemies of America have their way then America will cease to exist and in its place will be something that will clearly not be democracy.

Ironically these enemies are those who are already in positions of power to shape American laws, policies both domestic and foreign, economy, social culture, etc.

I agree in principle with what you're saying, but I don't agree down to every detail.

America is *not*, nor was it ever intended to be, a 'democracy'. It's a representative republic.

The problem as I see it is not that we have enemies of 'democracy' in positions of power - it's that we have enemies of 'the republic, for which it stands' in positions of power.

And this country will continue to spiral downward until someone comes along and makes bold changes to this entire line of 'democracy' garbage being taught to our children in our government schools, and espoused by political leaders to the masses.

[cerealkiller182]

God Bless America is simply a phrase. It's like wishing good fortune and good tidings on someone. In regards to that its usually American citizens who say the phrase. I believe this is what it means to the bulk of the population.

The real problem is we couldnt say Have a Nice Day, America because theres too many loud, obnoxious, uptight, self-important people in America to let that slide, the same people who hated to hear Happy Holidays as a substitute greeting at Wal-Mart for Merry Christmas.

[jaguarr]

Originally Posted by raybia

I don't think of that term excluding other countries and America is more than a country, its an idea; an experiment. If that experiment works then it can be the model for every other model on Earth.

However its my belief that the American experiment, as designed by the founding fathers, is being tampered with by enemies of democracy so that the America we see today is far from what was envisioned by the founding fathers.

If the enemies of America have their way then America will cease to exist and in its place will be something that will clearly not be democracy.

Ironically these enemies are those who are already in positions of power to shape American laws, policies both domestic and foreign, economy, social culture, etc.

*puts on Devil's Advocate hat*

I get what you're saying, but how arrogant is it for we Americans to think "Well, we've ironed out MOST of the kinks in our 200 year old government, now, so we're going to give it to all those other countries that have been around for thousands of years because what they have isn't good enough and isn't exactly the way we think it should be." ?

jag

[Apollo]

when are people going to start saying "god bless the world"? i mean people are so selfish only saying "god bless America" i mean at least think of other people in other country's dammit!
they have feelings and souls too.

"GOD BLESS THE WORLD!"

[Carcharodon]

I saw a bumper sticker once that said, "God Bless EVERYONE....No Exceptions!"

[Apollo]

Originally Posted by Mal'Akai

I was watching George Carlin's latest special, and he made this same point. God bless America? Why? What does the phrase mean? Is it a request, a demand? And why is it only America? Why not Darfur? It's people are being slaughtered. Why not Mexico? It's people risk persecution in this country just to find a job? Why not China and Tibet? My point is, what really makes America so special that we are the only one's deserving of God's blessing? It seems to me, that if we are going to request a blessing from God, maybe we should show a little humility, and not put our own country, the wealthiest nation on Earth, ahead of those less fortunate.

indeed

[snwboarder88]

Originally Posted by Mal'Akai

I was watching George Carlin's latest special, and he made this same point. God bless America? Why? What does the phrase mean? Is it a request, a demand? And why is it only America? Why not Darfur? It's people are being slaughtered. Why not Mexico? It's people risk persecution in this country just to find a job? Why not China and Tibet? My point is, what really makes America so special that we are the only one's deserving of God's blessing? It seems to me, that if we are going to request a blessing from God, maybe we should show a little humility, and not put our own country, the wealthiest nation on Earth, ahead of those less fortunate.

I completely agree with you. This is why i do not salute the flag, sing the national anthem, or vote. Because America is know better than the next country. One reason we have problems in the world today is because of Nationalism, all countrys are equal.

[jaguarr]

Originally Posted by Carcharodon

I saw a bumper sticker once that said, "God Bless EVERYONE....No Exceptions!"

I saw a bumper sticker once that said "There is no God. Get over it."

jag

[BatSpider]

Just showin pride on our country i guess

[ferret]

Originally Posted by BatSpider

Just showin pride on our country i guess

No, a whole continent, now that's something.
I wish I was that proud of mine.

[dolfan55aj]

Wow, You're way overanylizing this. God bless America is just asking God to send his blessings on our country. Nobody said saying God Bless America means you can't say God Bless any other country. It's just asking God to help America, not being selfish, demanding, or careless towards other nations.

[Prison Mike]

Originally Posted by jaguarr

I saw a bumper sticker once that said "There is no God. Get over it."

jag

LOL I love that!