# God Bless America is not the fucking national anthem! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 7, 2011, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856 "2011-10-07T02:40:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2011, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/21 "2011-10-07T13:34:50Z")
“Give EVERYBODY eat!” ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2011, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/22 "2011-10-07T13:49:04Z")
> [@Mr.Moto](#): > > Um - this isn’t exactly a new thing. The Philadelphia Flyers have been playing “God Bless America” in their arena since before I was born. That’s because they realized that they happened to win more games when they played a Kate Smith record than when they didn’t. Athletes are a superstitious lot. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2011, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/23 "2011-10-07T15:04:01Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > And a sixth inning stretch where the crowd has to march around in circles to a J.P. Sousa march. And then there will be a first inning stretch in which mandatory prayer is offered; and a eighth inning stretch were the crowd all says bad things about illegal immigrants and checks everyone else’s ID to see if they’re in the ballpark legally. And the Two Minutes Hate! Don’t forget the Two Minutes Hate! (Though I guess that one might be more adaptable to NFL games…) ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2011, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/24 "2011-10-07T15:24:57Z")
God Bless America probably would make a better anthem than the Star Spangled Banner, though, just because, as was said, people can actually sing it. Plus, it’s shorter. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2011, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/25 "2011-10-07T15:30:26Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > You don’t need to remove your fucking hat. You don’t need to put your hand over your heart. You don’t need to stand still. You are allowed to move through the stands and through the aisles, head for the beer stand, head for the restroom. (Not necessarily in that order.) Bravo! Now if only people would apply the same arguments to the national anthem too… ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2011, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/26 "2011-10-07T15:31:43Z")
I’m in the minority in that I actually like the Star Spangled Banner, it is about a time when the survival of our nation was not at all a sure thing and I like the lyrics. I’m also in a minority in that I don’t like God Bless America because I’m in the minority in that I’m an atheist. If we are going to make our national anthem about a fantasy character, I would rather it be “Here Comes Santa Clause.” ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2011, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/27 "2011-10-07T15:42:49Z")
The actual Anthem is perfect, though, precisely because it’s hard to sing. And it’s basically a drinking song. C’mon, that’s perfect Americana: (1) Create a song during a terrifying moment of uncertainty and courage. (2) Set it to a goddamn drinking song. (3) Keep singing it even if you can’t possibly hit the notes right. You don’t get more American than that. That’s _profound_, right there. Ignoble and awesome all at once. God Bless America, on the other hand, is perfectly fine… for children. And that’s about it. A mediocre tune with cheap lyrics and no worry. There’s no fear, or courage, or difficulty, and it’s worth no more than you put into it. ---
**Author:** ![mkecane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9e8a1a/32.png) [@mkecane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mkecane)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2011, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/28 "2011-10-07T15:45:30Z")
I’m on board with **madmonk28**. I also think “God Bless America” is just a bad song, especially when it’s Kate Smith’s rendition. If we need more patriotism at baseball games, I’d prefer “Stars and Stripes Forever,” hopefully not forever. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2011, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/29 "2011-10-07T15:50:49Z")
_America, the Beautiful?_ C’mon, waving grain, purple mountains, brotherhood? America’s song has got to have shit blowing up, bombs bursting, rockets glaring! The song is ugly? Hell, _we’re_ ugly! But you fuck with us, we kick your ass! ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2011, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/30 "2011-10-07T15:58:44Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > _America, the Beautiful?_ C’mon, waving grain, purple mountains, brotherhood? America’s song has got to have shit blowing up, bombs bursting, rockets glaring! The song is ugly? Hell, _we’re_ ugly! But you fuck with us, we kick your ass! So you’re saying that our national anthem should be this? [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWS-FoXbjVI](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWS-FoXbjVI) **[Audio NSFW alert]** ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2011, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/31 "2011-10-07T16:17:47Z")
> [@smiling\_bandit](#): > > The actual Anthem is perfect, though, precisely because it’s hard to sing. And it’s basically a drinking song. C’mon, that’s perfect Americana: > > (1) Create a song during **a terrifying moment of uncertainty and courage**. > (2) Set it to a goddamn drinking song. > (3) Keep singing it even if you can’t possibly hit the notes right. Aptly enough, I think “a terrifying moment of uncertainty and courage” describes perfectly the mindset of everyone ever called upon to sing the National Anthem in public. ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2011, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/32 "2011-10-07T16:22:08Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > Bravo! Now if only people would apply the same arguments to the national anthem too… Used to be you didn’t have to do anything when the anthem was playing. Standing at attention and saluting was only for the pledge. Imagine my surprise to discover that [Congress apparently changed that back in 2007](http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Is_there_a_national_anthem_etiquette), and we now have etiquette rules in place for the anthem that are the same as for the flag. I’m betting this is because people were doing it anyway, so Congress decided to codify it. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2011, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/33 "2011-10-07T16:43:50Z")
> [@Morgyn](#): > > Imagine my surprise to discover that [Congress apparently changed that back in 2007](http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Is_there_a_national_anthem_etiquette), and we now have etiquette rules in place for the anthem that are the same as for the flag. I’m betting this is because people were doing it anyway, so Congress decided to codify it. Mandated patriotism? Fuck that. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2011, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/34 "2011-10-07T16:56:34Z")
> [@Cyberhwk](#): > > Tell that to the crotchety old fart that will inevitably get his panties in a wad and lecture you about about “respect for your country.” :rolleyes: Back during the first gulf war vehicle decorating mania some old fart was bitching at me because I was the only person in the convenience store parking lot that didn’t have my car covered with flags. I pointed at the DOD stickers on my car and told him I felt that actually being in the military trumped covering my car with decorations. I find substance over flag waving better any day. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2011, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/35 "2011-10-07T17:21:08Z")
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, the perfect national anthem for America is Gary Glitter’r _Rock and Roll Part 2_. 1. America is THE rock and roll country. 2. The song has only one word – “HEY!” The audience can either remain silent or clap along to the rest. 3. The fact that Glitter is a pedophile scumbag makes it… more interesting? 4. I doesn’t mention god, and it doesn’t prattle on about how great America is. ---
**Author:** ![Blaster\_Master](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cab0a1/32.png) [@Blaster\_Master](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blaster_Master)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2011, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/36 "2011-10-07T17:26:31Z")
I won’t stand or otherwise do anything special for God Bless America for the same reason I won’t do more than be quiet for the Star-Spangled Banner. I love this country, but I believe patriotism is best demonstrated through action, not pageantry. If anything, I think precisely in how our country was founded that, if anything, such mindless, ceremonial crap is unAmerican. Still, I will respect others who think it is important by being quiet and not being a distraction but I won’t hold my hand over my heart or the like. And even still, I actually like the SSB because, as others said, it’s about a pivotal moment in our history when the future was so uncertain. In that light, we can see how far we’ve come. I even like the melody and, if so inclined, I like singing it because of the difficulty and range. The one thing that does piss me off though is people who try to show-boat with vocal gymnastics. STOP THAT! It’s hard enough to sing already and, if you are doing it out of patriotism, then you ought to also think it’s an honor to sing it in front of a crowd by itself and not feel the need to try to show off, especially since it fails more often than not. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2011, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/37 "2011-10-07T17:29:27Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > Back during the first gulf war vehicle decorating mania some old fart was bitching at me because I was the only person in the convenience store parking lot that didn’t have my car covered with flags. I pointed at the DOD stickers on my car and told him I felt that actually being in the military trumped covering my car with decorations. > > I find substance over flag waving better any day. You should have just sung John Prine’s “Your Flag Decal Won’t Get You Into Heaven Anymore.” ETA: I’d love to sing that song at ballgames. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2011, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/38 "2011-10-07T17:29:39Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > _America, the Beautiful?_ C’mon, waving grain, purple mountains, brotherhood? America’s song has got to have shit blowing up, bombs bursting, rockets glaring! The song is ugly? Hell, _we’re_ ugly! But you fuck with us, we kick your ass! Except that they were someone else’s rockets and bombs, and the song doesn’t celebrate kicking ass, just peeking uncertainly out at sunrise to see if Old Glory’s managed not to fall down during that little lot. Over in Rightpondia, where we had a _fuck_ of a lot more ordnance than that dropped on us from 1940 onwards, we would consider it crass to make a fuss about it, still less would we write it into our national anthem. We even leave out the fun verse of the one we’ve got, just in case our enemies might resent us asking God to “confound their politics” and “frustrate their knavish tricks”. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![colonial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/34f0e0/32.png) [@colonial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colonial)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2011, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/39 "2011-10-07T17:42:59Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > You don’t need to remove your fucking hat. You don’t need to put your hand over your heart. You don’t need to stand still. You are allowed to move through the stands and through the aisles, head for the beer stand, head for the restroom. (Not necessarily in that order.) > > For crying out loud, I never thought there would be anything that would make me nostalgic for “Thank God I’m a Country Boy”, but this stupid and idiotic obsession with treating “God Bless America” as if it means anything has just about done it. “God Bless America” is a great song to all but the aesthetically deformed retard scrotebag segment of the population, and it fittingly serves as sort of an unofficial alternative national anthem for the rest of us who are normal. So, if you don’t like to see people remove their hats when it is played, tough shit and fuck off. And if you don’t like to see people to put thier hands over their hearts and stand still when it is played, tough shit and fuck off, you asshole. You can wait a few more minutes for your goddam beer, and if you can shit your britches while you’re at it ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2011, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/40 "2011-10-07T17:57:36Z")
I will not grant respect to an imaginary sky king no matter how nice the song is. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856.md?page=3)