# 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:** 8
**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 8, 2011, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/141 "2011-10-08T19:05:58Z")
I’m not really understanding the strong feelings this song is bringing out on either side, to be honest. ---
**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 8, 2011, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/142 "2011-10-08T20:08:44Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > I’m not really understanding the strong feelings this song is bringing out on either side, to be honest. I don’t think the problem’s the song so much as it is that too many ignorant people think it should be treated as if it were the national anthem and who get very, \*very \*ugly in their behaviour when it _isn’t_ treated in the same way as the national anthem. It’s a manifestation of the “I’m visibly more patriotic than you, and I’m going to make you act as if you were as patriotic if I have to beat you into it” attitude that seems to be becoming more prevalent. This, in turn, is another aspect of the pressure society brings to conform to what they consider to be the right way. It’s less virulent than the type of attitude sported by groups like Operation Rescue and the Westboro cult, but it’s also practiced by many more people. **TL;DR version** : People who are idiots want to force you to be the same kind of idiot they are, and they’re using this song as a small wedge. Why do you hate America? ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2011, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/143 "2011-10-08T23:44:18Z")
You know, **colonial** , you don’t have to press “enter”, constantly – the software will automatically wrap your sentences for you. Otherwise, your typing looks really weird. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2011, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/144 "2011-10-08T23:50:40Z")
That’s OK. _He’s_ really weird. ---
**Author:** ![ZPG\_Zealot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e47c2d/32.png) [@ZPG\_Zealot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZPG_Zealot)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2011, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/145 "2011-10-09T01:00:40Z")
> [@phouka](#): > > You know, I recently read a historical mystery, _Dead and Buried_ by Barbara Hambly (who has a Master’s in History and researches the _shit_ out of her stories) in which the main character was working a second job by playing piano in a whorehouse. > > At some point, a fight broke out among the patrons, and he immediately began playing the chorus to “Anacreon in Heaven” (the original tune for “The Star Spangled Banner”) because that was, apparently, the song all the whorehouse piano players used to get the bouncers to break up the violence. > > So while the lyrics make a decent, if pedestrian, poem, and the melody is insanely difficult for those without vocal training, at least it got played in whorehouses to break up fights between the johns. > > Not every country can say that, you know. For that reason alone, it should remain our national anthem. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2011, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/146 "2011-10-09T02:17:25Z")
The main problem I have with the national anthem is that those who DO sing it almost always try to be waaaaay too dramatic. Like the guy who sings for the Boston Bruins. He sounds absolutely ridiculous. (I THINK it’s the Bruins). Dude, it’s the national anthem, NOT Gilbert and Sullivan. ---
**Author:** ![Capitaine\_Zombie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@Capitaine\_Zombie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capitaine_Zombie)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2011, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/147 "2011-10-09T02:23:07Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > You know, **colonial** , you don’t have to press “enter”, constantly – the software will automatically wrap your sentences for you. Otherwise, your typing looks really weird. What ``` Do You Mean? ``` ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2011, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/148 "2011-10-09T03:39:23Z")
> [@Raygun99](#): > > I think the Fucking National Anthem is “Sexual Healing” by Marvin Gaye. Okay, this _has_ to win the thread! ---
**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 9, 2011, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/149 "2011-10-09T04:14:53Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Well, what the hell? I’ve tried it three times now, and I keep getting the same Asian girl. Here’s what I see in my url field - > http ://dumpalink.com/videos/Robot-Chicken-Terrorism-4648.html > > Anybody want to speculate on why I keep seeing Asian porn instead of Robot Chicken? (I mean, beyond “Just lucky”.) **Bryan Ekers** is also in Canada, as far as I know, so I thought I’d be able to see that link okay. I dunno what to tell you - I just tried the link again and got Robot Chicken’s “Terrorism” sketch, which is free of Asians girls _and_ porn. ---
**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 9, 2011, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/150 "2011-10-09T06:36:01Z")
> [@Morgyn](#): > > I don’t think the problem’s the song so much as it is that too many ignorant people think it should be treated as if it were the national anthem and who get very, \*very \*ugly in their behaviour when it _isn’t_ treated in the same way as the national anthem. Yea, but people are criticizing the song itself, not just that people are being boorish about standing during it. We’re getting: “A mediocre tune with cheap lyrics and no worry” “I also think “God Bless America” is just a bad song, especially when it’s Kate Smith’s rendition” “I will not grant respect to an imaginary sky king no matter how nice the song is.” "It’s a horrible damned song " And going beyond just the “I don’t like the song” thing, “the song sucks shit” ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2011, 8:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/151 "2011-10-09T08:52:42Z")
It is creeping north of the border. Last summer an American dragon boat crew took the stage at a Canadian race and sung the Canadian national anthem. They actually knew the words. What they didn’t know is that most Canadians do not know the words. We just happily hum along. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2011, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/152 "2011-10-09T10:51:27Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > It is creeping north of the border. Last summer an American dragon boat crew took the stage at a Canadian race and sung the Canadian national anthem. They actually knew the words. > > What they didn’t know is that most Canadians do not know the words. We just happily hum along. Probably hockey fans 🙂 Either that or they remember it from an episode of the Simpsons Seriously though - the Canadian national anthem is a pretty good tune. I like it. ---
**Author:** ![Fish\_Cheer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fish_cheer/32/17179_2.png) [@Fish\_Cheer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish_Cheer)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2011, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/153 "2011-10-09T15:58:14Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > My belief now is the same as it was then - respect for the symbols and iconography is all well and good, but the freedom to disagree is one of the rights that those symbols _stand for_. Enforced reverence to mere symbols makes a mockery of the ideals that those symbols represent. Said [Justice Kennedy](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_v._Johnson#Kennedy.27s_Concurrence): “It is poignant but fundamental that the flag protects those who hold it in contempt.” ---
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2011, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/154 "2011-10-09T19:38:20Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#): > > \*\*colonial \*\*is a True American Hero. Stop picking on him! If he doesn’t stand up for GBA, then soon you guys will be pissing all over what makes us Truly American, like pornography, militaristic aggression, triple stacked cheeseburgers fried in butter, and The Home Shopping Network. Don’t you all understand what he is fighting for??? True, GBA was kind of an underrated platform, but I’m not sure that a Japanese gaming system is what makes us Truly American. On-topic, God Bless America is a mediocre song. It’s not great. It’s not awful. It’s also not the national anthem. Anyone who gets bent out of shape over what someone does or doesn’t do during the playing or performance of a song needs to get a life. Seriously; it’s a song. If you want to stand? Fine, good for you. Don’t want to stand? Fine, good for you. Want to get all ragey over the dude three rows down at the ballgame? Fuck off, moron. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2011, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/155 "2011-10-09T19:56:31Z")
Standing at attention (either rubbing one’s nipple or not, depending on one’s nationality), and singing or listening to national anthems, is a gentle coercion of the masses. Want to watch a hockey game? Stand at attention for the national anthem. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2011, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/156 "2011-10-09T20:08:32Z")
We have a national womens basketball team here. Can I refuse to stand until they agree to play in “shirts and skins” mode? ---
**Author:** ![saoirse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@saoirse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saoirse)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2011, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/157 "2011-10-09T21:19:13Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > It is creeping north of the border. Last summer an American dragon boat crew took the stage at a Canadian race and sung the Canadian national anthem. They actually knew the words. > > What they didn’t know is that most Canadians do not know the words. We just happily hum along. Its [this one](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqo7JCivTEw), isn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2011, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/158 "2011-10-09T23:10:29Z")
> [@C3](#): > > What happened to “Take Me Out to the Ballgame”? That’s what they play around here. I’ll stand up for that. They do both at Phillies games. “God Bless America” first, often by a local musician. I take my hat off (if I’m wearing one) and sing along. I think it’s nice. I also sing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame,” with the standard hand flourish at the “one, two, three strikes you’re out” part. During “God Bless America” and the SSB, no worries–I notice countless people who leave their hats on and finish their hot dogs. College girls who have placed their ponytails through the back of their caps _just so_ in particular are not going to stand on ceremony and mess up their hair, I have found. The mob doesn’t go after them with pitchforks. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2011, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/159 "2011-10-10T00:10:09Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > I’d stand and start singing “This Land is Your Land”. This. Next thing you know people will be demanding we put our hands over our hearts for “Proud To Be An American”. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2011, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856/160 "2011-10-10T00:22:40Z")
The key thing is to time your movements so that both at the time of the National Anthem and at the time of GBA, you are getting nachos and beer. Or walking into the restroom. There, no angst. ETA: > [@](#): > > Next thing you know people will be demanding we put our hands over our hearts for “Proud To Be An American”. No can do, I already put them over my ears. (Geez have I despised that masterpiece of maudlin since the very first time I heard it…) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-america-is-not-the-fucking-national-anthem/598856.md?page=9)