They Doth Sing Too Much
"God Bless America" is now being played during the seventh inning of World Series games. The Yankees have been doing all they can to test my loyalty to the team through this ridiculous ritual. Now the league is doing the same.
Apparently, the pre-game national anthem is no longer sufficient. What does a society betray about itself when it insists on verifying that one's patriotism has not waned between the first and seventh innings of a baseball game?
Apparently, the pre-game national anthem is no longer sufficient. What does a society betray about itself when it insists on verifying that one's patriotism has not waned between the first and seventh innings of a baseball game?
posted by The Cunning Realist at Sunday, October 22, 2006
25 Comments:
God. I hate that. Next, additional invocation after the 5th inning.
dear realist, when did this start please?
It's a good thing to be proud of your country. A song like "God bless America" does justice to that feeling.
However, it's not a good thing to think America is number one. As long as we will think we're number one on this earth, other countries will resent us and we will have problems.
I don't watch baseball, so the whole Yankees - world series thing is a non-issue to me.
I agree completely. By the way, did I miss it or was there no national anthem at Game 1 of the World Series - just Bob Seger singing "America the Beautiful"?
karl,...showem the first rate sorceror you are...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXw6b0ZAFzs&mode=related&search=
Are all those non American players tending to seek citzenship? I wonder. I suppose it might depend on tax consequenses. Well the point is baseball has never been less American.
Which reminds me of the old joke about the Latino at the game who climed the flag pole for a better view and was surpised when the whole crowd rose and asked him in song, Jose can you see?
Which brings to mind Royko's timeless question. As a boy he always wondered why we wanted an invisible country?
Why do you hate freedom?
I watched the Pats vs Buffalo today. My 4 year old son was in the room with me. I counted 11 commercials with EXTREME violence in them. 0 commercials with Janet Jackson's boob.
At what point does sex rebound over violence?
TCR-
They have been singing God Bless America durng the 7th inning stretch at all Orioles home games since 9/11 as well. I assumed (my mistake) it was an MLB thing, not the O's doing it.
Maybe they could get the military academies to put on a parade!
Recently while watching a Yankees game at work (it was a Sox-Yanks game, we're in Mass her), someone I worked with briefly told another worker who complained that God Bless America wasn't even very good (which is true, America the Beautiful would be much better, imo), a kid (all of 22, apparently a medical discharge from the army, tho there were some questions about that) said that he wasn't "a good American" if he didn't like the song. And he meant it.
Yikes.
Why does this make me think of Deutschland uber alles? What the hell was wrong with Take Me Out to the Ballgame?
From my understanding a lot of this came during World War II; like inserting "in God" in the Pledge of Allegiance during the Cold War.
Some years back, during the Bulls last run in NBA, a player objected to the national anthem being played before a game. You had all sorts of yahoos running around with the flag in this guy's face. Actually, this player overcame Tourette's to become one of the most prolific sharpshooters in the league - it was uncanny how good his aim and shooting was.
Long story short, while he was in Chicago he was going to meet a group of kids who also suffered from Tourette's but the meeting had to be called off due to bomb threat some idiot phoned in.
I'd be all in favor of 'This Land Is Your Land' being played in the 7th inning. Would I be a good American for liking that song?
Could be worse. For the first couple of years after 9/11 they played "Proud to Be an American" at the seventh inning stretch at Twins games. I made a point of sitting down and scowling for it at every game I went to.
I believe that it has been shown that the Yankees have an increased productivity at the palte during the bottom of the 7th at Yankee Stadium, as the extended period of standing around the mound and not throwing disrupts the opposing pitcher's rhythmn. What started as a redundant (as you point out) show of patriotism has become a subtle form of one-upsmanship.
What's wrong with a little patriotism?
It is a baseball game. You know America's pastime. As American as mom, apple pie and.....
Patriotism used to be the last refuge of a scoundrel -- now it's the first refuge of a bunch of overpaid, obnoxious athletes trying to game their opponents. Not to mention, I would assume, that a nice long "patriotic" song gives the fans more time to stock up on beer & munchies, and what could be more "patriotic" than the owners making a profit? -- Anne Laurie
We don't get any of this nonsense at hockey games. =)
rally the troops
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=viewArticle&code=20061024&articleId=3593
Some years back, during the Bulls last run in NBA, a player objected to the national anthem being played before a game. You had all sorts of yahoos running around with the flag in this guy's face. Actually, this player overcame Tourette's to become one of the most prolific sharpshooters in the league - it was uncanny how good his aim and shooting was.
You're confusing two seperate players - Mahmoud Abdul-Raouf (ne Chris Jackson of LSU fame) had tourrette's, and also refused to salute the flag during the anthem. Craig Hodges of the Bulls (also a muslim, IIRC) got in trouble for questioning the wisdom of GW I, and may or may not have been blackballed from the league for it.
Great article! Thanks.
Thanks for interesting article.
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That's all wrong what you are telling.
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