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What does 'God bless America' mean?

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Old 03-22-2003, 12:46 AM
Penrose Penrose is offline
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Default What does 'God bless America' mean?
I was reading the thread in this forum entitled 'The Arrogance of Power'. Towards the end of the article the author writes:

"May God continue to bless the United States of America in the troubled days ahead,"

I am wondering what this American, and others on this site mean by the words 'God bless America'. This is how I understand them:

The words God Bless America imply that somehow the US is above every other country. They imply that America is to the world what jesus was to humans (if he existed, which he didn't). No other country is 'blessed by God', just the US, because it is somehow more deserving than anywhere else.

I am curious as to what others, especially Americans, think about what I think is a very arrogant sentence, and sums up the whole attitude of the US. Please reply with intelligent posts, I am not trying to stir up trouble, and I am not trying to get into a debate on whether God does or does not exist.
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Old 03-22-2003, 12:54 AM
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America's unofficial national anthem was composed by an immigrant who left his home in Siberia for America when he was only five years old.

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Old 03-22-2003, 12:56 AM
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Originally Posted by Mousebounce
America's unofficial national anthem was composed by an immigrant who left his home in Siberia for America when he was only five years old.

That's great but what does 'God Bless America' mean to you?
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Old 03-22-2003, 01:02 AM
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Quote:
The words God Bless America imply that somehow the US is above every other country. They imply that America is to the world what jesus was to humans (if he existed, which he didn't). No other country is 'blessed by God', just the US, because it is somehow more deserving than anywhere else.
Why, because an immigrant who came here for freedom and a better life felt that way?? How does the imply that we are above another country?
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Old 03-22-2003, 01:11 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mousebounce
Quote:
The words God Bless America imply that somehow the US is above every other country. They imply that America is to the world what jesus was to humans (if he existed, which he didn't). No other country is 'blessed by God', just the US, because it is somehow more deserving than anywhere else.
Why, because an immigrant who came here for freedom and a better life felt that way?? How does the imply that we are above another country?
Come on, the words God Bless America are not used in that sense anymore. You know it as well as I do. I believe most people really do think America is blessed by God...
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Old 03-22-2003, 01:12 AM
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Is there something wrong with saying God Bless America? No. If you want to end a post with God Bless England or God Bless Germany or God Bless Pluto, feel free to do so. Many people say, "God bless you" to someone who sneezes. If "God bless...." is a short prayer you can say it to or about whomever you want. To me, that's what it is: a short prayer.

Becky
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Old 03-22-2003, 02:28 AM
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Why is it implying that the US is greater? Because we want God to bless the US? To keep us safe? To watch over us? Say God bless anything, just like Becky said.

God Bless you and your family.
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Old 03-22-2003, 02:34 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Becky
Is there something wrong with saying God Bless America? No. If you want to end a post with God Bless England or God Bless Germany or God Bless Pluto, feel free to do so. Many people say, "God bless you" to someone who sneezes. If "God bless...." is a short prayer you can say it to or about whomever you want. To me, that's what it is: a short prayer.

Becky
God bless uranus.
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Old 03-22-2003, 02:36 AM
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Originally Posted by joviscout
Quote:
Originally Posted by Becky
Is there something wrong with saying God Bless America? No. If you want to end a post with God Bless England or God Bless Germany or God Bless Pluto, feel free to do so. Many people say, "God bless you" to someone who sneezes. If "God bless...." is a short prayer you can say it to or about whomever you want. To me, that's what it is: a short prayer.

Becky
God bless uranus.
god bless germany
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Old 03-22-2003, 03:31 AM
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that being said this is supposedly not a religious war
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