<p>There are some threads going on and I don’t want to hijack them. So I start my own… I suspect this is politically incorrect to say these days, but I am going to say it anyway, at least once. This country and its people are fair, open minded, caring, and decent. The social, class, or racial discrimination is not serious a problem that it hinders any upward or downward mobility. If you want to do better in this country, there are more than one way to do it. There is nothing wrong in America, even now, in terms of achieving your personal dream. You will go as far as your talent and ambition take you. How do I know? Well, I have it made easy: I came here at the age of 19 from a war torn country with a middle school education, knowing no English, having no relatives or friends and $20 in my pocket. Show me a better place, any place. The EU? China? Japan? Don’t kid yourself. And I am just tired of all the normal excuses. I am going to sing “America the Beautiful” and I will be choked with emotion afterward.</p>
<p>What a refreshing point of view.
:)</p>
<p>What a wonderful point of view.
My suggestion: We replace “God Bless America” at the ball parks with America the Beautiful</p>
<p>It’s just such a great song and easier to sing.</p>
<p>Well said OP…</p>
<p>Yes, very well said.</p>
<p>Many people tend to take our freedoms, our social and economic mobility, the opportunities available, and our standard of living for granted and just focus on the negative. Never really understood that.</p>
<p>But then, in general, I have always tended toward people who are upbeat, enthusiastic, and optimistic (they seem to be a lot more fun), and shy away from people who complain a lot (they are a real downer).</p>
<p>Dragonmom: God Bless America [God</a> Bless America - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_Bless_America]God”>God Bless America - Wikipedia) is not generally sung at ballparks. The Star-Spangled Banner [The</a> Star-Spangled Banner - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Star-Spangled_Banner]The”>The Star-Spangled Banner - Wikipedia) is sung at ballparks. I agree that America the Beautiful [America</a> the Beautiful - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/America_the_Beautiful]America”>America the Beautiful - Wikipedia) is preferable to either. </p>
<p>I will freely admit that I would prefer a national anthem that does not assume that we as Americans are divinely protected in some way.</p>
<p>dmd77 – since 9/11, many baseball teams play God Bless America during the 7th inning stretch. I’d much prefer America the Beautiful myself, though to be perfectly honest, I think Take me Out to the Ballgame might also make a great National Anthem. ( and of course BGA is not our anthem, or in anyway official, and i too prefer a God who loves and blesses everyone regardless of nationality, but that’s another thread.)</p>