"America the Beautiful" a 'Christian anthem'?

[Anonymous]

I think it was already noted that America is actually a hijacking of the tune of the hymn Oh Mother Dear, Jerusalem. So, like My Country Tis of Thee (stolen from God Save the King/Queen), The Battle Hymn of the Republic (John Brown's Body), and The National Anthem (a London social club's song), our national songs are all second hand (except for God Bless America, written by an immigrant).

And since we are talking about a hymn being sung in foreign languages, do you suppose Leahy thinks Silent Night and Oh Come All Ye Faithful were written in English?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it was already noted that America is actually a hijacking of the tune of the hymn Oh Mother Dear, Jerusalem. So, like My Country Tis of Thee (stolen from God Save the King/Queen), The Battle Hymn of the Republic (John Brown's Body), and The National Anthem (a London social club's song), our national songs are all second hand (except for God Bless America, written by an immigrant).

And since we are talking about a hymn being sung in foreign languages, do you suppose Leahy thinks Silent Night and Oh Come All Ye Faithful were written in English?

It's like stealing the Christmas tree from pagans and then whining that people from other faiths celebrate the holiday, even though it is a national holiday, which wouldn't even be constitutionally permitted if not for the fact that it's a generic cultural event.

The bottom line is that these people want the country to look and act like them. They don't buy into the melting pot. They don't like the presence of foreigners and foreign religions. If you say this to them, they will tell you that they accept Irish and Italians and Polish, but of course they didn't actually accept them when those groups came here either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's like stealing the Christmas tree from pagans and then whining that people from other faiths celebrate the holiday, even though it is a national holiday, which wouldn't even be constitutionally permitted if not for the fact that it's a generic cultural event.

The bottom line is that these people want the country to look and act like them. They don't buy into the melting pot. They don't like the presence of foreigners and foreign religions. If you say this to them, they will tell you that they accept Irish and Italians and Polish, but of course they didn't actually accept them when those groups came here either.

+1000

[Anonymous]

The bottom line is that these people want the country to look and act like them. They don't buy into the melting pot. They don't like the presence of foreigners and foreign religions. If you say this to them, they will tell you that they accept Irish and Italians and Polish, but of course they didn't actually accept them when those groups came here either.

I do think that the people who think the song should have been sung in English DO believe in the "melting pot". If the pot is going to melt the gold, there must be a common denominator. Language is a good start.

[Anonymous]

cont. The melting pot combines many cultures into one. When everyone is speaking their own language, they will stay in their own groups. Is that really what you want America to be?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:cont. The melting pot combines many cultures into one. When everyone is speaking their own language, they will stay in their own groups. Is that really what you want America to be?

YES!! We need to have a cultural task force to go around arresting people who have the audacity to speak any language other than English in this country!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:cont. The melting pot combines many cultures into one. When everyone is speaking their own language, they will stay in their own groups. Is that really what you want America to be?

Every immigrant group came in here speaking their own language. The older immigrants never picked up English, or maybe badly depending on their age and whether they were working. The younger immigrants picked it up with an accent. The kids born here became fluent. That's how it has always gone, and that's how it is going today. This is America as it has always been, and I am more than fine with it continuing this way. What's more, it's economic suicide not to continue this way. It's damn hard to run a company in the construction industry if you can't tolerate some Spanish in the workplace. Likewise, I could not hire the best people in technology if I stuck to only fluent speakers. In my company you might hear Chinese, Hebrew, and a number of Indian languages. I'm not going to skip the best hires because of their English.

[Anonymous]

Good grief. It's an advertisement. I liked it, but it's no more likely to make me buy Coke than any other Coke ad.

The reality is that many, many languages are spoken in the US, and the vast majority of Americans are children of immigrants.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:cont. The melting pot combines many cultures into one. When everyone is speaking their own language, they will stay in their own groups. Is that really what you want America to be?

YES!! We need to have a cultural task force to go around arresting people who have the audacity to speak any language other than English in this country!!

Hey, Gov. Jan Brewer has found DCUM!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:cont. The melting pot combines many cultures into one. When everyone is speaking their own language, they will stay in their own groups. Is that really what you want America to be?

YES!! We need to have a cultural task force to go around arresting people who have the audacity to speak any language other than English in this country!!

Hey, Gov. Jan Brewer has found DCUM!

I think we should vote on a national music style, something originating in America. Should it be jazz, blues, or rap?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:cont. The melting pot combines many cultures into one. When everyone is speaking their own language, they will stay in their own groups. Is that really what you want America to be?

YES!! We need to have a cultural task force to go around arresting people who have the audacity to speak any language other than English in this country!!

Hey, Gov. Jan Brewer has found DCUM!

I think we should vote on a national music style, something originating in America. Should it be jazz, blues, or rap?

I think those are considered foreign too despite originating here in America. Most likely any genre that doesn't include the occasional "Yee-haw!!" will not be allowed as the national music style.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ameriac the Beautiful is sung in Catholic Mass. They don't allow secular songs as part of Mass. I have always viewed it as religious and patriotic.

America the Beautiful is a secular song that was co-opted by the Catholic Church. Just because they did so, does not make it a religious song. It is a patriotic American song that as has been pointed out has--as many Americans do--roots from abroad (a borrowed English melody) but it's essence and spirit are American.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ameriac the Beautiful is sung in Catholic Mass. They don't allow secular songs as part of Mass. I have always viewed it as religious and patriotic.

America the Beautiful is a secular song that was co-opted by the Catholic Church. Just because they did so, does not make it a religious song. It is a patriotic American song that as has been pointed out has--as many Americans do--roots from abroad (a borrowed English melody) but it's essence and spirit are American.

And just because you don't think it is a religious song does not mean that everyone else needs to agree with you. It can be both. It can be one or the other.

You do not hold the monopoly on thought PP.

[Anonymous]

The theme song to "Star Trek" is religious to a lotta geeks out there - doesn't make it so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ameriac the Beautiful is sung in Catholic Mass. They don't allow secular songs as part of Mass. I have always viewed it as religious and patriotic.

America the Beautiful is a secular song that was co-opted by the Catholic Church. Just because they did so, does not make it a religious song. It is a patriotic American song that as has been pointed out has--as many Americans do--roots from abroad (a borrowed English melody) but it's essence and spirit are American.

And just because you don't think it is a religious song does not mean that everyone else needs to agree with you. It can be both. It can be one or the other.

You do not hold the monopoly on thought PP.

Just because a song mentions God doesn't make it a hymn. Ask your pastor if you can sing "God Blessed Texas" next Sunday.