A National Hymn?
 
It started as a Bob Evans-fueled discussion with my significant other about the state of patriotism in our nation. Somehow—although typical, as I usually play out the part of “Man On A Tangent”—it ended up as a dialogue over the song “God Bless America.”
 
You’d have to be living in a mighty deep hole to not have noticed how pervasive the song has become since 9/11, from lawmakers holding hands singing it on the Capitol steps in a Capraesque display of non-partisanship, to a now-routine feature of every seventh-inning stretch at your local ballpark. The thing that crossed my mind and that I’ve been pondering for several days now is this: has the song been misused by all this usage, and have we actually managed to twist the original meaning of the lyrics?
 
God bless America, land that I love;
Stand beside her, and guide her
Through the night with a light from above.
 
In the original setting, composer Irving Berlin had a spoken introduction to this piece that ends with “As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer.” Taken with that in context, I’d say the lyrics to “God Bless America” act as just that—it’s a prayer for guidance, beseeching God for the strength required to go to and fight a great evil. Makes a great deal of sense considering that at the time Berlin made his final revisions to the text, it was 1938. Although the U.S. was uninvolved in the war that was breaking out all over Europe, there was probably a great sense that it would only be a matter of time before we as a country would become involved.
 
Consider if you will the patriotic climate of the current day—much different than the post-depression/preparing for war patriotism spurred by F.D.R.’s presidency in the late 1930s. Now the patriotic feelings of the nation are a little more forced , defiant, maybe almost defensive in nature. Not so much jingoistic as it is obligatory . I wonder if the message that “we’re right in doing what we’re doing” has been driven at us so much, that it’s subtly altered the way we’ve perceived things. Is it possible that Berlin’s original meaning has shifted from “Please help us to do good, Lord. Bless us in our actions” to something more along the lines of “God DOES bless us, and we’re acting at his mandate.” Hmmmmm…
 
Oh, and did I mention that someone actually sponsored a bill in the House of Representatives to officially make the song our “National Hymn?” Kind of getting into turbulent waters with that, aren’t we? Remember that whole concept of religious freedom we like to maintain, as well as the ever-ambiguous separation of church and state? Kind of starts to infringe a little on both of those, doesn’t it?
 
Well, not wanting to stray too far into that little hotbed, let’s return to what may have been the pivotal moment in the (for the time being) unofficial adoption of “God Bless” as this war’s answer to yellow ribbons tied on everything. And while it certainly can’t be narrowed down to one incident, nothing sets an example quite like your elected officials getting together for an impromptu show of solidarity on national television. What do you think would have happened had, say, one of our other historically patriotic songs been chosen? Like…
 
My Country ‘Tis of Thee,
Sweet land of liberty,
Of thee I sing;
Land where my fathers died,
Land of the pilgrim’s pride,
From every mountainside, let freedom ring!
 
Well, an excellent choice in terms of text. It avoids the God issue* that’s always going to be a hot button topic, but it introduces a brand new irony to being patriotic—the tune is actually taken from England’s “God Save the Queen,” which is traditionally (though not officially) their National Anthem. Of course, there’s a precedent set in that department, since the tune for OUR very-much-official National Anthem is, in fact, taken from an English drinking song. Still, can we really dip into that well twice? Nah, better move on to…
 
“This Land is Your Land”
 
Another excellent choice in the lyrical department—since both the words and music were penned by Woodie Guthrie, it’s in the clear. The only issue is that it’s maybe a little on the folksy side for general use and, oh yeah, probably half the people standing on the steps of the Capitol that night wouldn’t mind cutting down the “redwood forest” mentioned in the fifth line. Everybody sing! This land was made to profit me…
 
“You’re A Grand Old Flag”
 
Forget it. Too antiquated to translate to modern times. Plus there’s that line about “never a boast or brag.” It’s gotten to the point where we make “Canada” jokes because they’re still polite enough to stick to policies like that.
 
Which brings us, weirdly enough, to a choice that really hasn’t quite stood the test of time but is really quite spectacular: “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.”
 
It had kind of gone out of style, because it’s really a big text about righteous vengeance. But honestly it really, really fits the current situation well. Take note:
 
Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord:
He is trampling out the vintage (read: “regime change”) where the grapes of wrath (W.M.D.s) are stored (well, the C.I.A. SAID they were stored there, at any rate) ;
He hath loosed the fateful lightning (laser-guided bombs) of his terrible swift sword (insert your favorite branch of the U.S. armed forces here) :
His truth is marching on.
 
Well, someone’s truth is, at any rate. But see what I mean about it working?
 
I think we might need to concede that the whole “mentioning God” thing is pretty unavoidable, though. Sorry to those that might take offense. But if we’re going to do it, let’s pick the least offensive and intrusive manner as possible.
 
O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
 
Again, this song employs the same “beseeching God” tone as “God Bless America,” but it’s actually much more benign in nature and far less corruptible. The text on the whole speaks of the beauty of our country and implies that we should be united from coast to coast in good nature and deeds. To boot, it’s very singable and people actually know the words to one, if not TWO (or more!) verses. Here’s one of the later ones… you know it, don’t you?
 
O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
 
It speaks of patriotism, and really, could you find a more appropriate reference to the events of September 11 than the lines about the cities gleaming undimmed by human tears? Arguably, if that group of legislators had started singing “America the Beautiful” rather than “God Bless America,” not only would it have been a more appropriate choice for us as a nation to take hold of, but we might even have done so with more conviction. Plus, just for good measure, we already have what might be the definitive version of it in the interpretation left to us by the late Ray Charles. That might help make preserving the majesty of the song a little more effective, rather than the case of repeatedly hearing “God Bless” being ripped apart by every “American Idol” washout that can still find a live microphone.
 
 
 
*The Almighty does factor into the fourth verse, but since when do we Americans bother to sing four verses of anything ? I mean, aside from Don McLean’s “American Pie,” of course.

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Dustin hopes that his subtle commentary doesn't somehow end up qualifying him as an enemy of the state.