What would you think if you read this:
"Why should G*d bless America?"
"Why should G*d stand beside her?"
"The most that we can hope for is G*d’s mercy on our land."
Who says these things? Osama Bin Laden?
Yes, a rightwing group in Ohio has altered and debased America the Beautiful to reflect their paranoid and dark tunnel vision of our nation.
This rightwing group has taken the liberty to alter the words to the song America to fit their agenda. These Republicans say that G*d no longer loves America and has abandoned us. The most we can hope for is... mercy. Grace has gone right out the window.
Why Should God Bless America?
For those who didn’t have the opportunity to watch the Values Voter Debate last evening, you missed quite a display of political pandering, ridiculous rhetoric and all-around right-wing lunacy. You also missed this lovely rendition of "God Bless America" performed by the Church of God Choir, from Springfield, Ohio – reworded to better reflect the Right’s agenda.
TPM noted that it was a big hit among the conservative Republicans in the room.
Instead of a song about "the land that I love," and "home sweet home," this version condemns the country, saying we've all turned against God, and that He won't bless us. It was a big hit among the conservative Republicans in the room.
These Republicans have no shame. No honor. They want us to live on our knees, they’ve bent to Osama Bin Laden.
Well, this proud Democrat pledges allegiance to a land that’s... free.
G*d Bless America. Land that I love.
I’ll stand beside her and guide her...
We’ll go to those mountains... to those prairies... to the oceans fraught with storms...
G*d bless America... She’s my home sweet home.
From Ray Charles, a democratic version of America the Beautiful
America! America!
God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!
O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country loved,
And mercy more than life!
America! America!
May God thy gold refine,
Till all success be nobleness,
And every gain divine!
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!
We need to find our brotherhood 'cause brother Ray wants to hear our voices help him sing it.