God Bless America? by John Ryan
John Ryan writes a column every month for the Walton Reporter. I consider his September 20th. column entitled God Bless America? to be outstanding and should be shared with readers throughout America.
God Bless America? by John Ryan
The fifth anniversary of September 11 has come and gone and it brought back to me an image from five years ago when members of Congress - Republicans and Democrats - standing on the steps of the Capital holding hands, together raised their voices in singing God Bless America, a rare and remarkable demonstration of bi-partisan solidarity. The words have been part of our national consciousness throughout the five years since that terrible event, invoked in song and speech, with decals and stickers. I don’t think any modern nation makes as great a public display of its dependence on and support of the deity. When you think about it, however, it’s not surprising, for many Americans feel that our country has a special relationship with the Divinity. Our currency tells us "In God We Trust," our national anthem refers to this "heaven-rescued land." In America we invoke God to "protect us by Thy might, Great God our King," and America the Beautiful asks the Almighty to shed His grace on us. And what politician or clergyman at a political event hasn’t called upon the deity to grant special consideration to our national efforts?
This imagined congruence of our national interest and the divine will was taken to its zenith by Senator Albert Beveridge in a speech given in 1898 in Boston, justifying our declaration of war on Spain, when he said, "American law, American order, American civilization, and the American flag will plant themselves on shores hitherto bloody and benighted, but, by those agencies of God, henceforth to be made beautiful and bright." For Beveridge and many others, our mission was to wield a righteous sword for the world and the Lord and we hear strong echos of this from our present president. In the eyes of some, opposition to our national policy not only tastes of treason but also seeks to frustrate the divine will for which the dissident should pay a terrible price.
One of the verses of America the Beautiful says, "America, America, God mend thy every flaw." Therefore, I would suggest that if we are truly desirous of gaining the benediction of the Almighty, we consider the old saw, "God helps those who help themselves" (I won’t vouch for the theological accuracy of this proposition but it does make a good working principal.). Therefore, we should look closely to see if our nation is in accord with the Holy One and, where there are flaws, correct them in order that we might be worthy of His blessing.
Christianity, Judaism, and Islam agree that God is wise, loving, kind, merciful, just, compassionate, and the source of peace. Therefore, any nation seeking His blessing should also show these qualities. Can we say that they apply to the national policies of America in 2006? Without going into great detail, I think that we have to say, "No," for we see the anguish and bloodshed brought about by two American-initiated wars, indifference to poverty along with favoritism toward great wealth, a lack of concern for all but a particular class, as well as total neglect of the social and economic inequality that exists in our land. We speak of the way of God but we follow the way of the world, working our will by power and might.
If our nation were truly a follower of the Lord, the deserts would bloom, the hungry would be fed, the naked clothed and, as in western Europe when we initiated the Marshall Plan, around the world the name of the United States would bring joy into the hearts of millions and all would exclaim, "God Bless America." All this could come to pass but it requires wisdom, a thirst for justice, and feelings of compassion and mercy, all of which are absent from our present government.
In eleven days, Jews will be observing Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, asking forgiveness and declaring their repentance, vowing to change a wayward heart. In forty-eight days, the voters of America will have the opportunity to amend the course of a wayward nation, to begin to restore ourselves in the eyes of God and of the world. The current government has failed both God and Man. There must be a change or God Bless America will be but an empty and self-righteous phrase, indicating that, although we say that we wish to do God’s will, what we really want is for God to do ours.
God Bless America? by John Ryan
The fifth anniversary of September 11 has come and gone and it brought back to me an image from five years ago when members of Congress - Republicans and Democrats - standing on the steps of the Capital holding hands, together raised their voices in singing God Bless America, a rare and remarkable demonstration of bi-partisan solidarity. The words have been part of our national consciousness throughout the five years since that terrible event, invoked in song and speech, with decals and stickers. I don’t think any modern nation makes as great a public display of its dependence on and support of the deity. When you think about it, however, it’s not surprising, for many Americans feel that our country has a special relationship with the Divinity. Our currency tells us "In God We Trust," our national anthem refers to this "heaven-rescued land." In America we invoke God to "protect us by Thy might, Great God our King," and America the Beautiful asks the Almighty to shed His grace on us. And what politician or clergyman at a political event hasn’t called upon the deity to grant special consideration to our national efforts?
This imagined congruence of our national interest and the divine will was taken to its zenith by Senator Albert Beveridge in a speech given in 1898 in Boston, justifying our declaration of war on Spain, when he said, "American law, American order, American civilization, and the American flag will plant themselves on shores hitherto bloody and benighted, but, by those agencies of God, henceforth to be made beautiful and bright." For Beveridge and many others, our mission was to wield a righteous sword for the world and the Lord and we hear strong echos of this from our present president. In the eyes of some, opposition to our national policy not only tastes of treason but also seeks to frustrate the divine will for which the dissident should pay a terrible price.
One of the verses of America the Beautiful says, "America, America, God mend thy every flaw." Therefore, I would suggest that if we are truly desirous of gaining the benediction of the Almighty, we consider the old saw, "God helps those who help themselves" (I won’t vouch for the theological accuracy of this proposition but it does make a good working principal.). Therefore, we should look closely to see if our nation is in accord with the Holy One and, where there are flaws, correct them in order that we might be worthy of His blessing.
Christianity, Judaism, and Islam agree that God is wise, loving, kind, merciful, just, compassionate, and the source of peace. Therefore, any nation seeking His blessing should also show these qualities. Can we say that they apply to the national policies of America in 2006? Without going into great detail, I think that we have to say, "No," for we see the anguish and bloodshed brought about by two American-initiated wars, indifference to poverty along with favoritism toward great wealth, a lack of concern for all but a particular class, as well as total neglect of the social and economic inequality that exists in our land. We speak of the way of God but we follow the way of the world, working our will by power and might.
If our nation were truly a follower of the Lord, the deserts would bloom, the hungry would be fed, the naked clothed and, as in western Europe when we initiated the Marshall Plan, around the world the name of the United States would bring joy into the hearts of millions and all would exclaim, "God Bless America." All this could come to pass but it requires wisdom, a thirst for justice, and feelings of compassion and mercy, all of which are absent from our present government.
In eleven days, Jews will be observing Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, asking forgiveness and declaring their repentance, vowing to change a wayward heart. In forty-eight days, the voters of America will have the opportunity to amend the course of a wayward nation, to begin to restore ourselves in the eyes of God and of the world. The current government has failed both God and Man. There must be a change or God Bless America will be but an empty and self-righteous phrase, indicating that, although we say that we wish to do God’s will, what we really want is for God to do ours.
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