"God Damn America"

[onehandle]

Some at DU agree with this statement. Do you?

[last_texas_dem]

1. Sometimes.

[rucky]

34. that's my answer, too.

[silverweb]

60. Ditto.

Like everyone else, we are a mixed bag.

[theredpen]

66. Another vote for sometimes.

[MzShellG]

70. Same here.

Certain events such as the corrupt 2000 election, 2002 election, hurricane Katrina fall out, the corrupt 2004 election MLK/Malcolm X/JFK/RFK assasinations tended to have triggered these mixed feelings amongst other things in my personal life.

[Bolo Boffin]

2. What God? n/t

[Birthmark]

5. "God" is just a job title

We haven't found anyone that can really fill the position, so a people have hired various temps in the meantime. :)

[last_texas_dem]

11. Yeah, good point

I'm an agnostic but I still ask God to damn things for me on occasion; which is a bit presumptuous on my part, I guess...

[onehandle]

13. Pretend. nt

[groovedaddy]

3. I wouldn't say that while living here...down the road, who knows? n.t

[sudopod]

4. Smokin poll

SO I HERD U LIEK LEAVING QUOTES IN THEIR PROPER CONTEXT...

[olkaz]

21. careful, they need this "scandal" to go on a while longer

If it leaves the news too soon, they might all become an hero.

[sudopod]

24. They can't help it.

They need to pump up the fear factor for old white people over 9000. ^_^

[olkaz]

30. I agree, and I think it's time to start charging maylasia with their human rights violations

And seriously, this Pastor silliness has got to end. I was thinking about it then I pulled up to the house about 7 or 8, And I yelled to the cabbie 'Yo homes smell ya later' I looked at my kingdom I was finally there to sit on my throne as the Prince of Bel Air.

[sudopod]

32. XD nt

[mrreowwr_kittty]

6. That's funny

I had to double check and make sure I was still on Democratic Underground. For a second there, I thought I was on Jingoisticpatriot Underground.

Whew.

[rateyes]

7. God forgive and have mercy on America...

We deserve to be damned for a lot of things. I hope for mercy, but that will require us to show mercy. Have we shown mercy--in Iraq? In Darfur? In our historical treatment of people of color? In our treatment of the homeless? The poor? The sick? The mentally ill? The prisoners (especially the political prisoners?---Don't forget Abu Ghraib), etc. etc.

I vote other: God forgive and have mercy on America.

[Perky]

37. Amen and well said.

[kwenu]

68. Yes. Amen! Well said.

[berni_mccoy]

8. How many DUers agree with "God bless America"?

[Hepburn]

54. That is a meaningless statement to me.

I am an atheist...so I could not care less about stuff like that.

[burythehatchet]

57. Personally, I find that one of the most idiotic phrases I've ever heard.

God bless America...fuck the rest of the planet

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

64. "Something something America."

Empirically.

[rainy]

9. How do you mean it? I don't believe God damns anything or anyone.

But if your nation kills and it is wrong, then, what does it mean to say damn it? If it means, I think we should change our ways or we are destined to suffer of our own makings, not God's damnation, then we should suffer the consequences of our behavior, including doing nothing as people suffer and die in our names.

[onehandle]

20. I don't have an answer to how it's meant. I didn't say it. nt

[rateyes]

10. Do you? nt

[Jokerman]

12. Another empty phrase...

just like "God Bless America".

[Labors of Hercules]

14. what a bullshit straw man poll. You suck. nt.

[onehandle]

17. Thanks. nt

[Labors of Hercules]

29. I didn't say you were good at it...

:evilgrin:

[Dinger]

15. Should Be "God Save America" (nt)

[HughMoran]

16. WRT to what?

This is a really shallow post :(

[stillcool]

18. The American Government?

You Betcha!! Although the word I use is a little harsher.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

19. G-d damn some of the politicians who have lead this country in the wrong direction.

[sfam]

22. I think its a fair poll. And no I don't agree with that statement...

Yes, we as a country have done some truly shabby things, but "God Bless America" is a phrase which implies that we hope our future will be bright and fruitful. By transforming this to "God Damn America" the rather clear implication is that we no longer think we deserve a bright and fruitful future.

I think its fairly important to keep in mind that Obama doesn't support that sentiment. Even though this speech happened in 2003, given yet another round of press on this, I do agree that he needs to come out yet again and say so. More importantly, I think we as a party need to stop the destruction already. another 5 weeks of this junk will truly make Pennsylvania go in McCain's column come the GE.

[bridgit]

23. People here at DU that agree with the sentiment & care to see America damned...

are being disingenuous. 'yes' should be approaching the horizon line by now. I voted 'no'.

[jenmito]

25. What did he say that was factually wrong? Did he blame 9/11 on abortion and gay people? Or on our

foreign policy-which would make it a (subjectively) true statement? Just because he said it in a very angry tone, he more or less said the same thing Ron Paul said. And how could you blame Black people for feeling they've been treated unfairly? They HAVE been! I remember when Chris Rock said (about the comparison of a White woman and a Black man) that black men got LYNCHED for LOOKING at white women funny. :shrug:

[backscatter712]

America's already damned. Look at our current President. n/t

[zbdent]

26. whatever happened to that guy who said that 9/11 occurred due to "gays"?

and that other guy, who says "God hates fags"?

Oh, right ... they're still protected by the Right ...

[bridgit]

31. No, I think The Lord took one of them...and *that's* show business

[moxie_1]

43. Phelps is a Democrat, actually : \

"whatever happened to that guy who said that 9/11 occurred due to "gays"? and that other guy, who says "God hates fags"?

Oh, right ... they're still protected by the Right ..."

[zbdent]

52. please tell me how a DINO of Phelps' stature

is a "liberal" ... same way as Zell-out Miller and "Jump when Bush says jump"in' Joe Lieberman ...

[moxie_1]

62. I have no idea. I just know that's the party he claims.

I remember when he campaigned for Gore, in particular. Luckily, it didn't stick, probably because Gore's real positions were known to be so respectable.

Who knows what freaks like those use to rationalize anything.

[DearAbby]

27. God Approves of

Wars over lies
Torturing of Human beings
Hating people for the color of their skin
their gender
loves it when people turn their backs to the poor
allows them to suffer and die without healthcare.
Just to name a few reasons God Blessed this country


I am an Atheist...your deity doesnt damn this behavior...I WILL

[Nitrogenica]

28. No context? Sorry, but you're iggied then.

[onehandle]

35. I supplied context. "Some at DU agree " nt

[Blue Diadem]

41. op forgot: "it's in the bible, God Damn America for killing innocent people"

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/23631901#23631901

[susankh4]

33. I am sympathetic to it

but I don't agree with it.

[Forkboy]

36. God has better things to do with her time.

:crazy:

[GoldieAZ49]

38. Absolutely NOT

No country is perfect but there isn't another one I would rather live in.

God Bless the USA, we need all the help we can get!

[TahitiNut]

39. I am more in agreement with the rhetorical point that was being made than not.

To be clearer, as I understand it the question is regarding the "blessing" (approval) of past behavior versus "damning" (condemnation) of past behavior. Since we are defined by the worst of our acts - and remorse - rather than the best of our acts, I am in greater agreement that we deserve condemnation for remorseless commission of atrocities than that we deserve approval for upholding the values to which we give lip service.

To pretend that we have nothing to be ashamed of in the way we've behaved is narcissistic and self-indulgent. In a religious context, it's "how we treat the least of these" and NOT how we treat ourselves. We take pride in the creation of a nation that, as a whole, is a large camel facing a small needle - a "wealthy" nation. We serve that wealth in lieu of people - bananas instead of peasants.

It is not an "advisory" to God ... it is a viewpoint regarding sinful behavior and whether or not "by our acts shall we be known."

All the rest is brain-dead, junior high boosterism.

[Bad Thoughts]

40. Prophetic!

I don't know the context in which this was said, but Wright hardly seems out of bounds. It fits in perfectly with the prophetic tradition within the Bible in which the messengers of G-d pronounce the judgment upon the nation. In many cases, the judgment was based on social concerns, particularly the polarization of rich and poor and the lack of charity.

ETA: It's not too different from Kerry calling for "regime change at home."

[anonymous171]

42. OK, I'll admit it: I hate America.

:sarcasm: What are you, a republican?

[onehandle]

44. No. nt

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

45. If there was a God, as advertised, He would be indifferent.

Why would any deity, worthy of the name, be concerned about the doings of politicians on a speck of dust, circling an insignificant star, on the outskirts of an unremarkable galaxy, in a universe that is probably one of trillions of others?

[Political Heretic]

46. I'm not afraid to vote "yes" however it isn't either/or. America has a lot to be ashamed of.

And it has a lot of blood to answer for. It deserves to be damned for a lot of its actions. Yet, I still hope in the possibilities captured in the spirit of the bill of rights and those ideals, I hope in the american people that we can overcome our cruel and violent history and current government.

http://www.flagrancy.net/timeline.html

[Megahurtz]

47. American is already damned,

and it's not God's fault.

Why else do we need change? :shrug:

[onehandle]

48. kick. nt

[onehandle]

51. kick. nt

[Swamp Rat]

49. Other

[SoonerPride]

50. Don't you feel like we've already been damned?

I do. Things aren't so hot right now.

[Hepburn]

53. I don't believe in God...so it would be hard for me to agree or disagree...

...with a statement about a mythical creature. It's like asking me if I agree with something said about the Easter Bunny.

:shrug:

[MaineDem]

55. In what context?

For attacking Iraq and killing thousands of civilians?

For not providing health care and housing and education for thousands of poor Americans?

In some instances, it's valid.

[NMMatt]

61. Exactly

To be honest, when Wright talks about the government concocting Aids I find it over the line in the conspiracy theory world. Apart from that, most of what he said was completely valid - harsh, but valid. Which begs the question, why is it acceptable for a preacher to rail against the "sins" of abortion, homosexuality, and sex on television and what not and condemn America for it? Any reasonable person would believe that our history of slavery and institutional racism, militarism and war waging have been the real "sins" of America. There is quite a double standard here.

[RichardRay]

56. Moot for me...

As I don't recognize 'damning' as an act that can be performed, and certainly not against a collective entity like a country...

[LTR]

58. In the intended context, I understand

Thing is, people are taking it out of context, which means something else entirely.

[NMMatt]

59. Over killing innocent people in Iraq (which is to what the Reverand Wright was referring)?

Of course. It is amazing to me that so many people not only accept this about their country (and the leadership that made it happen) but take pride in it. That is what is disgusting.

[Raine]

63. Why?

Why would an American want the country they live in to be damned? :-( This country has it's problems for sure but I hope that it can solve them and make this a good country.

[smalll]

65. All together now!

God Damn America,
Land that I hate!
Stand beside her, to deride her -
Flip her off, and her flag, immolate!

From the dorm rooms,
To the ghettoes,
To our lattes - white with foam!
God Damn America, my home damn home...
Obamamerica, my home damn home!

[Forkboy]

67. hey, at least you did that without insinuating he was a pedophile like you did to me.

Hats off...you're getting better. You're almost up to the level of slug now! :thumbsup:

[smalll]

69. You've got me mixed up with someone else --

I never came close to insinuating that Barack is a pedophile. :shrug: Or do you mean you? I don't remember it. (You're not that 42-year-old dude with a 22-year-old wife are you?)

[Forkboy]

72. You're right...it was MyPetGoat..in the thread where you posted the Hitler Youth pic.

So, I'm sort of sorry. :shrug:

[tokenlib]

71. At times YES!!!

As a history major in college and a middle aged white guy--there are plenty of moments in this nations history where we deserved to be damned indeed.

Do you need a LIST?? This country has needed redemption at numerous times in its history. And it needs it now from this damned Bush's America!!!