CONDEMN THIS! - Repubs Rewrite 'God Bless America'

Rewriting 'God Bless America'
09.23.07 -- 9:13AMBy Steve Benen

It didn't generate much in the way of media attention this week, but a bunch of religious right groups co-sponsored the first-ever "Values Voter" debate a few days ago for the GOP presidential field. The top four (Giuliani, Romney, McCain, and Thompson) stayed away, but seven other Republican presidential hopefuls cozied up to luminaries such as Phyllis Schlafly, Paul Weyrich, and Don Wildmon.

There were plenty of bizarre questions and answers, but one of the elements of the debate that stood out for me was, oddly enough, the song that got things started. Event organizers invited the Church of God Choir, from Springfield, Ohio, to sing "God Bless America" -- except the lyrics were rewritten. 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.

VIDEO:
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/053945.php

LYRICS:

Why should God bless America?
She’s forgotten he exists
And has turned her back
On everything that made her what she is

Why should God stand beside her
Through the night with the light from his hand?
God have mercy on America
Forgive her sin and heal our land

The courts ruled prayer out of our schools
In June of ‘62
Told the children “you are your own God now
So you can make the rules”
O say can you see what that choice
Has cost us to this day
America, one nation under God, has gone astray

Why should God bless America?
Shes’s forgotten he exists
And has turned her back on everything
That made her what she is

Why should God stand beside her
Through the night with the light from his hand?
God have mercy on America
Forgive her sins and heal our land

In ‘73 the Courts said we
Could take the unborn lives
The choice is yours don’t worry now
It’s not a wrong, it’s your right

But just because they made it law
Does not change God’s command
The most that we can hope for is
God’s mercy on our land

Why should God bless America?
She’s forgotten he exists
And has turned her back on everything
That made her what she is

Why should God stand beside her
Through the night with the light from his hand?
God have mercy on America
Forgive her sins and heal our land

(Reading from 2nd Chronicles 7:14) If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and forgive their sin and heal their land

God have mercy on America forgive her sins and heal our land

Posted by Kyle at 12:43 PM

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/053945.php

America. Irving Berlin gave the copy write to BSA shortly after he wrote this song. Irving Berlin was notorious for protecting his copywritten material. I sure hope the BSA is equally protective. They certainly must have no shortage of lawyers. This song is obviously not a parody but blatant plagerism. TPM has a link to the lyrics, the performance is probably not an infringement but publishing the lyrics probably is.

They think that things are so crappy in the middle east because god is punishing them for letting western influence in

Did they have permission to change the words to a published song from the copyright holders? Bet they didn't.

This kind of shit is why so many people are anti christian. Some real Christians should stand up and denounce them. If they don't then they shouldn't complain when people bash them. This is a country for all of us not just the fundies and their ways.

god-like complex..they think they KNOW exactly what god is thinking.

Life must really suck for them..all those claustrophobic control issues.

:sarcasm:

and, always remember: do as they say, not as they do.

Their problem is that they aren't satisfied having God in every part of their own lives. They need to cram it into every facet of other peoples' lives too. Fascist jerks.

republicans know they have lost the country. They know that real Americans have come to their senses and can't stand the deceit, the lying and the stealing and war monglering. They are in a panic. They are trying their best to do away with everything and anything American.

I think that was what bush has been doing trying to rebuild America for him the crooked, constituting shredding way.

go figure...

It's always OK to condemn DEMOCRATIC "military" types if you're a repuke...

It's always OK to say hateful and spiteful things about America if you're a repuke...

It's a downer. Snicker.

Those lyrics are the most amateurish thing I've ever read.

They're not sung to the tune of the original, are they? Because I see no way they'd fit the tune.

The song must be an absolute train wreck live.

- as

Anyone else for some bar-be-que fetus? Yum yum!

Is that "off the table" now too?

===