Singing America's praise

Right Wing News recently slapped on its chest waders and slogged into the Democrat Underground cesspool and returned with comments from the moonbat "bash America first" crowd It seems the vitriol has overwhelmed the people to the point where singing the National Anthem is anathema to them.

To whit:

in_cog_ni_to: Has this ever happened to you? The Star Spangled Banner use to bring tears to my eyes. I would always choke up with pride when I heard the anthem. (before I learned how bad this freakin' country is) and last night at my son's wrestling meet, the school we were at played the Star Spangled Banner (that's never happened at any other meet) and I found myself.....ANGRY BEYOND BELIEF! I WAS P*SSED THAT THEY PLAYED IT. P*SSED THAT I HAD TO LISTEN TO IT AND P*SSED THAT THE SHEEPLE STOOD THERE WITH THEIR HANDS ON THEIR HEARTS as if this country is something to be proud of. I was SHOCKED by my gut reaction. I was FURIOUS. It was so unexpected. Have any of you ever experienced that? It's been YEARS since I've been at any event where the SSB was played and my reaction was so visceral. I-was-angry.

MADem: I am permanently sickened by GOD BLESS AMERICA, myself. I used to like it, the odd time I would hear it, in Kate Smith style. Now, it makes me physically ill, frankly.

Rabrrrrrr: I no longer sing it. I refuse to sing it. I will stand when it is played, but I will not join in. I will not say the pledge of allegiance, either.

BoneDaddy: I can definately relate. I work in a school and every morning we are "forced" to say the Pledge of Alligience. Back when I had some pride regarding being an American I would participate in the pledge with some gusto, now I find it empty and meaningless, some collection of impotent words with no real relationship to what is occuring in this country.

There is a right wing woman I work with who, like some kindergarten child who just proudly learned the words, stands up, hand over heart and loudly says the pledge like a good sheep should. It makes me sick.

My response:

I'm just not sure how someone can truly look at the information available today and judge the United States to be inferior to ANY other country. I don't care whether you compare countries based on contribution to global wellbeing, domestic freedoms or quality of life.

We've hosted 12 exchange students over the last few years from various countries including Russia, China, Brazil, Mexico, Venezuela and Germany, and each will attest to the American quality of life. Most will also point out some things conveniently overlooked in the sophomoric thinking of America bashers: our "poor" are not poor compared to people from other countries; our civic freedoms are not enjoyed by other countries; social status here is limited only by talent and drive; corruption is the exception, not the rule.

And in the area of foreign relations, I'd like these Neville Chamberlains to tell me who is going to push for an orderly world if we do not? Russia? China? Perhaps the enlightened aristocracy of Iran? Should we withdraw to our borders and (again) let the world burn around us?

The United States is not perfect - no country comprised of human beings can be. It's just the best around. And no amount of hyperbole from our homegrown America-haters is going to change that.