Is the U.S. too War-like? It seems like every public event that I attend that has the U.S. National Anthem with images on some screen played prior to the festivities shows clips of Warships, fighter jets, and military troops with an occasional mountain of forest thrown in. In other countries during similar events they show pictures of mountains and coastlines and prosperous cities of their country kind of they way we used to do it here. I just wonder what we are becoming when we so blantantly equate the military with patriotism? Patriotism has long been used to recruit service men but it seems recently that the line between patriotism and the military has been erased. They are two very different ideals that have merged into one entity. There are many here in this forum that believe that there is no difference but are we just being conditioned by the military industrial complex to believe this. What do you think? Are we becoming too war-like as a nation?
Well, it's not like the Star Spangled Banner is about a casual tiptoe through the tulips. American The Beautiful is kind of our 'peaceful anthem' and it is performed along with the Star Spangled Banner sometimes. I think it has even been proposed to replace the Star Spangled Banner at times in the past. However, it has that pesky 'God' word strew all through it so that is probably never going to happen and we will just have to keep our 'warlike anthem' instead.
Honestly, I think the United States had a golden opportunity over the last 60 or so years to model appropriate superpower behavior. Yeah; we didn't.
You know this is one thing that has impressed me about you Americans You stand for your National anthem and sing along (ok sometimes not that well LOL) you play it at major events and minor ones and take it seriously At one time we use to do similar things but these days it seems to have vanished with some Exceptions such as at Hockey games (Ice not field) In my opinion there is nothing wrong with been proud of your nation and showing it nor is there anything wrong with showing gratitude to those who serve simply remember that they serve you and not the politicians At least we have rediscoverd our pride in our Armed forces as has been displayed time and time again at Royal Wootton Bassett
The problem here is that too few people know the difference between patriotism and nationalism. The line is becoming blurred and that's a scary thought. I love my country. I also know for a fact that my country is not superior to the rest of the world just by virtue of it's existence. We screw up plenty and we should be brave enough to acknowledge that fact.
Signing the National Anthem should be something that brings us together as a nation, as a people and enable us to reflect on what our nation has been, is or what we would like it to be and how much struggle it has taken to make a nation. It doesn't, or shouldn't, mean that we think our nation is perfect or superior or whatever. Think of it as a big group hug.
