How do I explain what's wrong about "God Bless The USA"?

[mac56]

Our newest employee at the radio station, a very good hearted young woman, wanted to play a tribute/rememberance to 9/11 last night. She asked my permission (I'm the PD) and I agreed as long as I okayed the songs she selected. She played a pretty broad mix, a few flag wavers and a few spiritual pieces, a few rockers and a few countryish hits. I drew the line at "Have You Forgotten" (told her that it was factually inaccurate, we aren't in Iraq to catch "the ones who helped Bin Laden") and at any "American boot in your butt" Toby Keith crap. I recommended she add "Chimes Of Freedom" (Springsteen's version), and she went along with that.

However, she insisted on playing Lee Greenwood's "God Bless The USA". We have it in our library, so it's fair game for her to play. But I had to try and explain to her why I think it's a crappy song. I wanted to express that I think it's mindless jingoistic flag-waving, kind of the auditory equivalent of a flag magnet on the side of your gas-guzzlin' four-by-four, but I don't think she would have gotten it.

It's moot by now, of course, but I'm puzzled. How does one convey to the Toby Keith set just why that song is so stupid? Especially to someone who is so good hearted and sincere?

Or does one even try? Like what you like, I guess.

(edit on review)

[sakabatou]

1. Aren't most idealogues saying that God smited the USA?

[BikeWriter]

2. I used to think superficially about that song...

The last time I listened to the words and I knew it was not about MY USA, but someone else's. :(

[skygazer]

3. I don't think it's even worth it to try

The thing is, I don't think most people listen very critically to lyrics. They just catch enough of the emotion to either like it or not. It's the same way with those mindless, meaningless phrases like "God bless America". People don't really think about what they're saying (why exactly do they believe god is going to bless America, presumably at the expense of other countries - otherwise you'd say 'god bless humanity' or something. I mean, does god really care about countries?) - it's just a commonly used phrase that's supposed to be positive and uplifting and so, to those people, it is.

I think you'd probably wind up being perceived as some sort of godless radical. You godless radical, you!

[SOteric]

4. My personal feeling is that it's

belligerent and manipulative, designed specifically to arouse the more fanatical patriotic emotions.

But as the program director, I'm not sure I'd explain, even to a sincere person in great detail. It should be enough to assure that there are a great many in the listening audience, you amoung them, who'd feel that the Greenwood song is a bit too over the top. Her selections will be just right without it.