…though apparently a number of people believe he/she/it is a nationalist.

Which serves as the preface to the question I pose today; what in the world does it mean when people say “God bless America?”

I am serious. I can’t for the life of me- though I suggest a meaning at the end of this post- understand what in the hell people mean by this.

I heard the Senator from Massachusetts, John Kerry (D), utter these words the other night. And then it was Mitt Romney at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul.

They were just the latest in a long line of windbags who use this wrap-up. Whether from the far left or the far right or somewhere in-between, politicians are particularly prone to this pious incantation.

It usually occurs at the end of their speech. It is as if this conclusion lends special credibility to their words, or perhaps a level of sacrosanct patriotism not attainable by their adversaries.

So…let’s slow way down and examine the words.

God Bless America.

Hmmmm.

Does God really pick out certain nation-states to shower with blessing over others? Do democracies have an advantage? Maybe North American countries? Does God have some kind of animus toward Asians, or perhaps Africans or South Americans?

Have you ever heard a leader from another nation ask for this intervention? Perhaps French President Nicolas Sarkozy? Did General Augusto Pinochet ever say these words in front of the Chilean people? How about Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic? God knows (or at least clear-thinking humans) the people of the former Yugoslavia could have used some help from God.

If we really believe God will somehow intervene in some helpful way, why limit this treatment to just Americans? Why not do the Christian thing, and say something like “God bless us everyone?” What, are we selfish? Why not spread the love?

And if in fact it is a possibility that God will bless us when we ask…does that mean God kind of pulls the strings from up there? Or from wherever God would be when he pulls the strings?

And…if that is the case, what becomes of the ‘free will’ we allegedly possess? I mean, if God kind of jumps in the picture now and then, doesn’t that make life kind of a charade? Why wouldn’t God help the victims of hurricanes? Or children from sexual abuse? Or people with horrific diseases? Why wouldn’t that merit intervention?

I am left with the following questions/observations:

1. is it possible that some people, while professing a belief in God, have not a clue what that God is?

2. some people, particularly politicians, are charlatans and manipulators who use the words “God bless America” to posture as pure-as-the-driven-snow leaders.

This leads to another question, which is rather disturbing:

If these people are our leaders, what does this say about the rest of us, in light of the following quote:

“We get the leaders we deserve.” (author unknown)