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Post by Jaga on Dec 11, 2005 14:18:35 GMT -7
Another one of this cross-cultural issue problems.
Is it OK when people put "God bless the US" sticker on their cars? I would say - I can tolerate better "God bless America" or "God bless you" than something like "God bless the US" - is God really so... territorial? Should God bless America but not for instance... American enemies? The same is in Poland where some of the very Catholic Parties pray to God as like this was a God of Poland, Madonna of Poland but not really the God of all of us.
What do you think about this whole issue?
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Post by bescheid on Dec 11, 2005 14:36:39 GMT -7
Jaga
As a person and only speaking for my self. Personally I do not approve of the use of Gods name on a sticker. For one thing, it cheapens the meaning of God into a phase of advertisement that is meaningless.
My personal feeling is that Gods word need to be in our hearts and not on some bumper of an auto.
Just my feelings is all
Charles
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george
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Post by george on Dec 11, 2005 15:45:59 GMT -7
I always felt uncomfortable with excessive patriotisim. And when they bring God into it really makes me cringe. During the Olympics when people chant USA USA, i want to crawl under my chair. Nothing wrong with being patriotic mind you its only when its overdone does it get annoying and dangerous. Although i think there might be an explanation for this in America. Remember that this country throughout its exisistance developed thru a polyglot of people from different lands, religions, cultures where these people could have easily developed sympathies and patriotisim to their former homelands. Therefore because of these possibilities American schools and governments preached extreme patriotisim to counteract that possible develpment.
God and patriotisim is even more uncomfortable. Footnote: I remember when i played basketball for a Catholic school way back when. We were intructed to bless ourselves before every foul shot. I always thought why the hell God would stop what he was doing to bless our school basketball game results. Oh well, i refused to do it and always got my rear end chewed out after the game by Father Jablonski. Never did like that guy and despite the team blessing their selves before the foul shots, are team sucked anyway.
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franek80
Cosmopolitan
From Sea To Shining Sea
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Post by franek80 on Dec 11, 2005 15:56:15 GMT -7
This is why we are called ugly Americans
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Post by Jaga on Dec 11, 2005 17:55:32 GMT -7
I always felt uncomfortable with excessive patriotisim. I remember when i played basketball for a Catholic school way back when. We were intructed to bless ourselves before every foul shot. I always thought why the hell God would stop what he was doing to bless our school basketball game results. I think this could be called "God abuse" - there is even one of the commandments - you should not call God's name without a reason |
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Bob S
European
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Post by Bob S on Dec 11, 2005 18:54:05 GMT -7
;D Perhaps having a bumper sticker on your car in America is worse than those riots and destruction that break out in Europe after football matches. Don't worry America is following in the footsteps of Europe; we are now beginning to see mob rule after athletic events too. Go ahead, display the colors and logo of your favorite team, city or country and join the riots after the game; just don't display a bumper sticker here in America because it might upset someone.  |
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piwo
Citizen of the World
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Post by piwo on Dec 11, 2005 19:00:31 GMT -7
Well said Bobs.. Who the heck really cares anyway? TO each their own. Once again, if you don't like it... TOUGH, don't join in, or don't put any stickers on your car.
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nancy
European
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Post by nancy on Dec 11, 2005 19:58:30 GMT -7
The stickers don't say "God bless the USA and screw everyone else."
Why should we not ask for a blessing (God knows we need one).
Not that I condone bumper stickers themselves, but just remember how many times in history men went off to battle saying that God is on their side? Is this not a very old argument/postiion? Everybody seems to think that right (God) is there for them, but not the other guy.
Quit blaming Americans if they adopted a custom of thinking that originated in Europe (or, at least not with Americans). We are not the only ones.
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Post by kaima on Dec 12, 2005 1:04:35 GMT -7
Bob,
Bouncing off topic so quickly leaves the impression you have sour grapes or something distasteful you cannot express. Do you have an opinion on the stickers? I do think they can be overdone, and they remind me a bit of the Tibetan prayer flags. That seems to be the way the US is going these days.
As for violence at European sports, some American pointed out to me that Americans seem to contain the violence to the playing field, while the European go for less violent sports and take the violence to the grandstands and streets. Bob, Bouncing off topic so quickly leaves the impression you have sour grapes or something distasteful you cannot express. Do you have an opinion on the stickers? I do think they can be overdone, and they remind me a bit of the Tibetan prayer flags that praise God with every flap in the breeze. That seems to be the way the US is going these days.
As for violence at European sports, some American pointed out to me that Americans seem to contain the violence to the playing field, while the European go for less violent sports and take the violence to the grandstands and streets.
Kai
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Post by pieter on Dec 12, 2005 5:32:55 GMT -7
I am not insulted by God bless America and God bless the US, here in Europe every nationality had the flag of their own country on the back of their car, now that's the EU with the initials of the country. In Europe exteem nationalism comes up with the Champions leage (European competition) and the EC (European Championship). In my neighboorhood when Turkey or Galatasaray ( www.galatasaray.org/ ) wins it is like I am living in Istanbull, a colone of hundreds of cars with Turkish flags, cheering and dancing Turks. The same when Holland wins but a littlebit less. |
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Post by Jaga on Dec 12, 2005 9:42:37 GMT -7
I am not sure about this theme of stickers. Nancy is right that it is OK to ask for blessing if you do not want to screw anybody else...
In Poland we asked blessed Mary to keep our country under her care and protection and this way of asking for help is even less controversial in my mind.
But the "God Bless America" sticker reminds me of Bin Laden and Alqueda being happy after Katrina's disaster ... and saying that God listened to their prayers... as like they did not have the earthquake in Pakistan mountains soon after
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Bob S
European
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Post by Bob S on Dec 12, 2005 12:53:25 GMT -7
I am not sure about this theme of stickers. Nancy is right that it is OK to ask for blessing if you do not want to screw anybody else... In Poland we asked blessed Mary to keep our country under her care and protection and this way of asking for help is even less controversial in my mind. [But the "God Bless America" sticker reminds me of Bin Laden and Alqueda being happy after Katrina's disaster ... and saying that God listened to their prayers... as like they did not have the earthquake in Pakistan mountains soon after ] ;D The one huge difference Jaga it that the cars of Osama are packed with homemade bombs so that a lot of people can be murdered and maimed.  |
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Bob S
European
Rainbow Bear
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Post by Bob S on Dec 12, 2005 13:12:38 GMT -7
;D Bob, Bouncing off topic so quickly leaves the impression you have sour grapes or something distasteful you cannot express. Do you have an opinion on the stickers? I do think they can be overdone, and they remind me a bit of the Tibetan prayer flags. That seems to be the way the US is going these days. As for violence at European sports, some American pointed out to me that Americans seem to contain the violence to the playing field, while the European go for less violent sports and take the violence to the grandstands and streets. Bob, Bouncing off topic so quickly leaves the impression you have sour grapes or something distasteful you cannot express. Do you have an opinion on the stickers? I do think they can be overdone, and they remind me a bit of the Tibetan prayer flags that praise God with every flap in the breeze. That seems to be the way the US is going these days. As for violence at European sports, some American pointed out to me that Americans seem to contain the violence to the playing field, while the European go for less violent sports and take the violence to the grandstands and streets. Kai ;D LOL Kai, no sour grapes here. Sometimes you see those cars and other motor vehicles that are loaded with bumper stickers and what is funny are the people who will pull up close behind to read all those stickers and then have an accident because thats where their attention was. ;D Wait .....I have one sour grape and that is: America coopting the name "Budweiser Beer". Lets keep it in the Chezc Republic where it properly belongs. Oh, oh! Spelling? |
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Post by bescheid on Dec 12, 2005 16:14:30 GMT -7
well all
Might I refer to a solders thought of long in past while in battle," If God is on their side, then what is on our side?".
This was a quote from a letter written by a German solder while on the Russia front. At the moment, it escapes me his name, but; oh well he is long dead, should never have mentioned it.
Charles
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george
Cosmopolitan
Posts: 568
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Post by george on Dec 12, 2005 17:09:28 GMT -7
"In Poland we asked blessed Mary to keep our country under her care and protection and this way of asking for help is even less controversial in my mind."
Man, i was reluctant to post this because i don't want to offend peoples religious sensibilities ( i couldn't care less if people beleived in the moon as their God as long as they behaved )but here it goes anyway.
I was in Poland twice and i couldn't help notice that there was a lot of Marian piety in that country. I asked about it a few times, and the explaination i got was that " She was the protecter of Poland".
I thought a little bit and thought to myself. Protecter? With that kind of protection maybe something else ought to be tried. I mean, look at Polish history. Three partitions with millions kiled. Loss of homes, families, sons and daughters slaughtered! With protection like that i would try my luck with another saint. I don;t mean to be sarcastic about it, but an outsider with a little knowledge about history should raise their eyebrows.
Maybe our founding fathers were right. They were mostly diests, who thought God made the world and left it at that. Another words, we were responsible for our own actions and ( he or she ) wasn't going to get involved so to speak. Just a thought.
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