So at the Giants/Dodgers game Sunday and I realize that essentially since the 9/11 attacks God Bless America has been played as a routine before Take Me Out To The Ballgame as part of a new tradition within games in relationship to honoring our country and its past-time. I am not forcing my views or perpetuating them because I am very uninterested in political agendas and ideologies in general, but I know what opinions I have on social issues and where I stand. While it has become socially acceptable thing to do, I simply took off my hat and remained in my seat during the entire seventh inning (partly because I was hot and did not need to stretch). Yet I felt unpatriotic despite the fact I was confident in my decision (we just honored America before the game and I completely support that!!!)
As I watched the crowds rise to their feet, I guess the cynic in me took over and I faced the very realistic view that this is the greatest country in the world and I'd never want to live anywhere else. If I didn't live here sports would have not been such an interest in my life and most Americans are very blessed in this country. Yet I just couldn't help myself for not getting past the idea of the powerful elite made up of old business families centuries ago at the top who are in control of everything and start/end wars and make money off of people's lives. I think about how wars are pointless and only used to exploit, make money, and control populations. I have so much admiration and respect for our military and armed forces and I hate the fact that people pulling the strings from above are simply using them as poker chips in terms of asserting power, domination, or intimidation instead of just using them as defensive and not offensive purposes. I think of all the other uses the trillions spent on defense could be put towards instead (and this does not just go for the U.S. but for all countries) yet arms buildups are constant competitions amongst countries wanting to be reckoned with. It's pretty sad but I just took off my hat and clapped after the songs. I wish I had a better reason to stand (God is essentially out of the public world now and I am Catholic) and honor America because of a horrible tragedy (9/11), but on this particular day I found myself grieving for the victims of terrorism, war, and was not as enthused for "honoring" those running this great country right now as I usually am.
I don't mean to make this a political commentary, but I realize this is a MLB tradition now for several years and right now I think they should just get on with the Star Spangled Banner (I stood obviously!!!!) and Take Me Out instead of furthering the praising of America with so many questions unanswered in the world today.....By the way Cain can't beat the Dodgers yet in his young career and didn't have good stuff as bench players like DeWitt, Laroche, and Angel Berrora were beating Giants regulars....Dodgers as small favs was the solid pick..
As I watched the crowds rise to their feet, I guess the cynic in me took over and I faced the very realistic view that this is the greatest country in the world and I'd never want to live anywhere else. If I didn't live here sports would have not been such an interest in my life and most Americans are very blessed in this country. Yet I just couldn't help myself for not getting past the idea of the powerful elite made up of old business families centuries ago at the top who are in control of everything and start/end wars and make money off of people's lives. I think about how wars are pointless and only used to exploit, make money, and control populations. I have so much admiration and respect for our military and armed forces and I hate the fact that people pulling the strings from above are simply using them as poker chips in terms of asserting power, domination, or intimidation instead of just using them as defensive and not offensive purposes. I think of all the other uses the trillions spent on defense could be put towards instead (and this does not just go for the U.S. but for all countries) yet arms buildups are constant competitions amongst countries wanting to be reckoned with. It's pretty sad but I just took off my hat and clapped after the songs. I wish I had a better reason to stand (God is essentially out of the public world now and I am Catholic) and honor America because of a horrible tragedy (9/11), but on this particular day I found myself grieving for the victims of terrorism, war, and was not as enthused for "honoring" those running this great country right now as I usually am.
I don't mean to make this a political commentary, but I realize this is a MLB tradition now for several years and right now I think they should just get on with the Star Spangled Banner (I stood obviously!!!!) and Take Me Out instead of furthering the praising of America with so many questions unanswered in the world today.....By the way Cain can't beat the Dodgers yet in his young career and didn't have good stuff as bench players like DeWitt, Laroche, and Angel Berrora were beating Giants regulars....Dodgers as small favs was the solid pick..