Dear gods I hate this song...

During my run through boot camp for the US Navy back in '91, you were railroaded into making a declaration of religion and attending services on Sundays, or being left in the barracks to the tender ministrations of a Company Commander who was grumpy at having to 'babysit' you... I unfortunately picked "non-denominational Christian" Had I gone Catholic, I could have had movies, and had I gone Judaism, I coulda had a lunch buffet - but no, with the version I picked, I wound up with decent to horrid 'inspirational' christian music and performances - and the horror of every weekend having to stand to attention while "Proud to be an American" was played over incredibly sappy visuals.

There's gotta be something in the Geneva about treating your own troops that way...

I can understand the implications of "standing to honor your country", but in my opinion, a vast majority of people in this case stand for the same reason people at baseball games do for 'Take me out to the Ballgame' - it's traditional, and everyone else is doing it so if you don't you look funny.

Peer pressure wins again.

M