Opinions of the of the song's inclusion in baseball, sorted by respondents’ ranked opinion (1 = no opinion; 2 = strongly
dislike; 3 = dislike; 4 = mixed feelings; 5 = like; 6 = really like.) 1
Baseball and America = Mom and Apple Pie. It is not inappropriate.
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Doesn't bother me, it's OK.
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Doesn't bother me. Already enthuzism seems to be fading until the next attack.
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Don't follow baseball that much, but I like to watch once and a while
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Don't think that it really harms anyone by doing it, so why not, if there are people who enjoy it and/or believe it is important.
Frankly I am neither in favor or against the song being removed from the seventh inning stretch. For me personally the song,
which holds no value in my mind, has no effect on me. However, since many are able to validate an obligatory and ritualistic
need to be patriotic the song should remain. For better of for worse, God Bless America helps many feel better about
themselves. I love my county and do not need a song to prove it.
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I don't care that much one way or the other.
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I don't pay all that much attention to it
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I dont go to baseball games-boring
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I have no problem with the song being played. it lasts 60 seconds.
I wouldn't care if it was part of the game or not part of the game. Baseball is America's national pastime, so its some what
fitting. However, if it the practice ceased I wouldn't be up in arms about it. The only person who should be particularly upset
about it is the away team's pitcher. As a former college pitcher, I would think he would want to get his warm up tosses in as
soon as possible, so as to not interrupt his rhythm.
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I'm not sure why we attach patriotic songs to sports events. I couldn't care less one way or the other.
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It doesn't bother me that it is sung at ball games, but I can understand that some people take offense.
It doesn't bother me. If its the National Anthem or God Bless America, or any other song. I just believe it is great that even in
sports we can support our country and those whom put their lives on the line for our freedom.
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It doesn't matter to me if they do it or not. I will sing along if they do.
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It is a short song, does not matter too much to me when it is performed in 7 inning stretch.
It's a baseball game, not a USA pep rally. Many players (not to mention fans) are not American. Why should they have to
proclaim their fealty to America?
It's a good song. If it's played it's played and if not, then that's fine too. I just disagree with the people who can't stand it being
played during baseball games. It's just a simple song about our nation.
People can either sing it or not; I really didnt get sucked into the whole 9/11 patriotism propaganda. It is a beautiful song
based on national landmarks and embued with history.
I believe it is a farce. There is no need to sing it as a collective audience. I believe it is an excuse for patriotism. I feel singing
it does not make one more patriotic, then the other. In my opinion, it serves no purpose at a baseball game.
"God" and "the USA" are the last thing on my mind when I want to watch a baseball game. It's beyond inappropriate. So are
national anthems in general at sporting events.
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"god" has no place in baseball for me.
"God" should not be forced on people. The song does not specify a religion, but is closely associated with Christianity.
People of other beliefs are forced to put up with it, too.
"MLB 'we are really patriotic', give us your money".
"The Star Spangled Banner" is played before each and every baseball game, which is a patriotic enough display. During
Yankees broadcasts on YES, Michael Kay states, prior to Kate Smith's recording, "We stay right here as we honor America."
To me it's a very empty gesture.
(1) It interrupts the flow of the game. (2) It's not the national anthem, so I should not be told to rise and remove my hat for it.
(3) I understand that 9/11 was a tragic event and I personally know those effected by it, however, I don't think that singing
this song helps them cope with the loss of their loved ones.
(To the tune of god bless america) pro-o-pa-ga-an-da! It has also diminished the concept of the 7th inning stretch and
significance of Take Me Out to the Ballgame. In the old Yankee Stadium, they showed the words to GBA on the screen but
not TMOTTBG. People now sit down after GBA and ignore TMOTTBG.
1. God has nothing to do with baseball 2. I don't need to be forced into empty patriotic gestures 3. It doesn't jive with my
politics 4. Why do we have to stand up for it? Is this church?
1. Not all players in MLB are from USA
1) Baseball is a sporting event, no reason for patriotic songs that have nothing to do with the sport or the law to be sung. 2)
Not every team in the league is even in America. Do we not want God to bless the Toronto Blue Jays as well? 3) I'd guess
that half the players in the majors come from another country. If i were one of those individuals I'd find the playing of this
song pretty repulsive.
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7th inning is reserved for "Take me out to the ballgame". Please no patriotic/religious songs.
7th inning stretch is for take me out to the ballgame. the game opens with the national anthem for a reason. If you want to be
patriotic, there are better ways than playing a song that isn't even good.
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8 years after the 9/11 attacks, being so frequently played at sporting events has diluted its meaning.
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A baseball game is a profound social event, one where noone should be made to feel awkward or unhappy.
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A false way to show you love America.
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A lot of people do find the song political and it is explicitly religious in a place where those discussions don't necessarily
belong. I don't play ball in people's churches and would prefer they leave church outside the ballpark.
a pretty empty gesture on MLB's part to appear patriotic and assert itself as the standard-bearer of americana. is the national
anthem not enough? i would prefer that a more secular song be chosen if one must be sung. and again, the mawkishness.
A sporting event is not a place for ths kind of song. I understand that the playing of GBA is supposed to make me feel proud
to be an American but it always makes me think that that patriotism is being force down my throat. The National Anthem
played before the game is OK- more of a tradition than anything else- but enough with the faux-pride.
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A stupid, politically-correct, unnecessary addition to the game.
Absolutely inappropriate. It totally disrupts the flow of the game and introduces a political elements into an apolitical event.
The fact that it's frequently sung by very bad amateur singer makes it even more cringe-worthy.
according to baseball tradition and ritual, you stand and remove your cap for the national anthem before the beginning of the
game. then at the 7th inning stretch, the only song you are supposed to sing is 'take me out to the ball game'. it's a good
formula, why mess with it?
addressed above i guess. forcing people to listen to a patriotic song doesn't make people patriotic. Baseball is a game. It's
supposed to be a escape from all of the ails of the world, not a daily reminder of it.
After 9/11 I didn't have a big problem with it, but it became overkill when it was commonplace across nearly all sporting
events. My feelings really changed at Yankee stadium two years later when they blocked the aisles with chains to restrict
people from moving during the song. The Yankees still play it EVERY game and I have to force myself to even stand for it. I
do not remove my cap if I am wearing one. We honor the nation once with the anthem prior to every game, I stand and
remove my cap- it is not necessary to do it again.
After 9/11, I thought it was great to add it to the 7th inning stretch. The way we all felt, I definitely didn't feel like singing Take
Me Out to the Ball Game. It was perfect. But now that it's done every day, it cheapens the whole thing. It's an ordeal. 9/11
was 8 years ago. I'm at a baseball game. I'm trying to enjoy myself. Put Take Me Out to the Ball Game on and let's play
some baseball. Two songs is too much, and it's enough patriotism already. I feel forced to put on a patriotic show, which
is annoying to say the least when I'm a paying customer. What all fans share at a stadium is a love of baseball. I don't care
how the guy next to me feels about America at the time. I care how he feels about baseball. Let's move on already and
stick with Take Me Out to the Ballgame.
After 9/11, okay, I get it, especially in New York. But now it seems forced and out of place. And it takes the excitement out of
a ball game, brings a lull to the crowd, the players drag themselves out of the dugout, etc. to shuffle in place while the song is
being performed.
Again, being ``forced'' to feel as if this was a sign of your patriotism. Thought it was a contrived move by Major League
Baseball. And people stand for it--when it's NOT the national anthem.
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Again, forces people to listen to a religious song in a public place. Not the ideal version of separation of church and state
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Again, I consider it jingoistic, as well as unrelated/irrelevant to baseball (unlike "Take Me Out to the Ballgame").
Again, I object to nationalism and civil religion generally. Baseball has its own place within that religion ("America's game,"
prominence in the American-capitalist entertainment complex, etc.), so I suppose the song fits the context, but those of us
who love the game but hate it typically-American excesses would love these celebrations of a false ideal to cease!
Again, it destroys the pace of the games. Baseball doesn't have and doesn't need a mini-halftime show. If teams want to
play it, play it instead of the national anthem at the start of the game like the Philadelphia Flyers (NHL) sometimes do. I also
don't like it when the Yankees tell fans to "offer a silent prayer". I'm going to a baseball game, not a church service. I also
don't like that the song has political and religious overtones (to me anyway). A baseball game isn't the proper time or place
for it. I go to games to forget about the rest of the world for a bit.
Again, it is NOT the national anthem and does not belong in the middle of baseball games any more than the national
anthem does. I also dislike that at Pawtucket Red Sox games they play it after the sixth inning ("Please stand and remove
your cap") so nobody stands up for the 7th inning stretch, so they have destroyed one of baseball's sacred traditions.
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Again, it's a prayer. Also, the singers tend to over-emote when singing it and they are just awful
Again, just because we have to listen to the song every game does not make us more patriotic. And the fact that it is at every
game seems to make it less special. Most people seem to find it annoying and I find it offensive to my atheist views.
Again, see my explanation above.
Although my brother devised the idea on Sept. 11, 2001, it has outlived its relevance. Play a song - whether the national
anthem or America, the Beautiful - that has a majesty worthy of its topic. If a patriotic song must be played during the sevent
inning stretch, that is. Playing the national anthem after the home team has taken the field should suffice.
Am I a better American because I stand for fie minutes while an overweight Irish tenor sings a song about my country (not
his)? I go to baseball games to watch baseball. Period.
American is supposed to be about freedom. Yet everyone is FORCED to stay in their seats for the duration of the song. It's
illegal to move. Get rid of the song. People don't need to be forced to stand still and sing a song to be patriotic.
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appears to be political today. Was understandable in immediate aftermath of 9/11 but has no purpose now.
As a baseball fan, i started to dislike it more when they would play it in the 7th inning stretch. I'm okay with the song being
play b4 the game but not during 7th inning stretch. On another note, it is disrespectful when its being played in major events
where people might not be Christians. People go to baseball games to enjoy the 7th inning stretch and sing TAKE ME OUT
TO THE BALLGAME AND NOT TO STAND AND LISTEN TO GOD BLESS AMERICA. Why not, God Bless Iraq, God Bless
Palestine, God Bless Sudan, God Bless Honduras,God Bless Haiti, God Bless Latin America, Africa, Asia. I can guarentee
you that if you ask baseball fans, 99% would tell you that they dislike the song being played in the 7th inning stretch. They
should just play TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLGAME. THAT IS A TRADITION. DON'T CHANGE IT.
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As above, it's cheap, faux patriotism.
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As above, this is a sporting event, not a pep rally. We already sing the Star Spangled Banner.
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As above. Also, who says God likes baseball? Especially since baseball has become international, many players aren't
American.
as an atheist i'm not a fan of envoking god into sporting events and feeling pressured to participate (while getting dirty looks
for not singing along).
As an atheist, I feel that there is no place for God Bless America at any sporting event. It is not our National Anthem and do
not apprieciate feeling that I must stand at attention for the duration of the song. Not standing has created an uncomfortable
situation for me and my principles when being confronted by others around me. Sing it at private events, churches, etc. not
at any public events.
No politics or religion at sporting events.
As an athiest, it offends me. I can't imagine having everyone stand and sing "I don't believe in God." I don't know how the
opposite is OK.
As I explained in question 9 (I should have read all the questions before I started), the song has been taken over by those
who support the war on terrorism and think that those who don't are not patriotic. Baseball is always making a connection
with the military to show it's "patriotism". I don't think that is necessary and wish they would not. It's a game, not a political
act. (Well, maybe it is a political act, but that's for another survey)
As I mentioned above, we have the national anthem, and singing two intensely nationalistic songs is excessive.
As I mentioned before, I already feel manipulated when people play the song outside of the huge stadium televised
broadcast experience, so when it is played on such a stage it's even worse. I understand patriotism but I think it comes off
as blind faith without reflection or ignorant USA porn.
As I remember people werent even allowed to leave their seats.
As I said above, I think it is using an experience having little to do with patriotism to condition children: they will always
associate the song with baseball, it will make them emotional, they'll equate this with love of country and/or "my country right
or wrong." And, it makes those of us who dislike it feel uncomfortbale.
As I wrote to Bud Selig several years ago (which he never responded), approximately 16% of the American population is
non-religious, a larger share of the population than Hispanics and African-Americans. This song, and the fact that it is
treated with the same respect as the National Anthem, is extremely offensive to me, and I suspect a great deal many other
people. In addition, it slows down the game even further than necessary.
As I've explained previously some of the lyrics can be considered offensive. If baseball wants to "honor" America it should do
so. This song "honors" war and Christianity.
As stated above, it is primarily because of baseball games that I hate this song. I am an atheist and an American citizen; I do
not believe in god and I recognize our one national anthem. At baseball games, however, I am bullied (people yell and throw
things at me) and otherwise made to feel like a second class citizen, all because of this awful song.
At every game we sing the National Anthem. We get our dose of patriotism there- and it's something we all can engage in.
The inclusion of God Bless America breaks up the flow of the game. That bothers me. Plus the political connotation I see in
it now bothers me more. I want the song to be that song I remember from childhood- a nice patriotic song- not a hammer.
at first, it was a nice sense of pride or whatever, immediately after the attacks. but again, overused, overblown, and ultimately
i feel like it is highly inappropriate. as bizarre as it sounds, the singing of that song in a baseball stadium to me is completely
un-american. something about a large group of people singing in unison for no particular reason (national anthem at start is
fine and has been there forever--this is new) reminds me of a totalitarian regime with goose-stepping soldiers marching
through the stadium while the crowd sings for them.
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At first, it was cool. Folks needed that nostalgic feeling. Now, it's just old. After eight years, can we not move on.
At Yankee stadium recently, a guy tried to go the men's room during the singing of the song. The security guards stopped
him and when he protested, they roughed him up a bit and threw him out of the park. The name of the song should really be
"God Bless America No Matter What". It is pro-war and it does not belong at the ballpark.
Back to question #12, only on Sunday--fortunately. Sick to death of the song. Plus, somehow the song got associated with
New York City, particularly the Yankees and I am no Yankee fan.
Bad enough they play the star spangled banner. I used to be a judge and I worked in courtrooms all my legal career. They
don't start court with songs or pledges.
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baseball and politics are completely different thing. baseball is baseball. politics is... well.. its own world.
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Baseball games are a public function, and no one should have to have religious opinion forced on them
Baseball games are not only for Americans. While I respect that the games are usually taking place in the US, but there are
enough other people there to not have to listen to it. Plus Tradition. Always and only take me out to the ball game. That is all I
want to hear.
baseball games aren't pro-USA patriotic rallies. we sing the national anthem before each and every game. is that no longer
enough proof that we are patriotic, hard-working americans? we do not need to sing another patriotic song in the seventh
inning. and being forced to stand still for the duration of the song, not allowed to leave until it's over? welcome to fascist city.
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Baseball games should not be turned into Patriotism rallies. Brings back bad images.
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Baseball games that feature players and fans from around the world is no place for a song such as this.
Baseball has nothing to do with terrorism or the 9-11 attacks. It is not the forum for a political rally against terrorism and for
any war.
Baseball is a diversion, a reminder of all that is wrong in the world isn't necessary. In addition, it is insulting. I do not need
the Yankees reminding me that I owe a debt to the military, etc.
Baseball is a sport, entertainment, that stands on it's own as that. It should have no relationship to God or Country. I prefer
"Take me out to the ball game".
Baseball is a sporting event, meant to be fun. We should not feel sadness for those who sacrificed their lives at a sporting
event. There are other places to mourn and take pride in the nation
Baseball is a way for people to escape the problems going on in the country. "Take Me Out The Ballgame" is a baseball
tradition, and a fun song. To displace the song with a song that people now associate with 9/11 is uncomfortable. We also
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honor the country with the singing of the national anthem. It simply is unnecessary, and only serves as a reminder to the
disastrous situation this country has been in under the last eight years.
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Baseball is about baseball. It's not about God or politics.
Baseball is America's past time sport but that doesnt mean that every Yankee fan has to support the USA. It is very hard to
tolerate the version of the song they play every single day. they should have ended it after the first game in the new stadium.
Baseball is largely defined by its tradition. The seventh inning stretch is a time for "Take Me Out to the Ballgame," not to
flaunt any patriotic obscenity
Baseball is long enough to begin with. The repeated use has sapped the meaningfulness it originally had. I could say the
same for the anthem for that matter.
baseball is no place for "god bless america" especially during the seventh inning strech
Baseball is not a political event, it is an antidote to the stupidity and hostility of politics. The addition of the song makes every
game a recurrence of the 1936 Olympics.
Baseball is not just an American game - almost half the players come from other countries. Not all MLB teams are based in
the USA.
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Baseball is sport and entertainment, not a venue for American triumphalism
Baseball is supposed to be a place where Americans of all political views can come together and enjoy a non political
entertainment hat bonds us in our diversity.
Baseball is supposed to be an escape from the problems of everyday life, including politics. The inclusion of a song like this
makes me think about things I don't want to be thinking about during a baseball game, and can lead to political arguments.
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Baseball is supposed to be lighthearted and fun. This song does not belong in that context
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Baseball is/should be secular. Not only that, but the Blue Jays aren't even American.
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Baseball should not be a place to express nationalistic or political views.
Baseball stadia are not churches, and we as a nation should not be wearing God on our sleeves. Whole crowds stand stiller
and quieter for this song than they do the real national anthem. It's hypocrisy. Even Jesus said, "pray like no one is
watching." This fascistic display of faux patriotism distills everything the rest of the world hates about the US into one 60second song.
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Baseball teams should respect differences of religion. I don't believe in God.
Baseball, politics and religion should NEVER be mixed. I do not go to a baseball game to have it interrupt the flow of the 7th
inning stretch by having to hear this song versus chatting/dancing/stretching with fellow fans.
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Baseball, religion, and politics have nothing to do with each other. Forcing everyone into it takes everyone out of the game.
Because (a) it's been 8 years since September 11th. Can we please move on? (b) it assumes tht you believe in a god, but
also the American jingoistic manifest destiny idea of a god.
because a baseball game is a place for leisure and fun, a place a dad can go with their kids, its not a place to make a
political statement. play take me out to the ballgame and get me a beer and leave me alone!
Because I feel that we already sing the National Anthem at the beginning at games, and I like "Take Me Out to the Ballgame"
during the 7th Inning Stretch
Because I'm an atheist and think that baseball stadiums should not be converted into religious centers during the seventh
inning stretch. Can't we America the Beautiful? At least we can all acknowledge that it is.
Because it is a sporting event. The Star Spangled Banner takes care of the nationalistic feel it at the beginning of the game.
The 7th Inning Stretch should say: Take Me Out to the Ballgame.
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Because it is forced on us.
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Because it makes me resent the song - it feels forced.
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Because it slows it down
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Because not everybody in the park is chrisitan or religous.
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Because of the incident with the fan trying to leave
Because, per my previous comment, it is an unpatriotic, religiously objectionable song; because further expanding the
seventh inning stretch is unfair to the visiting team's pitcher; and because the national anthem, the "Star Spangled Banner,"
is already sung at the start of the ballgame, and if fans really want to show their patriotism I believe they should start singing
along to the national anthem when it is played.
Besides my dislike of the song itself: baseball players are going out there and working their butts off. Say the home team
goes out and puts up a big number in the sixth inning and starts building up some momentum. Then they hold the opposing
team scoreless in the top of the seventh. Big cheer from the crowd, the team is all fired up. The comeback is almost
complete! And now, everyone has to stop and stand perfectly still, caps removed, shedding a tear for this heart-wrenching
song. How can they get that momentum back that their bosses just killed? We're here to play and watch a game. That
implies FUN. "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" is fun. Hell, "I'm a Yankee-Doodle Dandy" is fun. Stopping a fun event midgame for a funeral service is not fun. I can absolutely appreciate the tribute we give to our troops, and am grateful for what
they do for us and the world. I believe this is something we should do. Before the game starts. Or, if it has to be during the
game, with something that celebrates our soldiers, not mourns them. We took a song like "Yankee Doodle," sung
derisively by the British, and made it a badge of honor during the Revolution. We should be defiantly laughing and singing
boisterously, celebrating what makes us American.
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blatant nationalism has no place in professional sports
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Boring, I came to see a game, not hear Kate Smith on a decades old recording.
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Bunch of Republican owners sucking up to the Bush Administration. False, enforced patriotism.
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Completely overcooked it. It's one thing to do it on Memorial Day or the 4th o'July but every Sunday (and EVERY DAY at
NYY? REALLY???). Sure I support the troops, but I don't need to be force fed a flag. The National Anthem is enough, and
to keep up with GBA just cheapens the song. I don't seem to recall anything about WWII-era fans doing this.
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Delays the game, is unnecessary.
Despite baseball's proud and distinctly American history, I dislike the song for the same reasons I dislike the pledge of
allegiance - zombie-like displays of unwavering nationalism. This one just happens to be set to an uninspiring melody.
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Dislike references to deity. And national anthem is more than enough jingoism for one event.
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Do I have to write it again, please see responses to Questions 9 and 11.
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Do most teams still do this? I didn't like it because it made the games longer.
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Do they sing "The Internationale" at baseball games?
Does any other team include this awful song during their seventh inning stretch? Evidently, the Dodgers do, but it is not
televised by the local network. At this point, it seems very forced. It's time for New York (and Los Angeles) to retire the
song.
DOES NOT BELONG AT A BASEBALL GAME. The national anthem has been played at the start of the game, that's
enough.
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Doesn't seem appropriate to have a Patriotic song in the MIDDLE of a sporting event.
doesnt' belong in the 7th inning. they already have the national anthem at the beginning. at yankee stadium they have a
ridiculous pre amble about praying for troops and stuff. this kind of thing maybe made sense after 9/11 but now it's just silly.
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Doing it on Sundays is borderline OK, but everyday with the Yankees is terrible. Take Me Out to The Ballgame loses luster.
Don't believe in forced patriotism, especially religious patriotism. Also, with so many ballplayers from other countries, isn't it
insulting to them?
Don't like it at every game. (I also don't like the Star Spangled Banner to be done at every game.) The SSB used to be done
on opening day, All-Star Games, etc., not every game.
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Don't like the forced patriotism shoved down my throat when I'm there to enjoy baseball.
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Don't like the national anthem at a ball game, either. It's baseball, not a patriotic rally. It's absurd to mix them.
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don't mix religion, politics and sports
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Drags out the stretch, way overdone, especially at Yankee Stadium where they do it at every game.
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Enforced patroitism & enforced religion
Enforced, false patriotism. 2001 was fine. Then enough already. Now it is 8 years later and we're forced to endure it over
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Enough already.
Even though I am a born and bred New Yorker who was there on 9/11, I do not like singing the song at baseball games any
more than I would want to be lead in a Christian prayer or be forced to say the Pledge of Allegiance. It's baseball, for
heaven's sake.
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Every game? Cut it out already.
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Everyday is way too much and removes any real meaning.
False patriotism should not be forced down the throats of spectators. I have also been the target of insults and threats
because I refuse to remove my cap during such nonsense.
Faux patriotism at it's worst. Baseball should play take me out to the ballgame. The game has so many intl players now
that it seems stupid to laud America during a game
Feel other songs might be more appropriate. The 9/11 attacks were not about which country God chooses to bless. The use
of the song in this forum contributes to an inaccurate sense that America's problems are a part of a Holy war.
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fine for a year or so after 9/11, but now sound jingo-istic, shallow and reactionary
First, baseball claiming patriotism as it's own irks me, especially since they already play the national anthem. Second, I hate
that they chose that particular song. How about America the Beautiful or something like that that doesn't involve supplanting
the value system our nation was founded on?
First, it is sung like a dirge in most instances when it's really a very lively song. It should be a celebration of America, not
some cheaply sentimental tear-jerker. Second, it is treated with a reverence that is both ill-fitting and insincere.
Following the attacks, the inclusion of the song during the playoffs and World Series at Yankee Stadium just "felt right". Now
that it is popping up at stadiums throughout the country, it feels forced. I don't mind it so much when it is included with the
National Anthem. However, it bugs me during the 7th inning stretch. The 7th inning stretch is about fun and frivolity, not
false patriotism.
For me, baseball is an escape. Mixing religion, politics and the military with baseball is a bad idea. Arresting someone for
non-GBA participation (another reason to hate the Yankees) is fascist.
For one, there's already a patriotic song sung at baseball games. Just because fans can't be bothered to show up on time
doesn't mean it doesn't happen. Second, GBA isn't any kind of national anything. It's not a song that you stand and take off
your hat for, and I resent the dirty looks I get from people when I refuse to do those things at a baseball game. And besides
that, the 7th Inning is for Stretching! Take Me Out To The Ballgame!
For the reasons above. I think maybe, briefly, it had a sense of "help us get through this horrible tragedy" in its wake, but it
LONG overstayed its welcome and I hate that it's become a tradition to the point where they arrest you if you get up to go to
the bathroom. Plus it's become yet another platform for awful American Idol hopefuls to stretch their vocal cords and make all
our ears bleed.
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For the reasons stated above. It is not the National Anthem; it is trite and overused; there are many other interesting patriotic
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songs.
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For the same reasons stated in question 9. The song doesn't mean anything, but they sing it at baseball games as if it were
some meaningful tribute... to what?? 9/11? It happened EIGHT years ago. What does it have to do with baseball, especially
now? And singing it at *every* game somehow diminishes the tragedy. Or, is it an expression of patriotism? I think the
national anthem more than sufficiently fulfills that "obligation."
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forced patriotic displays are insulting
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forced patriotism - you better sing/respect it, or you'll hear about it from the crowd
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Forced patriotism and messes with one of my favorite baseball traditions.
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forced patriotism in sporting events is just wrong- politics out of sports!
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Forced patriotism leads to meaninglessness
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Forced patriotism, Why?
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Forced public patriotism is fascist.
Forcing the song upon baseball fans is ridiculous. The national anthem is already sung at the beginning of the game, as if
people didn't already know in which country they were watching the game. People go to the baseball game for
entertainment, not for jingoism.
frankly, it's part of the whole "patriotic" hypocracy that gripped the country following 9-11, and it disgusts me. esepcially what
the yankees were doing, blocking people from leaving. glad they got sued.
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Give me Take Me Out to the Ball Game! Then let's start the next half inning.
Given the Star Spangled Banner is sung before every game GBA is redundant. Do 2 songs make us more patriotic or more
thankful for this country?
God Bless America and the Star Spangled Banner were added to games in times of war. I can understand using one of the
songs for a baseball game, but not both. It's overkill. Plus, I'm a fan of 'Take me out to the ballgame.' That is the perfect 7th
inning song.
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God does not belong in a public setting.
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God doesn't belong in baseball
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God has no place in baseball
God has nothing to do with baseball. Also, it's ridiculous that the Yankees play it at every seventh inning stretch. As a
lifelong fan of the team, I feel the gesture is contrived. Do the Steinbrenners think they are more patriotic than the rest of us?
The Star Spangled Banner should be enough patriotism for the national pastime.
god has nothing to do with baseball. The country is already honored at baseball games with the singing of the national
anthem.
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God worship belongs in churches, not in public sporting venues.
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Good for the 2001 season-trite since.
Has absolutely nothing to do with baseball. While the National Anthem also has nothing to do with baseball and was added
during a similar hyper-patriotic time, at least it's a tradition by now.
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has no meaning whatsoever to the event
Has no place at a baseball game or any sporting event. Why should God bless us and no one else? It is like crossing
yourself before an at bat or a free throw attempt/
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Has no place at a baseball game, the national anthem is enough.
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has no place in a baseball game, but neither does the national anthem for that matter
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Has nothing to do with baseball and the games are long enough.
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Has nothing to do with baseball. See #9
Hearing "God Bless America" in the middle of a game is almost like hearing someone bring up religion or politics at a dinner
party: for those of us who don't agree with the prevailing sentiment, it can seem silly (at best) or uncomfortable (at worst.) I
can respect playing the national anthem during a solemn moment before the game, but after the first pitch, I just want to relax
and have fun... making "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" a much better choice for the 7th inning stretch!
Hearing the National anthem is tradition, much like hearing Take Me Out to the Ballgame is during the 7th inning stretch.
Replacing real tradition with forced patriotism is annoying. Reading the story of the Yankee Stadium ban to leaving your seat
during the song was especially irritating.
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hogwash has no place anywhere.
I (in part) go to ballgames to be part of a crowd that is there for baseball, which is all-American enough. I did not appreciate
being hammered about my patriotism, which is what it felt like hearing it there.
I absolutely hate that the song is sung during the seventh inning stretch for a number of reasons. 1) The song is about
religion. Baseball games are about baseball. If certain players or fans are religious, that's fine, but the MLB shouldn't be
making itself a de-facto Christian organization by having that song sung. It's place is not in the ballpark 2) By being sung in
MLB parks after Sept 11th, the MLB was saying that this song was representing America. I don't want that song representing
me. America has freedom of religion and freedom to not be any religion. The MLB should be about baseball. Not trying to
create a national religious or patriotic consciousness. 3) Related to 2, by playing it in parks after 9/11, the MLB was saying
that this song represented how the US should be feeling and reacting after 9/11, and that didn't represent my feelings at all. I
felt like after 9/11 should have been a time for the world to reach out and come together to overcome the hatred of a few
crazed groups, not for us to become wedded to the kind of us-first,God Bless us-not them patriotism that can foment hatred
in others. 4) Among the best parts of a baseball game was when they sang 'Take Me out to the Ballgame". You could sing
along and do all of the hand motions. Those were some of the very best moments of my childhood. Now many parks don't do
'Take Me out to the Ballgame" because they are singing "God Bless America" instead. It makes me sad. I miss 'Take Me Out
to the Ballgame" 5) Once again, what on earth does "God Bless America" have to do with baseball?!?! 6) To me, the song
has also come to symbolize our nation's unnecessarily violent reaction to the 9/11 attacks, our subsequent War in Iraq, and
the upsurge of social conservatism in the US, especially led by radical Christians, since 9/11. These things make me sad. I
go to baseball games to be happy.
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I already stand for the national anthem, and it's ruining the tradition of Take Me Out to the Ballgame.
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I am a Christian and I feel that faith is something people should be drawn to and not forced into.
I am a major baseball fan and I feel that there is no place in the game for rhetoric and ideology of any kind. Even if I agreed
with the message of the song I would dislike the fact that is played along with the time-honored "Take Me Out to the
Ballgame."
I am against any imaginary entities being promoted as real to the primitive minds of the general population, in any setting,
including sporting events.
I am an American who is an agnostic, liberal Democrat who loves baseball and its traditions. Playing GBA at baseball
games offends me three ways - forced worship of a God I don't believe in, forced participation in a political "rally" whose
views I don't share, and the extended interruption of a sport that I love.
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I am an atheist. I don't understand what patriotism and religion have to do with baseball.
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I am just uncomfortable with this whole notion that God blesses one nation over another.
I am sick of it... That is all. Baseball is about fun, every time I hear the damn song now I have to think about Sept 11...
ENOUGH!
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I am tired of it. I understood it immediately after 9/11 (especially in New York), but enough is enough.
I attend approximately 10-20 MLB games a year, and I think it is totally unnecessary. In fact, my dislike of the song is directly
related to its (unnecessary) inclusion at baseball games.
I believe in baseball. I can see it, smell it and feel it. I also believe in the U.S., as I live here, studied it's history and benefit
every day from the freedom it affords me. None of these things should have anything to do with a myth.
I believe it is a product of the Bush administration attempting to apply their right-wing conservative ideology. It has no
business being played at a baseball game. I do not stand for it and I turn the channel when it appears on television. Had it
been America the Beautiful, I probably wouldn't have had as big a problem with it.
I believe the constant playing of the national anthem and GBA at sporting events takes away from what the impact of those
songs should be. Watch the crowd. They leave their hats on (for the anthem), don't pay attention, don't sing. We've turned
what should be an important, affirmative moment into a meaningless routine.
I believe the song is being employed to support a particular poitical view and I don't think it's safe to assume that everyone at
a baseball game shares the same political views. I especially don't like it replacing Take Me Out to the Ballgame, which I
think we can all agree is an appopriate song to play at the ballgame. The Yankees really over do it.
I can not honestly say I've ever heard the song sung anywhere else besides a baseball game, so all my associations with the
songs and similar American songs are with baseball.
I can understand some use of the song, but every game? I feel its time people move on... Some teams actually forbid fans
from not taking part in the song... which kind of defeats the true purpose of the song.
I can understand the patriotism aspect after 9/11, but the usage of this song has run its course. It is not our national anthem,
but people treat it that way, which is wrong.
I could maybe see this being a 'tradition' with the Yankees and Mets, since they're the ones who used it first. But every other
team be forced to sing it? Very annoying.
I could understand it initially after 9/11, but we need to move on. Stick with take me out to the ballgame, no need to show
some faux sense of patriotism as well.
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I deplore any propaganda and I like baseball.
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I didn't know it was added at September 11! I don't agree with this at all.
I didn't mind back in 2001, or even 2002, but eight years after the attacks we still hear it when we should only be singing the
traditional "take me out the the ball game." Its a religious song, not an American song.
I dislike any form of forced patriotism at baseball games. I have always disliked singing the Star Spangled Banner at the
beginning, itself added after a time of crisis-- during WWII. I prefer to appreciate my country in ways that are more thoughtful
and less coercive.
I extremely dislike the religious message.
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I do associate this song with a viewpoint, and I think it is overly broadcast at games.
I do not approve of forced acts of patriotism. Singing the national anthem before games was not a part of baseball's history.
It started during the second world war. And should have stopped once the war ended. Games are too long as it is. There's
a time and place for everything and with few exceptions (such as July 4) none of this pageantry belongs at a baseball game.
I do not believe in God and do not enjoy the message. Also, I feel that this is a shallow/forced show of patriotism, similar to
having all politicians wear flag pins on their coat lapels. The song also damages the MLB product (i.e. the games) by
extending games that are already lasting longer (by historical standards). I fear that singing God Bless America in the 7th
inning is now a practice that can't be stopped. Anyone who suggests that we stop singing this will be called an antiAmerican.
I do not believe it is appropriate. MLB is trying to cloak itself in patriotism for its own self interests. It was a song born during
war time and we are not at all in that situation now.
I do not like that it is put on par with the National Anthem. By standing, removing hats and covering hearts, I feel like it's givng
GBA the same standing as the NA, which I do not like. To me, it lessens the impact/importance of the NA by saying that what
we do during that song should be done during any public playing of patriotic songs. I am offended that someone,
somewhere, thought if I heard GBA every time I head to the ballpark, I might somehow become more patriotic, as though a
song can change my predilection and if I don't like the playing of the song, I'm somehow less of an American then the guy
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behind me and I hate that someone decided that if I heard GBA on a regular basis, I might somehow become more ok with
being attacked by terrorists or war. It's been eight years. It's time to stop.
I don't appreciate Organized Baseball's appropriation of God, which is what the song is all about, for use at the ballpark.
Given the way the game has been run (for the money, always), the use of the song feels hypocritical.
I don't believe that it belongs during the seventh inning stretch of baseball games. It's not about the song having religious
overtones, as I am devout Catholic. It's more about the song being incredibly boring. I'd rather hear "America the Beautiful"
I don't care about 9/11 when I'm watching baseball, and now the 7th inning stretch lasts 2 hours. Plus the people who sing it
are awful.
I don't feel that a song touting a mildly Christian belief and is a very slow song about the grandeur of our own nation needs to
be sung during a playing of our nation's pastime. Take Me Out to the Ballgame is more than suitable.
I don't feel that I should be made to stand and sing a religious song at a game that I spent my money to see. Forced
patriotism.
I don't feel that the 7th inning stretch is an appropriate time for a patriotic display.
I don't go to baseball games for the national anthem and God Bless America. Take Me Out to the Ballgame is a traditional
baseball song; the others represent the outside world forcing its way in.
I don't go to baseball games to be browbeaten with a superficial and intellectually lazy display of patriotism. I can't imagine
how foreign players must feel.
I don't go to games to be patriotic. I go to see a game.
I don't have a problem with baseball -- and other sporting events -- playing the national anthem prior to the game's
commencement. I think singing "God Bless America" during the 7th Inning Stretch is complete overkill and is a bit jingoistic
especially when considering that many players are not American.
I don't like having patriotism forced down my throat. It also slows things down, by adding an extra 90 seconds-2 minutes to
that inning break. Finally, no one sings it very well. Half the time, they forget the lyrics.
I don't like it. During the seventh inning stretch I don't have to stand if I don't choose, but it almost feels that if you don't for
"God bless america" you'd get mugged.
I don't like mixing metaphors. Baseball is baseball, the National Anthem at least makes a weird kind of sense, but GBA?
Come on, really?
I don't like the feeling that the government is trying to sway public opinion by manipulating baseball fans. The stench of Big
Brother hangs in the air.
I don't like the forced patriotism and overly religious lyrics.
I don't like the mixing of "patriotism" and sporting events. A national anthem at the beginning is one thing. It's something
else entirely to use a song like this during the game.
I don't like the song because it's offensive.
I don't like the song, and I feel like there's an unspoken compulsion to genuflect while it's being sung, which is what the Star
Spangled Banner is for.
I don't like the way it is forced down people's throats as if it is the National Anthem. Also, "God Bless" really has no place in
anything truly about the USA, if it is to be for all of the citizens.
I don't see a reason why a sporting event has to turn into a political event/rally, or why a sporting event considers itself
important enough (and I'm a HUGE Yankees fan) to become the mouthpiece for patriotism. I'm used to having the national
anthem played that I don't mind that so much, but playing another similarly themed song is overkill.
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I don't see the reason to sing this song
I don't think it should be sung at baseball games. The National Anthem before the game and Take Me Out to the Ballgame
during the stretch -- now that's baseball.
I don't think it's necessary -- we already sing the national anthem before ballgames. I also think that baseball is a truly
international sport -- with players not just from the US but from central and south america, the caribbean, japan, korea, etc. -so why are they playing a song about blessing just america? And why the god message? If you want to sing about how
much you love america, why not 'my country tis of thee?' Same message, no religion. A baseball game is just not an
appropriate venue. (It is all the more ridiculous when the Orioles follow up a solemn rendition of the song with 'thank god I'm
a country boy.')
I don't think the song has any reasons for being included in a baseball game. I don't need to stand up and worship America in
the seventh inning of a baseball game before we sing a truly American baseball song, "Take Me Out To The Ball Game".
I don't understand the point of it just like I don't care for the national anthem being played before every game everywhere. It
has nothing to do with the game.
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I don't want to feel obligated to participate particularly around drunk "Patriots".
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I don't want to hear any right wing propaganda when I'm at a baseball game trying to relax.
I enjoy the National Anthem at the start of games. And as a Cub fan, I don't mind the singing of God Bless America before
Sunday games, but it's not a 7th inning stretch song at all. Again, it feels like it's being shoved down my throat when they do
it at the stretch. I much prefer Take Me Out To The Ballgame, which fits with the baseball theme at baseball games.
I feel as though this is just some attempt to test our patriotism. People are often berated for not removing their caps (although
servicemen know they don't have to) during its playing; fights break out if somewhat doesn't show a level of decor that should
be reserved for the Star-Spangled Banner.
i feel i've covered this mostly in the previous fields, but also, it's a sporting event. let people enjoy themselves at a pretty
meaningless event.
I feel immediately after 9-11 it was a nice gesture, now it does not serve the same purpose. If it is done it should to
emphasize unity in country by all singing not individual performance.
I feel it drags out the game. I would probably feel differently if it was sung before the game began such as immediately after
the star spangled banner.
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I feel it is inappropriate to sing a religious song at a baseball game. I should not have religion shoved down my thoat when I
am attending a baseball game.
I feel it is overdone at baseball games, particularly Yankee Stadium, where it used to be preceded by a prayer for our
soldiers serving "to protect our freedom and way of life." They have changed the wording slightly, but the old wording I found
particularly annoying, because netither the Afganistan or Iraq comflicts threatened our freedom or way of life.
I feel like it mixes politics into sports which is something I cannot stand
I feel like it's part of the jingoism that infiltrated baseball. I think it's fine to sing the national anthem or "God Bless America"
before the game, but adding a song to the stretch is too much. We know what country we're in, and I think we all like it. Too
many displays of patriotism will cheapen the feeling.
I feel that it is enough that the National Anthem is played before every game and that it is an example of false patriotism for
patriotisms sake. It is overdone. It's annoys me enough that I won't attend Royals games on Sundays, because that is when
it is always played.
I feel that the emphasis on "God" has no real place at a ball game. I feel it to be divisive. When I don't stand for the singing of
the piece... because I am an Atheist, I do not want to explain myself to my neighbor or be the recipient of dirty looks because
of my feelings regarding "God". I also feel that this is an opportunity for Christians to wear their patriotism as a badge, a
badge that also says... " I am better than you", "if you don't believe the way I do, you do not love your country". I go to the
stadium (or to any sporting event) to cheer on my team, not to be confronted with politics and religion.
I feel that theres really no need to do so anymore. It was originally added to remember those who lost their lives on 9-11, but
I think 8 years later many people have forgotten that already. There are children who go to baseball games who weren't even
born back then and have no idea why its sung.
I feel the only "patriotic" song that should be sung at ballgames is the Star Spangled Banner before the game, as that is the
national anthem. There should be no attempts to force religion or excess displays patriotism onto baseball - baseball is
meant to be a refuge from the religious and political debates that so often consume the nation. Also, by no means should a
pitcher have to wait for a song to be completed before he could complete his warm-up throws before an inning - the singing
of this song often makes pitcher's arms colder and can decrease their level of performance.
I feel the same way I feel about the National Anthem being performed at non-international sporting competitions: it's not
appropriate. It's becoming more appaling to me with the increasing number of non-U.S. citiznes playing professional sports in
the U.S.
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I feel the song is too religious to be forced upon a large, mixed denomination crowd.
I get that its in celebration of America and everything, especially after 9/11, but its such as serious subject and such, kinda
brings down the mood of an intense/fun game.
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i go to a baseball game to see baseball, not to be part of a forced feeling of patriotism.
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I go to a baseball game, to see a baseball game. I don't think it is necessary. Sept. 11 was eight years ago.
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I go to a lot of games. I am there to see baseball. Nothing else.
I go to about 20 Yankee Games a year, and they still play it every game. I find it unnecessary and slightly offensive as a
person who does not believe in the Judeo-Christian God. I feel like the song reinforces that a belief in God is a prerequisite to
be a true American or a true baseball fan. Also, I find the fact that other fans yelling at people for not taking their hats off
during GBA to be disrespectful to the National Anthem - the only song where American should be asked to remove their
caps.
I go to ballgames to watch baseball, not to be subjected to a jingoistic expression of support for the Iraq and Afghanistan
wars, or other things that I have complicated feelings about. I love my country, dearly and devotedly, but whenever they
played that song, I felt like an agnostic during Mass. I was uncomfortable with it. Never felt that way at a ballgame before,
and I never want to again.
I go to baseball games because I want to see baseball games. I don't believe in God, number one. Number two, there's
absolutely no reason for it whatsoever. It's entirely uncalled for.
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I go to games to get away from political and social problems. The attitude brought on by this song is sad.
I grew an even greater disdain for the song. Baseball's supposed to be a source of enjoyment. A moment when you can sit
back and forget the rest of the problems of the world, grab a beer or 20, and enjoy yourself for a few hours. The song not
only put too heavy of an undertone in the middle of a game, but it slotted it right in that moment that's supposed to be the
lightest. Singing "Take me out to the ballgame" hasn't nearly been as fun since September 11. I don't mind the religious
undertone, nor the mindless pro USA propaganda so much, but this is absolutely ridiculous. We already have the National
Anthem to open the game, we've got the flag flying in the outfield... if we must stop the game just to bow down to the great
America for a moment so that the politicians can feel like they didn't screw up royally allowing the attacks can happen, at
least give us a fireworks show to decent music or something. Laser Cure. Fireworks and smoke while Robert Smith belts out
"Killing an Arab"
I hate it because during the 7th inning stretch you're supposed to sing along to "Take Me Out to the Ball Game". That's it.
Singing "God Bless America" just seems cheap and gimmicky. Isn't the national anthem, which, by the way, only got played
before major sporting events, such as the world series and all star game, until World War II.
I hate it.
I hate the faux-patriotism aspect that feels shoved down my throat every single game. An ordinary, non-holiday game is not
the time and place for it. And like any pop song that gets overplayed, I've grown to dread God Bless America.
I hate the inclusion of the song at baseball games. Whether it's performed by an American Idol wannabe or played on a
prerecorded tape, it's completely phony. I generally use this break to run to concessions or the bathroom to avoid GBA, but
I like Take Me Out to the Ball Game, which is the only song that should ever be sung during the 7th-inning stretch.
I hate the song for one, and can we please keep the stretch baseball oriented.
I have never been comfortable with the national anthem before the game and felt that the addition of GBA was inserting
jingoism into a non-political event. I was most upset when GBA replaced Take Me Out to the Ballgame, but less so when
they are both sung.
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I just feel it doesn't belong in the 7th inning. The tradition is "take me out to the ballgame" not "god bless america" Its weird, it
shouldn't bother me but it does.
I like it and don't mind it being played once in While like on the 4th of July, but we have a national anthem and it is already
sung at the start of the game. There is no need for the patriotism that this poses as. Real patriotism is in what you do, not in
symbolic gestures.
I like Take Me Out to the Ballpark better. Plus, I'm not entirely comfortable with the whole post 9/11 God Bless America
sentiment it's supposed to represent Also, people perform the song terribly when they do sing it, with all the false sentiment.
I like the old tradition of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" and feel that injecting GBA into the mix adds a political and religious
tone that I find offensive.
I like the tradition of "Take me out to the Ballgame" during the 7th inning stretch, so I'm not a fan of replacing it with this song.
Plus, as I've said, it's an annoyingly sacchrine song. Most importantly, I resent having the religious element forced upon me
during baseball.
I love baseball and intensely dislike the turn to the right this country has taken in the last 9 years. I do not want baseball and
any politics mixed.
I only heard it during Toronto Blue Jays games at the Skydome, and it was silly because they were playing it in a foreign
country that, while respectful of what happened on 9-11, felt awkward listening to some song they were not familar with,
especially knowing that there was no way a Canadian would ever hear "Maple Leaf Forever" in Yankee Stadium.
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I paid to watch baseball. I can respect my country my own way on my own time.
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I prefer to sing the upbeat "Take Me Out to the Ballgame." Luckily the A's don't do it anymore.
I rarely meet people who think about religion, using songs like this in public formums is innapropriate. It creates intolerance
for anyone who is not Christian, b/c that is the religion most ppl blindly follow in the U.S.
I really don't like it because it's not part of baseball tradition. I feel that baseball (and other sports) already have the national
anthem sung at the beginning of the game, and that's the way we have long honored our country through sports (as far as I
can remember, anyways). To me, the singing of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" has long been more "sacred" to the game of
baseball and the seventh inning stretch, and trying to squeeze another song in there for the sake of so-called patriotism, I
particularly don't like. And what I really really don't like is that it gives semi-professional or amateur singers the chance to
come out and sing again, after they already did the National Anthem, and (usually) spend the song trying to show off their
voice rather than do a simple reading of it to honor the country like the song is sort of intended to do. Instead it becomes just
another way for the singer to do some runs on notes, drag out the song, try and impress the fans, rather than do what the
owners, who supposedly want to do this out of patriotism, want to do.
I repeat it's faux/symbolic patriotism. People don't know the words to our national anthem (many teams don't even put the
words on the jumbotrons), talk during the anthem, etc. But they shush people who don't stand at attention during this song.
I sort of got why it was played after 9/11 but now it is just overkill (especially at Yankee Stadium where they play it every
day). Similarly, I don't understand why the National Anthem is played at all. We don't play it before a concert, play, etc.
Why at sporting events?
I strongly dislike forced patriotism. I think that it cheapens any meaning it does have by making it into something you go
through the motions with in a baseball game.
I strongly prefer that baseball teams and players keep their political positions to themselves. I don't care if Curt Schilling or
John Smoltz is a Republican, but I don't want to find out that my beloved Andy Pettitte is, too. And God Bless America is a
Republican anthem.
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i think "take me out to the ballgame" is more appropriate and less political
I think a better song that would include all Americans is O Beautiful which is a lovely song about the whole U.S. that has no
mention of God or religion. It's about the majesty of our country. But I don't really think any song needs be sung at all
baseball games that represents more than just the Church of Baseball.
I think I already answered that. It is forced and false patriotism. it reminds me way to much of what I read and heard about
Germany in the 1930s. Why not sing it before all operas, movies, plays? Is it somehow insulting to be sung before crowds
of less than 20,000? Maybe we should have a time scheduled every day where everyone in the whole nation stops what
they are doing and sings both God Bless America and the National Anthem? Then we'd have a nation full of patriots, right?
Yes, I am being sarcastic.
I think it is a dishonest attempt to link baseball with this false patriotism and how 'real' americans should feel.
I think it is one thing to show pride in one's country, and I think it's great to start off the game with the national anthem, but it
is another thing to shove a rigid adherence to a certain viewpoint down the fans' throats.
I think it is only appropriate on national holidays/rememberances (Memorial Day, July 4th, September 11). In some places, it
is played every game at the seventh inning stretch. Strong reference to god seems out of place.
i think it is unnecessary and strange. i understand that baseball is america's game, but the song seems out of place and puts
too much importance on what baseball means to our country.
I think it is way overplayed at this point. There's no reason that it should be continued to be played during the seventh-inning
stretch. The more it's played, the more is lost to its meaning/impact.
I think it shouldn't be sung anywhere because of the political implications. At a baseball game or in any venue with a mass
audience it's like a Nuremburg rally from the Riefenstahl film
I think it was a way of pressuring people to support a nationalist agenda and silencing, by the sheer numbers of attendants at
a ballpark, any and all opposition to that agenda.
I think it's a form of faux patriotism.
I think it's very much out of place at baseball games. I was fine with people singing in after the 09/11 attacks...and even for
2002. But, after that, I think that singing it at baseball games trivializes the song and takes away from the baseball game
experience. It's a GAME afterall...people should be allowed to have a little fun and sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame"...like
I did when I was a kid, and what my parents and grandparents did when they were kids.
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I think that I've covered this sufficiently already.
I think that it was a patriotic gesture for the first year or two following the Sept. 11 attacks, but now it is overdone. The
playing of the song at one particular stadium does not make that team more patriotic than another. And there are now
guidelines in the stadium as it is playing, where you are forced to participate and cannot leave your seat.
I think that singing God Bless America at baseball games is a fabricated bit of pseudo-patriotism. Immediately post 9/11 it
was performed extensively by many groups, and that's fine, as it's a musical expression of a worthy emotion, but it is NOT
the national anthem, and is now completely over used.
I think, temporarily, in our generation's darkest hour as Americans, the song was a source of "connection" with the American
people. Eight years later, I don't think we need it sung during the 7th inning stretch of baseball games. It's not relevant
anymore
I truly think this song should be used for specific, patriotic occasions (i.e. a holiday, day or remembrance, etc.). Having it
played EVERY game at Yankee Stadium has made me hate to hear it, as it is so forced. They are forcing us to be "patriotic"
for no reason, especially at a time when we have been imposing our views in certain parts of the world. It is not the time with
Anti-American sentiment to be patting ourselves on the back and asking God to bless only us.
I understood its inclusion in the games directly after 9/11. After a while it got old and this year the Dodgers started to include
it but it was obviously because of Obama's election. Dodger Owner Frank McCourt was a public support of Obama so its
obvious why he choose to include it.
I want to watch a baseball game, not witness the progressive decline of our culture and the fulfillment of George Orwell's
dystopian vision.
I was fairly ambivalent about the song until it started being forced on people at baseball games after 9/11. Now when I hear
it I think of forced patriotism and specific religious points of view.
I was very disqapointed at the recent inclusion of this song to Dodger Stadium (this year). First, it detacts from the greatest
experience at the ballpark, the traditional seventh-inning stretch. The unnecessary injection of politics/patriotism (do we really
need to mark our patriotism with two hat-doffing America songs?) is made more galling with the owner's decision to start this
now, years after 9/11. I can understand the importance/tradition in NYC, but it is generally annoying here. When I traveled
to San Diego to see a game, I was pleasantly surprised to see that this traditional stronghold of military did not have to be
subjected to the song.
I'll concede the national anthem at the start of a game (though the song is a horrible one about battles and war and whose
melody is difficult to sing--America the Beautiful is so much better), but you're almost forced to stand up and participate when
God Bless America gets played. Sorry, but to me, it has undertones of Nazi Germany and totalitartian states like N. Korea
when we're forced to stand up and sing patriotic songs. Besides, GBA is NOT a stand up song. The Star Spangled Banner?
Yes. GBA? No.
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i'm a baseball fan, i don't have to like America
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I'm a Canadian and a Toronto fan.
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I'm a Christian, but I don't want, nor do I think many others want, references to God at their public sporting events.
I'm a die-hard fan, but I don't like how MLB goes overboard with the patriotic expressions. What does patriotism have to do
with baseball? Why does a sport with a huge percentage of foreign players insist on TWO patriotic songs at every game?
Why did the Hall of Fame uninvite speakers who elsewhere criticized the Iraq war a few years ago but had been invited to
speak about baseball movies at the HOF?
I'm a religious person, but I believe strongly in the separation of church and state, and baseball events are things that all
people should be able to enjoy and not feel that it's tainted with a particular belief.
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I'm an atheist.
I'm an atheist. Did god really bless America? Did the god(s) of the American people actually "bless" America? The song is
being played in response to the 9/11 attacks, but the fools who carried out these horrendous acts of hatred were DOING SO
IN THE NAME OF GOD! They succeeded. And according to that one Bin Laden tape, they exceeded their expectations.
Apparently, god blessed the fuck out of those vile pieces of shit. Look, I don't believe in such a thing as god. I think it's a
detriment to society. I think it's ridiculous to hold faith in higher regard than science. The pope is against Africans using
condoms. W T F?!?!
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I'm at a baseball game for entertainment, not patriotism or worship.
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I'm not christian, but I still love baseball (and america). Why do I have to sing/hear about the christian god?
I'm not sure it serves a purpose to be sung during the middle of a baseball game, replacing Take Me Out to the Ballgame, a
playful song.
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I'm sick of forced patriotism
I'm there to watch baseball, not to have God and America rammed down my throat. They already play the national anthem.
Let's leave it at that. And the stretch is for "Take Me Out To the Ballgame," which is a tradition I'd be more willing to fight for
than GBA.
If I wanted to hear about God I'd go to church, people shouldn't be subjected to it at any sporting event.
If it is done in lieu of the national anthem, then I am fine with it. Adding it after 7th inning stretch is a bit much. It is a
baseball game not a political rally or a government production.
If it were just for the rest of the 2001 season I could have lived with it but we still hear it at Yankee Stadium every single
game. Enough. We know that Steinbrenner thinks he's Gen. Patton, but enough already.
If teams wanted to honor troops, then they ought to do it in ways that actually make a difference - donating to organizations
that support the troops/veterans, helping families of folks at war, etc. To their credit, many of them do. But focus on that
stuff, and NOT playing a song. Playing a song is about the least helpful thing they could do, yet there it is!
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If the point is to have something patriotic or show that we are all Americans and standing strong, I think "america the
beautful" would be better. We also already sing the National Anthem.
If the song is special, then any of its appeal is lost by playing at every game. It is something that you must sit through to
watch the game. Just like the national anthem. People want the anthem to end so they can watch the game.
Im as patriotic as the next guy, but the National Anthem at the beginning of a game gets the job done. Its much better than
God Bless America.
In the throes of a national crisis, it was an acceptable, probably good way for people to show love of country, support for
democracy and freedom, and bring people together who otherwise felt fear and angst about events.
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Inappropriate
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Inappropriate and jingoistic
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Inappropriate.
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Inappropriate. Most players aren't American. Much prefer Take me Out to the Ballgame
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increasingly dislike these forced displays of "patriotism" and militarism at ballgames. A ballgame should just be a ballgame.
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Injecting religion/patriotism into a sporting event is not necessary.
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injects patriotism and religion into sports
Introducing this in the 7th bastardizes a decades-old tradition of just singing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame." We sing the
national anthem to start the game. I feel like we don't need to infuse God or Patriotism into baseball at any other point.
Irrelevant to the event. If I disliked the country and didn't want God to guide it, would that mean I wouldn't be allowed to
watch the game to which I had purchased a ticket? The anthem is traditional, but enough is enough.
is a joke, MLB baseball is worldwide now, so a lot of the players were not even born here, putting them through that is just
embarrassing. what are we china?
Isn't one patriotic crappy song per sporting event enough? What is this North Korea now? Maybe we should sing a patriotic
song every inning. Did I mention it's a lousy song?
It adds religious overtones to the games and introduces a much longer delay than necessary during the seventh inning
stretch.
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It adds too much time between innings and baseball should be about baseball and not patriotism not god
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It brings religion into the baseball game, where it should have no place.
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It cheapens the song, it feels manipulative and disingenuous
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It doesn't belong at a baseball game, especially if it is played every night like at Yankee Stadium.
It doesn't belong. Canada has an MLB team, and major league ballplayers are a very international group. Plus, we already
hear the national anthem before every game.
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It doesn't belong. I don't agree with the custom of singing National Anthems before sporting events either.
It doesn't have a place at the baseball park because it is about sport not religous/patriotism to be shown and shoved down
everybody's throat.
It feels like a big ceremony in the middle of a game that is not needed or speicial.
It feels like a cheap appeal to idiot "patriots" who freak out when pols don't wear lapel flag pins and want a constitutional
amendment to ban flag burning.
It forces "God" into another public arena
It forces a viewpoint on people who do not believe in god, or who do not believe that god blesses one country more than
others.
It forces religion.
It generally doesn't affect me too much. I still stand and pay my respects as I would on any occasion, but I think it is too
much. The constant need to overtly express patriotic feeling strikes me as contrived and cult-like. It's like people feel we have
something to prove as a society with regards to our patriotism, whereas I am a more low-key type that isn't as strong on
group expression. It's just a little over the top, to me.
It has absolutely no place at a ballgame. Its inclusion in the immediate wake of September 11th was perhaps
understandable, but to retain it after eight years is more than regretable -- it is an advertisement for militarism and a not-sosubtle form of coercion, especially if you were one of those people, like myself, who tried to go to the men's room at the old
Yankee Stadium during the singing of the song, only to be barred by uniformed guards. Did they even realize the irony of
prohibiting people from going to pee during the playing of a song that ostensibly celebrates our freedom?
It has absolutely nothing to do with the game and adds nothing at all to the whole experience. The national anthem at the
beginning of the game is more than enough patriotism.
It has lost its meaning now that it is played so much
It has no business being part of the 7th inning stretch. The National Anthem is sung before the game, and that's plenty - I go
to sporting events to avoid politics and I despise empty gestures.
It has no part in baseball games. Playing and singing the National Anthem before the game is sufficient. Take Me Out to the
Ballgame, not God Bless America, is the only other song that should be regularly played at baseball games.
It has no place at a baseball game, period. The anthem is played before the game, and that's all we need. It's been nearly 8
years since 9/11. Let's give it a rest and move on with our lives already. I know it may be easy for me to say, but still...
"God Bless America" was probably not played at many games after Pearl Harbor, so why now? It's probably the
conservative, GOP politics involved.
It has no place at a baseball game. If people want to express their support for the country, there are plenty of ways to do so,
but invoking Christian imagery to do so is divisive. Most importantly, when I go to a baseball game, I go there to watch a
game and relax with friends and family, not to "express my patriotism."
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It has no place at the ballpark
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It has no place being sung at a baseball game. Stick to "Take Me Out To the Ballgame".
It has no place during the 7th inning stretch. It only prolongs the game and has no connection to the game. There is already
a National Anthem, which sufficiently delivers most of the same message that GBA does without the political subtext that has
been injected into the song post-9/11.
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It has no place in a baseball game. Dressing up a ballgame of any sort with the national anthem is bad enough.
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It has no place in baseball.
it has NO place in the game. we sing the national anthem, great. but, after that we are at a game. a game being played,
and watched, by people from many different countries and from many different beliefs, and many different cultures.
FORCING / DEMANDING people to stand (why?) and sing goes against everything our country stands for and the song
celebrates.
It has no place in the tradition of one of our country's most traditional games. If they wanted to add a song, they should just
sing Take Me Out to the Ballgame twice.
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It has NOTHING do do with BASEBALL
It has nothing to do with baseball and feels "forced". The national anthem at the start of the game is quite enough forced
patriotism for a baseball game.
it has nothing to do with baseball and has long passed its prime and purpose. They say it's to honor the troops. Then what is
the national anthem and silence for in the beginning of the game? it is redundant and lame. baseball games should be fun.
not depressig right when it should begetting exciting
It has nothing to do with baseball other than the silly outmoded ideas that baseball is somehow representative of America.
There is no need for it to be played at every game, and there is certainly no need for it to be shown on television, as the
Yankees do.
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It has nothing to do with baseball.
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It has nothing to do with Baseball.
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It has nothing to do with baseball. I don't care for forced patriotism beyond the National Anthem.
It has nothing to do with baseball. Take Me Out To The Ballgame is far superior. I just don't get why they still use it. Isn't
the National Anthem enough?
It has nothing to do with baseball. The addition of singing this song to baseball clearly sprung from the mind of some nambypamby soft Nancy boy. Actually, I would bet everything I have that it came from a woman. It mixes religion -- and worse, a
specific religion -- with "America". I don't believe in God so "God Bless America" makes no sense to me. Also on the
negative side, I cannot stand it being sung at baseball games, and further, what REALLY pisses me off as a loyal, patriotic
American is that people are directed to take their hats off, but "God Bless America" is NOT, repeat NOT, a song for which
men are required to remove headwear (Only the National Anthem and Taps rate this).
It has nothing to do with baseball. It wasn't a "tradition" until after 9/11, and it forces fans and players from all faiths and all
countries to bow down to the altar of Americana. It's inappropriate and insensitive. We don't sing the Battle Hymn of the
Republic.
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It has nothing to do with baseball. The national anthem is enough. I want to hear take me out to the ballgame.
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It has passed its usefulness.
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It has taken on the aura of a substitute national anthem, which is ridiculous.
It has the wrong mood for a mid-game song and distracts from the fun Take Me Out to the Ballgame. I also strongly
associate it with the Yankees, which is not a positive for most other baseball fans.
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It introduces a nationalistic riyual into a game.
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It is a ball game. Not an affirmation meeting of my patriotism. The National Anthem is enough.
It is a faux show of patrotoism. Wether or not you stand or not, or play this song, or sing this song, should NOT be a
measure of how much you like or love your country, and it should NOT be included at baseball games. It is NOT our national
anthem, and we should not be forced to stand for it, and remove our caps as if it is.
It is a forced intrusion of current "political correctness" where it is neither needed nor appropriate. The game is, on its own,
an affirmation of American history and, by association, American values. It doesn't need this. It's like the government
requiring "Can't Buy Me Love" at every wedding. We already have the tradition of the National Anthem at the start of each
game. Adding another song doesn't make the game or the fans more patriotic, and to the contrary makes the whole thing
seem forced, insincere, and rather desperate.
It is a hymn, a religious song focused on a deity specific only to certain religions. It has no business being played routinely at
public events in a society which has freedom of religion as a founding principle.
It is a waste of time, it adds needless time to an already-overlong 7th inning stretch, and it goes further towards making a
baseball game into a propaganda spectacle.
It is a waste of time. I don't like my favorite baseball team endorsing a religious point of view. Baseball games should be
about baseball. As far as honoring America, I feel that the national anthem is enough.
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It is absurd
It is an injection of politics. I would have no problem if it were used instead of the National Anthem before a game. I would
rather "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" be sung during the 7th inning stretch.
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It is an intrusion of religion and politics into what is just a game.
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It is an overtly religious song. Sure, it never specifies what god it is about, but it is still about a god. As an atheist, it offends
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me that a major sporting institution started singing it. I especially didn't like it because it seemed to support the Bush
Administration push for blind patriotism. And I hate that the Dodgers broadcasts don't cut to commercial until after the song is
over.
It is baseball, not church or a patriotic rally. God blesses nothing, god does not exist, god could very easily be the reason for
9/11. God is positively the reason for oppression, depression, and the stupidity reigning supreme across our country.
George Bush seriously was re-elected.... enough said.
It is cloying and out of place. The Star Spangled Banner which did not come into play until World War is plenty. I am a
veteran, former military officer and consider myself patriotic, but I cringe when they play it.
It is completely unnecessary. I believe that it is fake patriotism since the National Anthem is already performed and a bit of
overkill especially since about half of the major leagues is composed of foreign players. The 7th inning should be reserved
for Take Me Out to the Ballgame rather than more shows of "patriotism".
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It is exploitive.
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It is inappropriate. The Star Spangled Banner is played at the beginning of baseball games, and that is enough.
It is just faux-patriotism. Making 50,000 people stand and sing a song about America does not make them patriotic. And
please leave God out of baseball.
It is not a song that was designed or meant to be stood to or have hats removed or being a required event. It shouldn't be a
commonplace song.
It is not an official anthem of our nation, and I should not be forced to hear it or sing it. There are better songs that show our
love for our nation, and many of them do not include religious ideas.
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It is not needed and brings politics to games.
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It is not sung at all baseball games. I thought only at Yankee games (one more reason to hate the Yankees evil empire...)
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It is NOT the national anthem, this is NOT a christian only nation. Baseball has become an international sport.
It is not the national anthem. Its inclusion assumes the fans are not only united behind the nation, but united behind God as
well. (The attackers behind the 9-11 attacks were united by God, too.) Forcing the players, who are much more diverse in
citizenship, stand and salute as well is even more ridiculous.
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It is overplayed and has falsely patriotic and republican overtones.
It is particularly ill-suited to a public, secular gathering like a baseball game, in which it is a given that many attendees (and
TV/radio viewers) are not of a religious bent. I would have fewer problems with "America the Beautiful" being sung at
baseball games because that, at least, is neutral as to religion. But mostly, my objection is based on the fact that "God
Bless America" has replaced "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" at many parks for the seventh-inning stretch, a cherished
baseball tradition for me and countless other fans.
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It is stupid and jingoism.
It is the placement/timing of doing the song. It cheapens it to make it part of the seventh inning stretch, which already has its
own wonderful tradition. I do appreciate doing the national anthem at the beginning of the game, but having God Bless
America being sung in the middle seems jarringly wrong.
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It is unbelievably annoying.
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It is unnecessary and a token display of patriotism.
It is usually introduced by saying "we now honor America...". You don't "honor America" with "God Bless America". You
honor America with The National Anthem. Singing GBA is no different than singing "Take me Out to the Ballgame" or "Sweet
Caroline" at Fenway Park.
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It just doesn't belong. Take Me Out to the Ball Game is a much better 7th inning stretch song.
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It lengthens games that are already too long. It should be included on, at most, Sundays and holidays.
It lengthens the already-too-long seventh-inning stretch. It actually affects the outcome of games, due to the dynamics of
pitcher warmups, possible substitutions (which are common at that half-inning break), and most of all, completely changes
the textuality of the seventh-inning stretch, which was one of my favorite traditions of baseball, and is now something I
loathe.
It links baseball, the national pastime, with George Bush/Republican exploitation. It feels like an attempt to marginalize
liberal democrats. It must sound crazy and paranoid to say this, but that's how it feels.
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It loses it's impact if it is played at every game.
It made sense for maybe a year or two. Now, it's time to move on. I think that the Yankees are the only team still playing it.
They need to stop.
It makes me not want to be a baseball fan because it makes me feel like a lot of the folks who like the game are basically
conservative, republican red-neck types who basically are reactionaries about the so-called terrorist threat and that the song
appeals to their love of country that is misguided.
It makes no sense really. Adds time and most people at this point don't want to hear it every night.
It makes the seventh inning stretch, a wonderful tradition in baseball history, into a political and patriotic moment. There is
already too much of that in sports, and it has now marred a sweet tradition.
It mixes politics and sports, which is entirely inappropriate, and leads to much phony patriotism.
it over emphasizes ties to patriotism and religion. it was ok for the remainder of the 2001 season but should have been
discontinued at start of 2002. now its a bad tradition that will be hard to get rid of.
It politicizes America's National Game.
It promotes jingoism and xenophobia, and it has no place in baseball--especially during the 7th inning stretch. It also makes
for an unusually long break between the halves of that inning, which throws off the pace of a game.
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It reinforces church/state identity to a sulnerable population.
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it seems inappropriate and unnecessary.
It seems like forced patriotism. There's already the national anthem before the game. I don't see why it's necessary to do it
again in the 7th. It was a good, emotional gesture in the immediate post 9/11 months, but I think it's now just rote and
meaningless.
It serves no purpose, what happened to Take Me out to the ballgame? It's nice to play it, but hearing it every game gets
annoying. overkill...
It slows down the game and seems redundant after already having the national anthem sung before the game. It also feels
like enforced patriotism, which feels un-American.
It slows down the game, and baseball is already a pretty slow game. I resent the expectation that I stand and reverently buy
into a religion that I don't practice. It smacks of the intensification of American civil religion that followed 9/11. And above all,
the seventh inning stretch is for "Take Me Out to the Ballgame". I mean, if they varied it up - did "This Land is Your Land," for
instance, that would suit me more, politically speaking, but really, the thing is, there is already a song for the seventh inning
stretch, and it ain't "God Bless. . .". If they just have to inject Americana into the seventh inning stretch, sure, I'd dig
something a little lefty-ish and less full of God, but really, I think it's a colonization of what should be a more autonomous
institution by religious/political hoo-hah. Also, generally, the singers over-do it.
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It slows down the game.
It smacks of bumper sticker patriotism. The least you can do for your country is to proclaim your love, the most is to do some
action that leads to a better country. I think this song represents the former more than the latter
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It stops the game in an unnecessary way
It stops the game in progress, unlike the national anthem which is sung before the game starts. Disrupts the flow of the
game.
It takes extra time. And it adds nothing to the baseball experience for me. I'm there for the game, not indoctrination. I also
am very discouraged by the Yankee Stadium policy of forcing fans to stay in their seats during the performance. That's not
freedom.
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It was a nice tribute immediately following the terrorist attacks, but it's time to move on.
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It was added purely for marketing reasons, to make MLB seem more patriotic.
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It was appropriate after the attacks because of our sense of nationalism but it is time for it to stop.
It was fine after 9-11, but some teams have gone overboard and physically assaulted or confined people who refuse to
participate in the singing of the song.
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It was fine at the end of the 2001 season. Since then it's been a tedious and forced appearance of pretentious patriotism.
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It was fine for a bit after 9/11, but is totally unnecessary at this point; we already play the national anthem
It was fine for a while. But now I don't think we need to mix sports and the singing of a patriotic song at a "non-national"
event.
it was fine for a year or so but i'm sick of it. I've also been yelled at at yankee stadium for moving 4 feet to get to the end of
the bleachers during the song.
It was fine immediatly after 9-11 as an additional way of paying respect to the country, especially in NY. Now, enough is
enough.
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It was fine in September/October 2001 in New York. now it's overdone
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It was fine when it was just on Sundays, but now it is every day.
It was nice for a while, but it's gotten extremely old. It has nothing to do with baseball, and every time they sing it, it loses it's
meaning even more.
It was nice for awhile after 9/11, but at this point it is ridiculous that they play it at every Yankees game. Also, it bothers me
that people think you need to take off you hat when you hear it, it isn't the National Anthem.
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It was okay in 2001 after the attacks, but we already play the National Anthem, so it's unnecessary.
It was only added to Yankee home games. Which is fine, the attacks affected so many in New York. But now, it's spread
throughout baseball, and I'm tired of it.
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It was perfect for a time, but now, enough already. And the Kate Smith version is far from the best.
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It's a ball game it's a time to forget reality and enjoy ourselves without having to get patriotic at every flippin occassion.
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It's a ballgame, not a prayer service or memorial
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It's a baseball game, not a church event or a contest of who can be more patriotic
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It's a baseball game. I don't even understand why we sing the anthem at a baseball game, frankly.
It's a bunch of bullshit forced patriotism. All these sheep at Yankee Stadium buy into it and it's frankly pathetic. I also hate the
morons who yell at other fans to take off their caps. That is reserved only for the national anthem. I also hate that the YES
Network shows God Bless America between the 7th inning but never shows the playing of the national anthem. Speaking of
the national anthem, that was another act of bullshit forced patriotism during WWII.
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It's a farkin' baseball game!
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It's a forced tradition, not a historical one.
It's a holdover from an overreaction to 9/11 that MLB is afraid to shed due to the threat of being perceived as unpatriotic or
ungrateful. To expect 50k people a night to sing a song in memory of a nightmarish occurrence from eight years ago is
ghoulish and has no place in baseball.
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It's a horrible song and it's a way of wrapping yourself around the flag without doing anything and not being patriotic even
though it's what they want.
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It's a manufactured tradition invented by an unpopular commissioner that seeks to wrap Baseball in the patriotic flag of
America, to me, it links up with my answer to question 11 at this point
It's a NY, and specifically Yankee, tradition. Leave it in NY. Dodgers started doing it this year (2009), and I can't stand it. And
it's a typical American response: ignore any kind of substantive debate or issue, and just loudly proclaim how great this
country is, so much so that God must bless it.
It's a rotten song, and I shouldn't be asked to "rise" for it. In the 7th inning, that is reserved for "Take Me Out to the
Ballgame," a song that is actually good and fun and inclusive.
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It's a sporting event, not a political rally
It's a terrible song--but beyond that, there is already an acknowledgment of patriotism at the beginning of the game. A
second infusion mid-game just smacks of totalitarianism. It's a mindless and unnecessary interference with the lightheartedness of the 7th inning stretch.
It's a waste of time and should be sung before the game as an alternative to the national anthem. I love America, but I don't
need to sing about it all the time. After September 11th, it seemed appropriate, but now, it's sung at every Yankees and
Brewers game, it detracts from any special meaning.
It's baseball not a political rally or a religious service. The National Anthem is more than enough patriotism for an
entertainment option.
It's baseball, not a religious or political event. I'm OK with the national anthem before the game, but the interruption during
the game seems silly and out of place.
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It's become a bludgeon.
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It's become a de facto alternate national anthem
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It's completely unnecessary. I'd also assume it's annoying for the many, many non-americans playing in the MLB.
It's creepy to be in a stadium of 50,000 people seemingly shutting down their brains to indulge the god delusion and worship
the state.
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It's disrespectful to force people to stand for a non-official anthem.
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It's fascistic to use a sporting even to ramp up nationalistic ferver.
It's fine once in a blue moon, but to make it mandatory like the Yankees did (not just mandatory, the security staff bottles you
into your section so you cant move) is a bit much. Makes me dislike the song.
It's forced and ruins the tradition of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game." We have the National Anthem at the beginning – that's
enough for me during a game.
It's forced jingoism. IT's not patriotic. I could understand for the first few months when people were scared and hurt especially in New York - but it's an alienating song. It's not inclusive. "America The Beautiful" would be a far better choice.
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it's getting tired. The games are long enough.
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It's inappropriate...I want to watch a game not prove how patriotic I am by waving a flag and singing a song
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It's jingoistic, it takes too long, and it's unnecessary.
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It's jingoistic.
It's just a bad song. Plus, singing it at baseball games seems to assume that everyone there is of a Christian persuasion,
and it also adds sinister overtones of a holy war to our involvement in the Middle East.
It's lapel-pin patriotism, a meaningless gesture that somehow makes people feel as if they're doing something that might
help.
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It's long since served whatever purpose it was supposed to, and now it's just phony patriotism wasting my time.
It's not as if the people rose up and demanded MLB do this. It was just another marketing gimmick and it continues for the
same reason that politicians feel they have to wear a little American flag lapel pin. They don't want to be accused of being
unpatriotic.
It's not our National Anthem.
It's not that I'm unAmerican, because I love America, but I feel the same way about this song and the National Anthem at
baseball games. Why do we sing them? We don't say the pledge of allegiance at the post office. We don't salute the flag at
a water park. Why do we sing patriotic songs at sporting events?
It's not the national anthem, so it's just forced peer-pressure prayer. It has no place there. The only appropriate song in 7th is
Take me Out to the Ballgame
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It's not the place or the time.
It's not the traditional seventh inning song, it's blatant pandering to state and religion that has nothing to do with the sport,
and the song just kinda sucks musically (it's no Sousa march).
It's not traditional, and the only reason its sung at baseball games is for a non-baseball related reason (post 9/11). We don't
sing it at NBA games, or NFL games, why should we sing it at MLB games?
It's not traditional. And it's a major buzzkill during the seventh inning stretch. I have no problem with God, or with America.
But during a baseball game, it just seems like hallow patriotism.
It's obnoxious, faux-patriotism that sells America in a ridiculous way while making baseball seem like some sort of America
Party
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It's overkill with the national anthem being sung at the beginning of games. Pick one, don't have both.
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It's overkill, as is much of what Selig does.
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It's overkill. We already sing the anthem at the beginning of the game. How many songs about America do we need?
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It's overkill. We sing the national anthem at the beginning, that's enough. Stop shoving your patriotism and right-wing
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religious beliefs down our throats.
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It's overused. It's not the national anthem. It's become enforced and faith-based patriotism. We already sing the national
anthem at the beginning of each game (why, exactly?) - this is overkill.
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It's phony patriotism. The national anthem is plenty.
It's redundant - we already sing the national anthem before every game. Baseball is already americana and conservativetoned enough without the blatant reminder in the 7th.
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It's sung at every game and that's too much. It's been cheapened by overexposure.
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It's the wrong time/place. The national anthem is already sung. It's redundant.
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it's to make the home team look like patriots
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It's too long, it's too overwrought, and it's deified to an uncomfortable extent.
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It's too much patriotism and it takes too long. we sing the national anthem and that should be enough.
It's too religious, and it has nothing to do with baseball. Is it played at other sporting events? I say the tradition of singing
"Take Me Out to the Ball Game" is much more appropriate.
It's treated as if it was a 2nd National Anthem. I feel like it's an excessive display of patriotism. Plus it intrudes upon Take Me
out to the ball game which is just a far better song.
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it's unecessary. isn't the national anthem enough with pledging loyalty to the US?
It's unnecessary - we already have the national anthem. How many pro-America songs do we need at a sporting event?
Also, the song unnecessarily ties nationalism to religion.
It's unnecessary, it's a waste of time, it interrupts the flow of the game, and it cheapens the song and the sentiment that
inspires it by singing it at every Dodgers home game.
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It's unnecessary. The national anthem before the game is enough.
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its a baseball game, not a national observance
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Its a baseball game, not a religious or poilitical gathering...it has no purpose at a sporting event
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its a propiganda bullshit song
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Its a sporting event, not a church service.
Its addition was of the moment, but the moment has passed. I much prefer that what goes on during baseball games be
related to baseball -- rather than, say, terrorism.
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Its baseball.... not church. Or congress. Or a candle light vigil. Just stick to the 7th inning stretch. Or hot dog races.
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its non-secular and interupts the flow of the game.
Its not so much the use of the song in games. In fact, I love the national anthem before the game. But the phrase that has
developed that really bugs me is "to honor America". I.E.- "Please rise 'to honor America' during the performance of 'God
Bless America'" I voluntarily rise during the national anthem played before any event in public to show respect for the
country I grew up in and live in. There's just something about "honor America" that rubs me the wrong way.
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its not take me out to the ballgame
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Its total bullshit.... this song has no place in a basebal game.
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Jingoistic songs/attitudes have no place in sports (or anywhere).
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Just annoying.
Just no place for it any more. It's one thing to do something after a tragic event to bring people together - that's a beautiful
thing. Now it's a routine...a way to make people think they love their country. Why, instead of recycling or caring about
issues, I'll sing this song and that'll take care of my patriotic duties! Yee-ha!
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Keep God out of my public events
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Keep God out of the issue.
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Keep religion and patriotism out of sports, please. Not everyone attending or watching has to be a Christian and/or American.
Learning about baseball has been a remarkable experience, filled with the unexpected. Ken Burn's PBS film documentry
only served to whet my appetite. What I have enjoyed most has been "baseball in the larger context of American history."
This game that most men of my generation played with unbridled furvor as boys (even poorly) has been similarly played (in
wide variations) by nearly every generation of American boys since our colonial period. As the boys & girls game developed
into an adult activity the on-field game became in starts and stops the highly skilled game we come to view today. The
business (off-field) development of professional baseball, first became an opportunity for players of the game to make some
portion of their livelihood while playing the game. Other, more enterpenurial types, saw that there was some potential in
making money by owning and managing teams of players. Although, there were great risks and many failures in these late
19th century enterprises, the strong did survive, usually through a combination of being in larger markets, sometimes doing
business with less than honest politicians, smart and aggressive marketing, and sometimes attempting to pull on the patriotic
sentiments of fans. Early on, in large cities, 19th century military bands were often featured at ball parks to provide additional
specticale and entertainment, to make the price of admission all the more worthwhile. Because these military bands were
available, usually at no cost to the team owners (perhaps just the price of an admissions for the band to view the rest of the
game) this was a popular and common activity. Because of the marshall nature of the music performed by such bands, the
playing of the National Anthem was a "natural" outcome, thus the tradition slowly grew and became more formalized during
WWI. The inclusion of "God Bless America" in my view is forced. It lacks the slow natural progression of the game and its
traditions. It somehow, seems like overkill - the Anthem has been performed and appauded by most if not all, now "play
ball!" No P.A. announcer finds it necessary to tell the crowd, "to please stand, remove your hats and join in the singing of
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Take Me Out..." The playing of "God Bless America," is almost always accompanied by a set of similar instructions
(sometimes with the additional instructions to "face the flag and remain at your seats.") Something is un-natural in all this. I
can't recall, where or when, but I am certain that I have been to professional games where the PA announcer was simply
said, "Ladies & Gentlemen, please rise for our National Anthem," period. Most if not all, oblige. Whether this is out of a
sense of baseball tradition or patriotism or simply habit is unquestioned. In fact, in terms of the National Anthem, a simple
"Ladies and Gentlemen, our National Anthem," would probably be more in keeping with our spontaneity as Americans.
Granted, because the first word of the Anthem begins with its first musical note, asking everyone to please rise, may have
the practical purpose of giving all those rising an opportunity to do so before the song commences. I recall the grainy film
images I have seen on several occassions through the years of the 1936 Berlin Olympics. I often wondered whether every
German in that crowd was a committed Nazi, and if not, could they refrain from standing, cheering their leadership or their
flag. Singing, "God Bless America," with all its accomanying instuctions and commands may be the most un-naturally
American thing we have come to find ourselves doing at a professional baseball game. Think about crowd dynamics, are we
really "free" to not stand, not face the flag, not remove our hats, not sing. What about that big burly guy behind us that has
already had a few beers, do we wonder if he may "accidentally "spill one on us, or worse still, initiating a comment that may
lead to one or both of us not getting to see the game we came to the ballpark to enjoy.
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Leave baseball alone! What's next, stoning people trying to move during the song to death?
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Like above. Forced phony patriotism and religion.
Look, I don't even think the National Anthem should be played before ball games. Why should it? Do we sing the National
Anthem before going shopping? Before eating dinner? Before watching The Simpsons? Why before a ball game? So, adding
another "patriotic" song is just stupid.
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Makes me want to barf.
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Makes the 7th inning stretch way too long. Dminishes take me ou to the ballgame. Unfair to visiting team.
My opinion is strictly about the song being played at Yankee Stadium. Prior to the song being played at Yankee Stadium, the
PA announcer asks that we stand to honor our troops stationed around the globe and to honor those who are defending our
freedoms and our way of life. First, I prefer that we not have our troops stationed around the globe, but rather that we bring
them home. Second, I do not believe that U.S. troops are in any way defending "our freedoms and our way of life." I prefer
not to stand in support of empire and immoral foreign wars.
My opinion was explained in the previous box but I feel as though the baseball organization is using it to pander to the fans.
As an atheist and a baseball fan, perhaps traditionalist (not sure if I am old enough to be considered that) I do not like its
inclusion.
National anthem and other pre-game "patriotism" activities is more than sufficient. My understanding is national anthem in
sports was added around WWII for same "patriotic" reasons. Many teams during anthem now invite local service members
to sing/carry flag, play recorded video from overseas on jumbo-tron, etc. That doesn't bother me because it's inclusive to all
Americans. Adding a second song is redundant, but still doesn't bother me, it's a good song. However, the direct link to 9/11
is blatant, offensive politics. It is designed to reinforce a "war on terror" mentality on the world, inter-community relations and
U.S. foreign relations. Its a subtle but important difference. I really do wish they would disassociate the song from 9/11.
national anthem before the game is fine. i'm at the game to have fun, not think about politics. having it force fed to me at
games is making me dislike the song.
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National anthem is appropriate. It's total overkill. Why are baseball teams so obsessed with proving that their so patriotic?
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National anthem should fulfill the patriotism quota, don't care for the God reference, don't like the group-think atmosphere.
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Nationalism has no place at a baseball game.
No point at a sporting event. They already have the national anthem--for which everyone must stand up. Makes going to a
baseball game that much less appealing.
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no reason to mention god or religion, should only be used at religious functions
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No reason we should be subjected to someone else's brand of patriotism.
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Not a part of the game. If sung, should be done before the game
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Not an appropriate forum
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not everyone agrees with the sentiment of the song, but you are a pariah if you don't stand and give your respects to it
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Not everyone is Christian or believes in a god. Also, religion and politics do not belong in a sporting event.
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Not gonna say it again
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Not necessary. Gets in the way. Not there to participate in a patriotic song,
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Not needed, with the national anthem played. We all get it now. Be patriotic.
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Not sure what God or any form of religion has to do with baseball.
Not the national anthem. I hate how people want me to salute to the song. Horrible. I would much rather honor our country
with the anthem at the beginning of the game and then be done with it. Furthermore, it's one of the worst national pride
songs. I would rather hear Lee Greenwood's God Bless the USA, America (My Country Tis of Thee), or America the
Beautiful.
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not the right place. i go to or watch a game to get away and be entertained, not have patriotism shoved down my throat
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OK - immediately after. But it's been 8 years, time to move on.
On holidays, sure, sing it, but the game already opens with the national anthem. It was cathartic in the early days after 9/11,
but there was a time to phase it out and that time came and went years ago. This is a baseball game, not a political pep rally.
The politicization of patriotism post-9/11 really disgusts me and the singing of GBA during the 7th inning stretch smacks of
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exactly that.
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Once again as a non believer i dont want to sing a song about god. I am not in church.
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One forced singing of a patriotic song at a fun outing is probably too many for me. Adding a second one is insane.
One national anthem is enough in a free society but if another America The Beautiful is truly a stirring, patriotic and stirring
song especiall by Ray Charles. Kate Smith sings like a sick cat.
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One national anthem is enough.
One nationalistic song is enough...The 7th inn stretch is too long when you add Take Me Out, and in Milwaukee...Roll out the
barrel. Inclusion of the song is knee jerk reaction to a NYC -centric world view. It is a lovely song, but it's schmaltzy patriotism
at best.
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One patriotic song is enough.
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Only should be done on special occasions (i.e. 4th of July, Sept, 11, Memorial Day)
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Only Yankees do it and it's annoying.
Other than on a Holiday, Songs saluting a country should not be sung at a regular season game in any sport. Cheapens the
whole thing and desensitizes the fellings the song is meant to engender
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OVERKILL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Overkill. The national anthem is already played. It's a sporting event, not a political rally.
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Overly Patriotic
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overplayed, forced patriotism, and we already sing the anthem!
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patriotic shot sucks.
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patriotism and religion have nothing to do with baseball. leave it out.
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Patriotism is fine but it is just a terrible song.
Patriotism is good. Having someone hold me captive and force me to be patriotic is not. That is not freedom. I go to baseball
games for baseball. I go to my town's Memorial Day parade for patriotism.
Pausing a sporting event to make a strong public display of patriotism has a bit of the feel of ancient Rome or 1930s
Germany. What's next, a loyalty oath? Then there's the over-the-top cheesy delivery. Having it played at us is sort of
belittling-- as if we need to be reminded in very simple words that we live in a good place, or we might forget.
People are forced to stand and treat it like the national anthem, that's ridiculous. There s only one of those. I hope they do
away with it.
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people should be able to enjoy a ballgame without injecting religious ideas or political messages.
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Phony patriotism is more harmful than no patriotism.
Playing it at a sporting event where (statistically speaking) thousands of people are atheists, agnostics or not practicing any
religion (or practicing religions with no "god") in the 21st century is outdated and extremely offensive. There are other
patriotic songs that do not include the word "god" or "bless" the country. Religion has NO place in a sporting event.
Please see my answer to number 11. Here ia a case where I (a Red Sox fan) feel that Steinbrenner got it right, and I would
probably feel very differently about hearing the song at the ballpark if it were sung in its entireity.
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pointless to sing it. we already sing the star spangled banner why sing both?
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politics and baseball need not mix...
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Politics and sports should not mix. They play the anthem, that is enough!
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Previously mentioned. It's overkill and unnecessary and it ruins the tradition of singing "Take Me Out To The Ballgame"
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Proselitizing
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Public prayer is inappropriate at baseball games.
Religion, esp. Christian religion [I'm an ex-Catholic], is creeping into too much of our life. The U.S. was founded on the
freedom of -- and from -- religion.
Religious overtones--I'd prefer "America" if a song must be sung in the seventh. Plus, the seventh is traditionally "Take Me
out to the Ballgame" territory.
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Religious propaganda has no place at a baseball game. Obligatory patriotism is wrong.
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Religious themes do not belong at secular events. If I wanted religion I would go to church!
Religious views have no place at a baseball game. Sing American the Beautiful if necessary. I actually turn off the TV and
radio when the song comes on in the seventh inning.
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Repeating it 162 games a season does not make baseball stadiums civic cathedrals for worship of the hybrid church/state.
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Right after 9/11 it was fine. Now it is overplayed and has lost its meaningfulness. Bring back take me out the ball game.
Same as above - I'll sing the national anthem but not for that song - I get why the Yankees did it - we were all tramatized post
Sept 11th. Enough already.
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Same as feelings about song in general
Same as the above mentioned reasons, plus the 7th inning stretch already had a song and the National Anthem is already
sung pregame.
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Same comment as before. This song doesn't belong at baseball games.
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Same reason. Kate Smith blows, jingoistic crap.
It's been almost 10 years too.
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Same reasons as above. Seems overtly religious
Same reasons as expressed above. I refuse to stand for the playing of "GBA" and have been heckled by other fans for sitting
down during the song.
Same reasons that I dislike the song. There's no place for enforced patriotism and religion in a baseball setting which is
intended as entertainment. I don't object to the playing of the National Anthem, however.
See #9 and #11. I see it as inappropriate to the occasion, and as a cynical tool of conformity.
See above-- Kids don't need to be hearing a song about god blessing "america", inferring that other countries are not as
worthy of god's attention or protection or whatever.
See above. I also think that even if the people who are responsible wanted to get rid of it, they are too afraid being
considered anti-American to suggest it.
See above. We already sing the national anthem before every game, and I actually do sing the thing out loud and I know all
the words. We don't need ANOTHER patriotic break.
See above. Yes, it's because I of course could recognize the sudden change, and what it signified is what ticks me off. It is
the audio equivalent of the compulsory flag pin.
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See above. Also, the 7th inning stretch should be reserved for "Take Me Out to the Ballgame."
See above. It serves no purpose. If it were up to me, though, I'd forego the National Anthem before each game, too (maybe
including it on Sundays and holidays). For me, it's less about an expression of patriotism than it is a time-waster and a
showcase for the untalented.
See answer 11. By the way, I've only heard it used in MLB games, not in minor leagues and college, for which I am very
thankful. I hate that MLB requires its inclusion on holidays. In st Louis, they playit at the beginnig of games, and get it out of
the way, so people can avoid it if desired.
See answer above. Too much god being pushed on us already. I'll use the timing of the song to go get food/beer or take a
bathroom break next time.
See part of my answer on #11. I would also add that it felt like a marketing ploy by MLB to try and show how American they
are.
I would think that singing the National Anthem before EVERY baseball game would be enough.
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Seems forced. Ran its course about 7 years ago.
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seems pretty self-centered to me........and the god bless part.
seems very out of place. the national anthem is already sung (and that's fine with me). we don't need another song -especially added to the 7th inning stretch, where it competes with 'take me out to the ballgame.' additionally, i don't like that
men are expected to remove their hats for this song -- that should be reserved for the national anthem.
Separation of church and Baseball! I was particularly disgusted one Sunday in Detroit when the Tigers used "God Bless
America" during the 7th-inning stretch--even though it was Islamic Community Appreciation Day. The Detroit metro area has
the largest Islamic concentration in the U.S.
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Seventh inning stretch should be for take me out to the ballgame only
Several reasons, but i'll state a one: baseball is an escape, it is a way to leave behind the worries of the world, your job, your
life, and just enjoy being alive, enjoy the vicarious thrills that being a fan enables, preaching to me about my country invoking
the power of god to do so, really rubs me the wrong way.
Should perform Take Me Out to the Ballgame
Similar reasons as my comments above. Additionally, I found the way the song was foisted on attendees to be frustrating. It
was like they were trying to force us all to be jingoistic America-firsters.
SING THE ANTHEM AT THE BEGINNING AND TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLGAME DURING THE 7TH. TOO MUCH RAH
RAH PATRIOTISM GOING ON, IT FEELS FORCED.
Singing the national anthem is appropriate and tradition. Other than that, it is an entertainment sporting event, not a proamerica rally
Singint the national anthem is enough to express my respect for U.S. This adds nothing. It detracts from the fun of singing
"Take Me Out...." during 7th inning stretch.
slows down the game, that's what the nat. anthem is for
Song has nothing to do with baseball. We've already got the national anthem at the beginning of the game. 7th inning stretch
should be for Take Me Out to the Ballgame.
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Sport, not a political or nationalistic rally
Sporting events are one of the few venues we have left where everyone in the community can leave their political and
religious creeds behind and come together to enjoy the game.
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Sports and "patriotism" should be like church and state
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Sports and politics / religion should not mix
Sports don't need interludes for politics. Baseball is seeking to be an international game and the way to promote that is
through inclusion, not through pro-God/pro-US bandwagoning.
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Sports should not be politicized, and baseball is international.
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Star Spangled Banner at the start of the game is enough
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Stupid and pointless. Take me out to the ballgame and sit down.
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Super-patriotism has no place at the ball park.
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Take me out to the ball game is far more appropriate.
Take Me Out to the Ballgame has been a baseball tradition for over a century. Why change it? What about the people who
don't believe in God? Are we saying that baseball is exclusively a Christian/Jewish sport?
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Takes too long - makes it seem like a second national anthem. IT'S NOT THE NATIONAL ANTHEM - HATS DON'T COME
OFF AND IT SHOULD BE OPTIONAL TO PARTICIPATE.
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Teams recognize the country and troops already at the beginning of the game. No need to do it again.
Tedious, uninteresting, commonplace nationalism does not add to enjoyment of game. Song helps breed american
exceptionalism - also disagreeable and has no place at ballgame. Game already has national anthem to start. Will we have
to recite pledge of allegiance as well?
Temporarily, it seemed nice. but now it is mostly perfunctory and jingoistic, neither of which are admirable qualities. plus,
Take me out to the ball game was and is a better stretch song. it is light and fun, not dripping with the fake gravitas of GBA.
mostly, it's just unnecessary, and theerfore uncalled for.
The "Star-Spangled Banner" is already played before baseball games and is the accepted national anthem. Including "God
Bless America" in front of "Take Me Out To The Ballgame", to me, is a cynical ploy to manipulate the paying customers into
proving their patriotism, something they already do before the start of the game by participating in the national anthem.
the 7th inning stretch is for take me out to the ball game. The national anthem before the game has a rich history dating
back to WWI. God Bless America in place of Take me out to the ball game is just a idiotic move by Bud Selig and other
owners to hop on the trendy "patriotic" bandwagon
The 7th inning stretch is meant for "Take Me Out to the Ballgame." When we switched to "God Bless America," the terrorists
won a little bit.
The addition of "God Bless America" in MLB games always struck me as Bud Selig trying to score PR points. Nobody
remembers why we do it now, so why not get rid of it?
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the game already starts with the national anthem. 7th inning stretch is for "take me out to the ball game"
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The game did not need an infusion of hyper-patriotism, tinged with the militarism of the post-9/11 world.
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the initial rationale behind it was probably sincere, but now I think its merely ritual and pomp forced upon a captive audience
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The Kate Smith version is very old.
The National Anthem before the start of the game? Okay. Tradition. God Bless America during the 7th inning stretch? No
thanks. I grew up going to Baltimore Orioles games, and the 7th inning stretch song was John Denver's "Thank God I'm a
Country Boy," which was unique and, well, neat (and yes, slightly strange). The Orioles did away with that many years ago
when they opened their new stadium (in favor of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame," I believe) and I saw that as just another
homogenization of the whole baseball experience. To a large extent, I see this the same way. And then there's the issue of
mixing politics/patriotism with sports -- enough already.
The National Anthem is already played at the beginning of the game. Baseball games are supposed to be fun & entertaining,
and God Bless America 1) forces people to consider why the song is being played (which I concede may not be a bad thing),
but 2) takes up time that can better be spent enjoying Take Me Out to the Ballgame and local favorites between innings
The national anthem is already played or sung before every sporting event, at all levels. If the national anthem isn't patriotic
enough for someone, then I worry about what they are actually reaching for. There is also the fact that the song is almost
impossible to remove. Remove God from anything and there is a political base that will fly into action, add "patriotism" to the
equation and that song is stuck there, forever. I don't enjoy the feeling of being bullied, and when I have to hear this song at
games it feels like it has been shoehorned in to make someone else happy. Like we must all pay attention to a child showing
off the picture they drew or face the wrath of their tantrum.
The National Anthem is already played, think that covers any need for patriotic music during a game. I might feel differently if
it was America the beautiful, but forced patriotism through a crummy song doesn't do much for me.
The National Anthem is already sung at the start of the game. Singing GBA, usually at the seventh inning stretch, seems
quite forced, especially when the PA announcers ask all to rise. I feel forced by the crowd pressure, otherwise I would sit.
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The National Anthem is already sung prior to the game.
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The National Anthem is at the start of a baseball game. No need for it in the middle.
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The national anthem is at the start of the game. No need to do another towards the end
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The National Anthem is enough.
The National Anthem is enough. At the 7th inning stretch lets do just that...stretch and not have to stand at attention while
some amateur clobbers a already bad song.
The National Anthem is enough. At the 7th inning stretch lets do just that...stretch and not have to stand at attention while
some amateur clobbers a already bad song.
The national anthem is enough. It just seems like complete over kill. The 7th inning stretch is for take me out to the ball
game.
The National Anthem is enough. We've got plenty of other oportunities for folks to show us how wonderfully patriotic they
are...like bumper stickers and flags on their antennae.
The national anthem is enough. But to make everyone stand up and be respectful of the song is treating the song as if it was
a national anthem, which it is not.
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The national anthem is enough. Heck, why don't we sing a patriotic song in between every inning?
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The National Anthem is enough. It was fine right after 9/11 but they should have stopped because they have played it out.
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the national anthem is more than enough
The National Anthem is more than enough to satisfy anyone's national pride. And the 7th inning stretch already has a song
fans can sing along to.
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The national anthem is played at the beginning. That is all that is needed for my-country-right-or-wrong patriotism.
The National Anthem is played prior to first pitch. Why do we need another song to champion America? The fact that the
Yankees do it every game annoys me as well. They may be my favorite team, but a few years ago, they used to introduce
the song saying how we must remember the servicemen and women fighting against those who are against us and "our way
of life." It kind of seemed like they made it seem like people who dislike America are against us because we're at a baseball
game which is not the case at all.
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The National Anthem is sufficient. There is no need to inject more patriotism into the actual baseball game.
The national anthem should suffice for those who need to express their patriotism; the addition of America the Beautiful is
forced on a paying crowd who really would rather sing Take Me Out to the Ballgame. The overblown renditions are all
American Idol caliber- and I dont mean the winners.
The playing of God Bless America at baseball games is an exercise in forced conformity to a point of view that I find
distasteful.
The polarization you receive depending on how you view the song (you either enjoy this and show you're a patriot or you
dislike it and prove that you hate America) and the blatant appeal to be the most patriotic sport make the playback distasteful
and is the reason the song has less meaning to me.
The post-9/11 climate is very complicated. While baseball is (or at least once was) America's pastime, it is increasingly and
international game with regard to it's players and audience. I believe at the end of the day we should not politicize or
nationalize the game in any way, but simply enjoy it as a game. Also, as an atheist, I'm just never very psyched to hear ten's
of thousands of people singing about God.
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The power of the song is diminished by overplaying, particularly at Yankee Stadium.
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The religious overtones of the song make it inappropriate for baseball.
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The seventh inning is for Take Me Out To The Ballgame, not Take Me Out to The U.S. by singing God Bless!
The seventh inning rightfully belongs to "take me out to the ballgame." We already sing the national anthem. There is no
imaginary supreme being that we should acknowledge as having anything to do with this country.
The seventh inning stretch has "Take Me Out To the Ballgame." That is it. It is baseball tradition and has been going on for
a very long time. To add another song to the seventh inning stretch is to take away from it. It is supposed to be fun, not
solemn.
The singing of anthems generally is an absolutely idiotic practice; nationalism masking as patriotism - not that the two are
that far apart - that began during the Second World War has become a thuggish tradition that continues. I have repeatedley
not stood up for anthems and receive a torrent of verbal abuse for it...it has no place a sporting event, but in the way that
nationalism is also deeply bound up with masculinity, the anthems at games too serve the purpose of accomodating to and
affirming these subject positions.
The song gets used, just to be used. It also takes away the fun and variety I feel should be put into sporting events. Sports
are just games, right?
The song has no place at baseball games; a sporting event is not a place for nationalist jingoism (especially considering how
many players are NOT AMERICAN). Even the National Anthem prior to a game is borderline but has become ingrained
enough in tradition to be unavoidable.
The song has nothing to do with baseball games. We have already saluted America with our national anthem and the song
feels out of place, like it is pandering to the conservative voice that would call the team "unpatriotic" if the song was not
played
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The song has nothing to do with Baseball.
The song is being used by Corporate America to imprint the growing trend toward nationalism via faux corporate patriotism. It
used to be fun, "take me out to the ball game", now the use of this song inserts both God and America (separation of church
and state, anyone?) into the "national pass time". I resent it.
The song is completely overused and has lost its weight as a result. I would support the occasional rendition during
ceremonies or playoff games but forcing 40,000+ people to stand at attention for every single game is presumptuous and
creates an oppressive atmosphere - especially after already standing for the anthem prior to the game. Not standing, paying
attention or removing ones hat can lead to uncomfortable confrontations in the crowd at a game. If our nation preaches
tolerance and the freedom to practice religion or nationalism as we see fit, doesn't this 7th inning ritual actually tarnish this
freedom?
The song is slow paced, it doesn't match the flow of the game or the 7th inning strech. It is sort of a buzz kill.
The song makes me feel like I have to stand at attention when it's sung when I don't believe in God. Just because I am an
atheist doesn't mean I'm committing treason or I hate my country. I was yelled at by a soldier at Yankee Stadium for not
standing for the song. I don't think not standing for the song means I don't support our troops.
The song makes the 7th inning stretch longer, and takes focus away from the lighthearted, whimsical "Take Me Out to the
Ballgame". It gives sports a political and religious position which alienate me and do not represent me, as an atheist, antiAmerican baseball fan (yes, we do exist). This use of sports -- as a large congregation of citizens across many social strata,
to reinforce religious and patriotic values through social pressure to publicly enjoy the song, feels propagandizing and
vaguely fascist.
The song seems more like a call to worship than a call for patriotism. It does not belong in stadiums but in churches.
The Star Spangled Banner is already sung; we have the patriotism there already. The 7th inning stretch is for "Take Me Out
to the Ball Game" I don't believe in changing things due to a trigger (like 9/11) or the cold war, or WWII.
The Star Spangled Banner is enough for me. I'd rather just enjoy Take Me Out To The Ballgame as we've done for...quite
some time.
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the star spangled is enough in the way of patritic songs
The Star-Spangled Banner at the beginning of the games is plenty. Even with baseball being saddled (in this context) with
the moniker of "America's national pastime," we get it.
The Star-Spangled Banner before the first pitch is more than enough to sufficiently pay homage to our country. And if there's
anything I hate more than combining religion and patriotism, it's combining religion and sports.
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The strong religious references are inappropriate. They should play Take Me Out To The Ballgame.
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The traditional song for the 7th is "Take me out to the ballgame". I am also not fond of "God bless America".
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The traditional song for the 7th is "Take me out to the ballgame". I am also not fond of "God bless America".
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the two should not mix, not to mention other sports don't bother - why should baseball
The whole point of going to a ball game is to escape reality for a few hours. I get the reason why it was added to baseball
games, to be patriotic. I think that the purpose of the game itself is supposed to be enjoyable and most associate the addition
of that song at baseball games with the 9/11 attacks. We are already showing our patriotism by having the "Star Spangled
Banner" played prior to the first pitch and that shouldn't change. I think the fad of "God Bless America" during the 7th inning
is a thing of the past. Lastly, the majority of Major League Baseball players are not American, but I guess the MLB office
figures it's not about the players it's about the fans. SMH.
There is a moment for patriotism at sporting events, and that is before the game, during the national anthem. I don't like that
the 7th inning is now some sort of reverential moment, and I resent that the tradition of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" has
been superseded by this forced, faux-nationalism.
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There is already a 7th inning stretch tradition in baseball and the National Anthem is sung before the game. That's enough.
There is no need to constantly play the song. It is not the national anthem and by continuing to play it'll lose it appeal and
feeling.
there isn't a need to do that. making the players stop and listen to it doesn't seem right. it is a 'stretch'. you stand and sing
that and not sing a song about the country. that is done prior to the game like in all other sporting events.
There should be levity at a baseball game. The national anthem is enough of a gesture of gratitude for freedom. For me,
even THAT'S too much, but I understand how strongly people feel.
there should be no national songs at sporting events.
There's already too much easy patriotism at ball games - and baseball is increasingly an international sport, among both
players and audience. It makes me very uncomfortable to have this type of patriotism highlighted.
There's no need to have it sung. We already sing the national anthem. God Bless America shouldn't be in the same
category as our National Anthem.
There's no place for this song in a baseball game. The anthem at the start is enough
There's no point to it. The National Anthem before the game is more than enough. I can see the Yankees doing it after 9/11
and even today most teams doing it on 7/4 or memorial day, but to do it everygame is pointless.
there's no politics in baseball!
There's no real reason why a baseball game should be an expression of national unity, but for tradition's sake I like the
national anthem before the game. That said, we sing the national anthem before the game! Why do we need to have a
patriotism-fest TWICE in one game? Plus, as previously mentioned, it's an awful song.
There's no reason for it to be included. The national anthem, I think, is unnecessary, and this song even more so, to say
nothing of the Christian connotations in a country with freedom of religion...
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There's no reason for it. That's what the National Anthem is for.
There's no reason it should be sung at a baseball game. It interferes with baseball traditions, and feels like forced patriotism.
People treat it like a sacred song at baseball games, which is what offends me the most. I can accept going along with
rituals that treat the national anthem as sacred, but not some other song just because it praises the nation.
They already sing the National Anthem before the games, and it seems to be a matter of the team associating itself with
America, saying "Root for us, we like God and America." and that feels like shallow propaganda.
They don't sing it every game, just on Sunday games at Ranger games. It drives me we are in the part of the game where
things are about to get serious then we have to pause for a slow song.
They often play it at baseball games (Yankees are major offenders) and while a lot of players are american born, every year
there are more players and fans from East Asia and Latin America (where the US doesn't hold a favorable position) and now
there are two players from India playing in the Pittsburgh minors system. Its America's Past time, but its the World's game.
Stop playing it at baseball games. Also there are a growing number of peole who don't associate with religion and want to
maintain a secular ideal for this country. This is forcing a christian ideal on baseball fans and players
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They play it in the 7th inning and it takes away from the traditional 7th inning stretch song take me out to the ballgame.
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They should sell baseball and concessions ay ballgames, but not patriotism.
They tie it to the military, and I am a peacenik who hates war and hates the fascistic philosophies that push our country into
wars, especially needless ones like vietnam and Iraq.
This has NO place in baseball games (even though this is not a universal application). National Anthem = appropriate, God
Bless America = blind jingoism.
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This is a secular nation and not everyone is religious. We shouldn't have to indulge others' religious views.
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This is an overblown hypocritical attempt by MLB to cash in on nationalist sentiment
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This is NOT our US national anthem for god's sake! This is a baseball game, not a rally for our troops!
This is only in regard to the Yankees. As a lifelong Yankee fan, I've come to resent the forced-patriotism of the 7th inning
stretch ritual. The impression is that the Yankees believe they're more patriotic than other sports teams. They should revert
to Take Me Out to the Ballgame, which is a fun ritual. The current one is just annoying.
This is the perfect example of what I mean by being told when to express patriotism. Honestly, when I go to a ball game
everyone looks forward to "Take Me Out To the Ballgame". When "God Bless America" is played I see a very tepid reaction
and participation.
This isn't a standard thing you know. Most games do not have this. For the Red Sox, for example (I'm a season ticket
holder), they only play God bless America for Nationally televised games (always for Fox, most of the time for espn). Which
shows that it's even more bullshit. It's another way to pound the cliche of 'America's passtime' and improves MLB's brand for
the Fox network. Fox's coverage of ML Baseball is one of my deepest hatreds in life.
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Though baseball is the American pastime and as such is expected to serve the interests of the nation-state, I like the sport
for its athletic merits and I hated having to sit through the pageantry and jingoism of the post-9/11 baseball game.
tired of it being sung at every baseball game
To be made to stand at attention while such a song is played is embarrassing, both as a free thinking American and atheist.
Part of being an American includes being able to make my own choices and have my own independent thoughts. This song
and the practice of being made to honor it is contrary to those principles.
To me baseball is a sport and has nothing to do with nationalism. I also feel that you shouldn't be forced to stay in your
section or even stand up during the song if you object to the song or nationalism in any way. The fact they force the song
upon you is already too much. I also feel that they should keep religious things out of sporting events - not everyone believes
in God or the same God(s).
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To me, it represents forced, phony patriotism and a pointless commingling of religion and sport.
To my knowledge, the Yankees are the only team that plays the song at all of their home games. I find that and their "no
moving during God Bless America" policy to be obnoxious and actually very un-American. The Irish tenor who sings it most
of the time is also a joke. However, I do feel that it is acceptable for teams to play the song on July 4th and September 11.
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To the best of my knowledge, Christianity is not the official religion of Major League Baseball...
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Too much and forced
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too political AND religious
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too preachy, too much patriotism, too religious
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Too solemn and too forced.
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too too much !!!! it turns a balgame into a Nuremburg rally!!
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Totally inappropriate. The National Anthem at the start is okay.
Totally inappropriate. It helped enlist major league baseball in flag waving, militarism, and war mongering after 9/11. It's
manipulation, and in the case of the Yankees, it's forcible patriotism since guards force patrons to observe the song
Traditionally the 7th inning stretch has been "Take Me Out to the Ballgame." There is already the national anthem at
baseball games, and no need for Yankee Stadium security to not let people out of their seats.
Traditionally the national anthem is sung at the beginning of a baseball game and "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" is sung
during the 7th inning stretch. The inclusion of "God Bless America" undermines the importance of and respect for the
national anthem by providing the collective audience with another opportunity to display their patriotism. Also, for the above
stated reasons, I think it is an unnecessary addition to the baseball game because it brings politics and unabashed patriotism
to an inappropriate place. The national anthem celebrates America without beseaching God to favor it above other nations, it
is a much more appropriate song for a baseball game.
Two reasons: 1) The seventh inning belongs to "Take me out to the ball game", and 2) we already express our patriotism by
singing the national anthem at the start of the game.
Two reasons: (A) Baseball games, especially Yankees games, are long enough without making us sit through the full version
of the song. (B) It's a baseball game. The song can be used beautifully for special occasions, but not for every game.
Um, why religion and baseball? We already have the national anthem. We don't need anything else but take me out to the
ball game.
Unless you can buy peanuts or cracker jacks on the fruited plain, it doesn't belong. I should say that I have no problem with it
(or America The Beautiful, etc.) being sung on appropriate holidays — July 4, Memorial, Veterans, etc.
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Unnecessary to sing. Already have the national anthem/
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unnecessary. Takes away from the fun of Take Me Out to the Ballgame during the stretch
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Unnecessary... national anthem is enough.
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Waste of time.
Watching baseball is an entertainment. Inauthentic (forced) patriotism is not entertaining. It is a reminder of all hypocrisy
and selfishness inherent in manufactured public responses. The irony is that if it was spontaneous I would actually respect it.
Way too many religious overtones and it it's frankly embarrassing to see all these good hearted but misguided people
unfurling flags in the stands.
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we already do the anthem
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We already do the National Anthem anyway. And god shouldn't be forced upon people at a ballpark.
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We already do the National Anthem at the beginning. It feels a little forced to do another one in the 7th inning
We already do the National Anthem. It makes people uncomfortable that they have to rise to sing this song. It also goes
against the separation of Church and State.
We already have a moment for patriotism before the start of the game. I don't like mixing sports and nationalism and I feel
the addition of another patriotic song adds an added dimension of nationalism which makes me uncomfortable.
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We already have a national anthem. It's overkill...
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We already have the anthem at the start of the game, and putting it in the 7th Inning really slows down a game needlessly.
We already have the National Anthem before baseball games; why add a second patriotic song? Also, I associate it mainly
with the Yankees at this point, so when it's performed at other stadiums I feel like it's MLB imposing New York's preferences
on the rest of the country.
We already have the National Anthem before the games. "Take me out to the ballgame" is the 7th-inning stretch song (plus
"Country Boy" at O's games). GBA is unnecessary and takes too long, especially when some singer wants to put a "stamp"
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on the song.
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We already have the national anthem. It feels like overkill. Especially because Kate Smith is a terrible singer.
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We already have the national anthem. It's overkill.
We already have to suffer through the National Anthem (which wasn't played prior to sporting events until WWII), do we
really need another dose of patriotism?
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we already honor america with the national anthem at the start of the game
We already play the national anthem before the game. It's gotten to the point that no one particularly knows why they play it
during the games when it's not a national holiday. It's indicative of a tacky and shallow concern for veterans, up there with
wearing camouflage uniforms and those ugly flag hats -- a way for teams to pretend they care when they don't.
We already sing the National Anthem at games, why add another patriotic song. Like I said before, I think it was added to
support the war, and I don't like when things like this are forced in a public arena.
We already sing the national anthem at the beginning of a baseball game. I love that., and it's patriotism enough.There is no
need to sing "God Bless America" at seventh inning stretch, especially the way it's usually sung. Please don't subject us to
the trashy renditions that we usually get! Just let us sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" and be done with it.
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We already sing the National Anthem to start, why force this "pseudo patriotism" on everyone???
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We already sing the National Anthem!
We already sing the Star Spangled Banner. That's enough. Also, baseball is an international game now, so we appear
xenophobic.
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We already stand for the anthem, and that is more meaningful.
We already stand for the National Anthem at the beginning of the game and many teams have American flag patches. Why
do we need to force patriotism down our throats more so. The seventh inning stretch is for "Take Me Out to the Ball Game"
We already stand one for the NA at the beginning of games that is enough. If there is another national trajedy, will we have
to stand for another song after the 3rd inning. Also, why do only people who go to sporting events have to honor the country.
I'm not saying get rid of NA before games but GBA is just overkill.
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We do the anthem. The anthem is enough.
We do the national anthem in the begining. the 7th inning is a fun time to stand up and enjoy the game and sing take me out
to the ball game. I am really not a fan of god bless america during the 7th inning stretch.
We honor our country with the singing of the National Anthem at the start of every game. That's an appropriate display of
patriotism. I'm there to watch a ball game, not to wrap myself in the flag. Doesn't mean I don't love my country, but enough
is enough.
We sing the national anthem at the start of the game--that's enough. And the seventh inning stretch should be reserved for
"Take Me Out to the Ball Game," traditional and more appropriate to the setting
We sing the National Anthem prior to the game. There's a reason we do it & there's a reason it was named our National
Anthem. No need to have 2 patriotic songs, especially when sports transcend politics.
We stand for "The Star Spangled Banner." No problem there but "God Bless America" just seems unnecessary now and I
find many fans don't respect it anyway.
We're already playing the national anthem before the game and the seventh-inning stretch already has a song. It's
superfluous and almost jingoistic.
Well, as I said above. Also, I find the injection of the Christian (or any) religion into public or civic life extremely distasteful,
especially when it is, at least below the surface, employed for normative purposes, to dictate what an appropriate response
is.
Well, for one thing, it's just so typical--taking a real, genuine moment like the FIRST time it was sung at a ball game, and then
trying to replicate it over and over again until it loses all meaning. Also, really, I think actually just being at a baseball game,
scarfing hots dogs and beer, cheering on the home team, etc., is freakin' American enough.
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Well, I'm a Yankee fan... and I'd really prefer the 7th inning stretch to take less than 30 minutes.
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What does God, whether real or a figment of the believer's imagination, have to do with baseball?
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what does it have to do with baseball?
what does it have to do with baseball. it is also a shame the ways that some clubs force participation upon paying fans (i.e.
yankees).
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What happened to "Take Me Out to the Ballgame?!"
What has god or America have anything to do with a baseball game? It's bad enough we are subjected to the National
Anthem before games; why do something meaningless again during the 7th inning? I'm there to enjoy the game, not to be
subjected to forced participation in a show of nationalism. Next thing you know, we'll all be chanting "Zeig Heil" to god!
what is the purpose?
When it is used in a public setting like at a baseball game, you have a captive audience who only came there to watch a
baseball game, rather than to receive further religious indoctrination from what is supposed to be a secular sporting
institution.
When it was sung during the 2001 playoffs by the firefighter with the wonderful voice, it was intensely moving. Now it's just a
canned, dated version
While addition of the song honoring those who died in the 9/11 attacks may have been OK for the rest of that season, it has
since been elevated to equality in stature with the National Anthem, including compulsory doffing of caps and being forced to
stop everything during the performance. It feels like a right-wing propagandist movement as opposed to a grass-roots
display of patriotism.
While I was as upset as anyone by the September 11th attacks, I was further disturbed by the cheap, easy, empty displays of
jingoism that followed. The Yankees' early response to the attacks in their backyard was generous and moving, but quickly
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degenerated into an alarming, ongoing display of war worship from a franchise owned by a military contractor. Eight years
into this, I'd really like to go back to "Take Me Out To The Ballgame."
While initially it was great, I think it's importance has become minimized as now it is more pious than patriotic at baseball
games. Teams should stick to Take Me Out to The Ballgame.
While its important to mourn the losses of those we lost on 9/11, the middle of a regular baseball game is not the forum for
such a remembrence quite so often. It's okay to mourn, it's not always okay to remind....over and over and over.
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Why are we politicizing sports and forcing people to embrace a simplistic patriotism at a baseball game?
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Why do we have to rattle the saber at a baseball game.
Why not some other patriotic songs like "America the Beautiful," "America," "Coming to America" or "This Land is Your
Land." I usually head for the bathroom during the Nuremeburg-reminiscent GBA performance during the 7th inning stretch.
But now they are piping it into the men's room. I didn't even have to pee at that time, but I went, anyway, and began singing
"This Land," while other guys in reaction pumped up their own volume to GBA, proving that patriotic song-singing is the
province of drunken men who couldn't wait till after the song was played. At Nationals Park, every game, management
points out on the big screen "our heroic" servicemen upon whom they bestow VIP tickets. It used to be war wounded from
Walter Reed. Now that they have run out of wounded, they are parading run of the mill GIs out there and demanding that
fans pay tribute. I used to defend democracy when I was a journalist, and I am a loyal employee (contractor) of the United
States government. Why don't I get publicly lauded? Not that I require it. I am heroic just for going to games played by a team
that has a good chance of being the worst in history. If MLB wants to promote "patriotism," it should encourage its players
to volunteer for the armed services.
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why not stop movies and make audiences sing jingoistic pap, as well!
Why politisize baseball??? I feel massive uncomfortable every time I attend a yankee game dispite their being my favorate
club. At least now your permitted to get up to go to the bathroom.
Why should it be played there? Because it is "America's Past Time?" I go to a baseball game to watch and have a good time
and whenever I hear this song, I cringe.
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Why? It serves no purpose
would be fine if done at start of game instead of star spangled banner or if only done on national holidays but every game at
yankee stadium is too much
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Would much prefer "Take me out to the ballgame." Have no need for God at a baseball game.
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Yankees abuse the use of it.
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yankees play it at every game (and i'm a yankee fan!!!!)
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you got that already.
you know that scene in sound of music where everybody is heiling hitler at the outdoor music festival? well, that's not
equivalent, but still it's what i think of whenever we do the patriotic stuff at sporting events. god and patriotism have no place
at sporting events! btw, i don't like it that we sing the star spangled banner at sporting events either.
"Take me out to the ballgame" is the traditional song. "God Bless America" has put a political and religous connotation to the
game
1. I would like to keep my beloved game as a God-free zone. 2. Same as to baseball implicitly endorsing a particular
political position. 3. All of that I could have excused briefly post-9/11, but it has gone on too long.
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7th inning stretch is for "Take me out to the ballgame." Besides, we already have pre-gane anthems.
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Adds unnecessary veneer of syrupy patriotic platitudes to an athletic contest
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After 9/11 it made since... but 8 years later I don't get it.
After 9/11 it was appropriate and patriotic. 8 years later, every night at Yankees games, makes for overkill and a lack of
meaning
Again - overuse - why do we need it at baseball games? - they already have the National Anthem - is that not enough? I also
think it is simply a boring song - doesn't move me in anyway - but the National Anthem and America the Beautiful do move
me. I do consider myself a patriotic person - just not in an exclusionary way,
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already have the national anthem. don't like forced patriotism.
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As a Yankee fan, I feel it is overdone
As far as the song alone is concerned, lyrics are great, melody is beautiful. But as far as enforcing the American pride and
everything else, it should be enough by now. Also, keep playing it like the national anthem every single day on broadcasts
around the world might have the opposite result: people getting sick of it the the whole American pride stuff.
As I mentioned above, I'm uncomfortable with things that link religion and patriotism. I would be much happier with
something like "America the Beautiful."
At first, I saw the reason for it. People at the time wanted patriotism. Now, I feel like it is being shoved down our throats.
Particularly egregious is the Yankees' (of whom I am a fan) use of the Kate Smith rendition of the song, which is perhaps the
most tired version of all. I've had to listen to it 81 times a year now going on 7 years. That's over 560 times. I'm about as sick
of it as that summer in high school where I worked at a store and heard nothing but that Bryan Adams song from the Kevin
Costner Robin Hood movie, or that one hit that Four Non Blondes had.
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At this point, it rings hollow.
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baseball games should be about baseball. nothing else
Baseball is my favorite sport, but it certainly doesn't need to be MORE American. The addition of "GBA" seems like
overcompensation for a bad thing that happened. It strikes me in the same way that the addition of the "under God" line to
the Pledge of Allegiance does--like it's an effort to make sure that "we" show "them" how proud we are. Sort of childish.
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Baseball is not exclusively American and should not be used in this way for jingoistic purposes. Plus, we already sing take
me out to the ballgame - that's enough singing already!
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Baseball should be about sport not about politics.
Baseball, while the "national pasttime" and my favorite sport of all time (bordering on obesession, actually), is not a sport
specific to the United States. Further, Major League Baseball doesn't solely operate within the US, a huge percentage of
players are not US-born, and a huge percentage of fans are not US-born; the use of "God Bless America" during the seventh
inning stretch seems to single out the greatness of the United States and perhaps also makes citizens of the US seem overly
focused on the US without considering other nations and nationalities and their contributions to the sport and pretty much
everything else. The Star Spangled Banner should be enough to solidify our patriotism - at least when Canadian teams are
playing within the US, the Canadian national anthem "O Canada" is also played.
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Because it's propaganda, baseball should be a respite from cable news disinformation.
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Becomes a routine over time and loses significance.
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didn't mind it at first, but its time to drop it from the program. it served its purpose, and now time to move on.
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Do not like Kate Smith's version of it and Ronan's is a little too heav for a ball game
Either the Star Spangled Banner or God Bless the land that I love -- one is plenty. If baseball owners want to display their
patriotism why not charge less for tickets to honor Americans?
Enough already! I was fine with it as a gesture after 9-11, but the Yankees don't need to keep it for every game. Take me out
to the ballgame was a better alternative--secular, and more appropriate to the occasion. The national anthem is great and
that should be sung at every game but there isn't a need to pile on the patriotism. No need to protest too much.
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Enough is enough!
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Even though baseball is America's national pastime, it seems unnecessary to stop, late in the game, for a very somber song.
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excessive delay of games
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False patriotism
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feel the national anthem is enough...it's a baseball game
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for special games (world series or all star) its fine but it doesnt need to be played everyday
For the reasons above I think it can be exclusionary to include God at a baseball game. But I don't have a strong objection to
it.
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Forced
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forced patriotism is unpatriotic
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God and nation thing in sporting events.
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God does not belong at baseball games
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God shouldn't be included in sports, especially since it is a public venue.
has nothing to do with baseball and teams are made up of players from many countries other than the US, the national
anthem is played before each game that is fine and enough of a salute to the US
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Has nothing to do with baseball or baseball culture. Knee jerk pro-American reaction to scary events.
Heritage, history, and tradition develop organically; this musical gesture, though appropriate during the closing months of the
2001 season, has nothing to do with the terrorist attacks and now commemorates only itself.
I am opposed to singing the Star Spangled Banner -- no one does it well -- we should be singing My Country Tis Of The or
America the Beautiful -- So singing God Bless America could be a replacement for the Star Spangled Banner, but both are a
bit more than necessary.
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I am tired of it
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I am tired of it. I don't like that version of it.
I associate the 7th inning stretch with Take Me Out To the Ballgame, which is fun, and fun to sing. God Bless America is
neither.
I attend many Yankee games and hear the song every time. It certainly loses meaning when you hear it over and over again.
Additionally, it is a poor recording of the song that is used only because it was used by the NHL's Flyers.
I believe baseball (and other recreational sports) are for the purpose of letting you get away from the other things that are
going on in your life and in the world at large. I like to separate my politics from my baseball.
I believe the Yankees have been playing it during the 7th inning stretch since before September 11th. I could be wrong
though.
I can see being sung during holidays, but I don't feel it should be used at every game. For one we already have the star
spangled banner play, two a good majority of players aren't necessarily Americans so really an argument can be made as to
why we don't sing songs about their countries. Thirdly, while I believe in God, not everyone does and well I'd be pretty pissed
of I had to sing the song if it was Allah bless America, or Yahweh bless America. I can only imagine for others it is similiar.
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I dislike the song and think the seventh inning is a poor place to put it.
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I do not like forced patriotism or religiosity.
I do not love it because it seems a bit contrived and forced patriotism. The Star-Spangled Banner is all that we need to do.
This is akin to some of the recognitions that seem a bit disingenuous (like everyone wearing #42 for Jackie Robinson)
I do think that baseball is a great American pass time and I don't necessarily fill that this song has a strong religious
connotation (If I did that might be a reason "dislike" but I just don't associate it that way). I just don't like it because that
seems like kind of a downer at the fun game! I remember songs like take me out to the ball game or Van Halen's Shout.
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I don't care all that much, but I think it's kind of hokey. Also, I figure it's a fairly cynical assertion of baseball's status as
"America's game." That said, I don't like the song, and, if baseball feels the need to spend the seventh inning asserting its
patriotism, I'd prefer "This Land is Your Land" to "God Bless America," even if we omit the "controversial" verses.
I don't care much for that use of it. I think the national anthem is enough, but I do not have a strong dislike. What bothers
me is faked, forced, or manipulated expressions of patriotism. Peer pressure is hard to deal with. I believe singing should be
voluntary.
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I don't like God's inclusion in what should be a non-religious sport
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I don't like the religious message being mixed in with politics or patriotism, nor with sports.
I don't like to ever listen to or sing along with the song, whether it's at a baseball game or in any other setting. Also, playing
the song at baseball games seemed to indicate that the U.S. had entered a war in a traditional sense, which I felt was
misleading and cheap propaganda.
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I don't mind it on special occasions, just not every game.
I don't need patriotic songs at sporting events other than the Olympics or major events like the World Series. I think it is
ridiculous at ordinary events like a Pirates-Marlins game on a Tuesday night.
I don't support any nationalistic anthems at baseball games or any other sports events. In hockey they only play the US
anthem if both teams are based in the US, but both the US and Canadian anthems if one team is based in the US but the
other in Canada. Never mind that half the players, and often the star players, are from other countries in the world. Talk
about absurdity. A Russian, a Czech and a Swede score a goal apiece to lead their team to 3-2 victory over their opponent,
yet their countries get no recognition. Granted, the opportunity is here in North America, but there's no reason for us to rub it
in the faces of hardworking Dominicans, Mexicans, Fins and Norwegians.
I don't think baseball games should be used to spread a pro-war message. The song has become associated with people
who espouse the view that the war is good and right and that if you don't support the war you don't support the country. I am
also uncomfortable with overt displays of a single religious view. God Bless America is a Christian song even if one could
argue that the reference to God is not specific.
I don't think it's necessary to hear both the Star-Spangled Banner and GBA. The National Anthem is enough. I also don't
know what the etiquette is for GBA - do we remove our caps? hand over the heart?
I don't think we should play it at games. we are there to relax and enjoy the ballgame. we already had The Star Spangled
Banner.
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i dont believe in god. i dont think kneejerk patriotism is appropriate at ball games or anywhere else.
I dont like it because its merely another form of sunshine patriotism, like the yellow ribbons. Plus its overdone. Baseball is a
game, a diversion - and let it be at that.
I feel it served its purpose for patriotism and unity after the 9/11 attacks. But now that feeling is gone and the song doesn't
need to be sung during the 7th inning stretch anymore.
I feel that enforced patriotism is false patriotism, and that America actually has more diversity of political opinion than Major
league baseball and tv stations wish to associate themselves with. I also feel that we already do the National Anthem before
the game, and that the stretch should be reserved for a communal celebration of baseball only through Take Me Out to the
Ball Game
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I feel that it takes away some of the importance that "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" has.
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I feel that its use is political.
I have serious issues with Chrisitianity and the force feeding of Christianity to all Americans as an absolute, inviolable truth:
that a white man who lives in the sky judges us.
I just feel that it's inappropriate for a baseball game. I get why they were doing it in NY immediately after 9/11, but I think it's
over the top for it to become some kind of mandatory baseball tradition.
I like God Bless America, however I feel that its inclusion in baseball games, in addition to the National Anthem, is an
unnecessary act of forced partiotism.
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I liked it after 9/11, and think it should be sung on patriotic day games (4th of July, 9/11, etc.), but every other day, no.
I liked it for the first year after the attacks but it feels contrived now. Also, it feels different to hear it when you believe that our
approach to the rest of the world has become so aggressive and religiously slanted.
I love baseball and would prefer people sing "Take Me Out to the Ball Game"; few people sing it at Yankee Stadium,
nowadays. As far as patriotism/propaganda goes, government influence is everywhere, so it'd be silly to complain about it in
this instance and not in others. And ultimately, it's just a song.
I think it is okay for some games, but not on an everyday basis. Like I said it's just overdone. I'm a huge Yankees fan, but
seriously, every game.
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I think it is overkill especially at yankee staidum. leave it for the playoffs
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I think it is unneccessary and overdone. There is no need to add patriotism to the 7th inning stretch.
I think it is wrong to impose anything, this song included, on people without their permission. I do not need to hear this song
or any song to love my country or to feel patriotic towards my country.
I think it was good after the attacks, but has lingered too long. It should not be a permanent fixture during the 7th inning
stretch. We already have the National Anthem pre-game. On important holidays, like the 4th of July, it is perfectly fine to do
this pre-game. I don't like breaking up the flow of the game with it.
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I think its too much to do it every game as it starts to lose the specialness. Its not as meaningful when its played every game.
I think that signing the National Anthem is enough America "horn blowing" at the ball game. Having the song played or sung
during the 7th inning stretch for a period of time in NY after 9/11 seemed appropriate. Now I'd just like to sing "Take Me Out
to the Ballgame" and be done with it.
I think the 7th inning stretch should be about baseball and not 'patriotism.' When in those situations I feel almost obligated to
sing, whether I want to or not.
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I think the national anthem is enough of a show of patriotism at a sporting event.
I thought it made some sense in the immediate aftermath, but they should have dropped it starting in the 2002 season. We
already enjoy a patriotic moment with the playing of the national anthem at the start of the game, so this feels like gilding the
lilly. Plus, the sentiment of the national anthem is far more stirring; a nation that's been battered but won't falter.
I thought it was good right after Sept. 11 and maybe for 2002 but it's not as necessary now and is a bit tiresome. I miss Take
Me Out To The Ballgame.
I thought it was ok just after 9-11, but is completely unnecessary now.
I understand that it was played following 911 to promote a sense of unity. However, I think at this point its just become
another tradition like "take me out to the ball game". It should be reserved for big games like the all star game or world
series and not over played every single game.
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I understand why it was done, but "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" is tradition, and we already do the national anthem.
I used to not really care one way or the other but now its ALWAYS played during baseball games (especially Yankees'
games) and that is inappropriate in my opinion. We have the national anthem at the beginning which is OK but we don't need
ANOTHER patriotic song. We should go back to singing "take me out to the ballgame," not another patriotic song.
I work at Oriole Park as a vendor in the seating area, so I hear it every Sunday when the Orioles are home. I dislike how the
fans treat it like the National Anthem by removing their hat, putting their hand over their heart and being totally silent. It's NOT
the Anthem, it's just another song like they play between the innings
I worked for a Major League Baseball team from 1997-2003 (in ballpark entertainment, where booking the "God Bless
America" singer was my responsibility, so I might not be the most impartial person here). Still, for me, it represented not a
true display of love of country as much as it was a form of propaganda to unite the "Us" vs. "them." As more and more info
about the second Gulf War and the second Bush administration came to light, such uses of the song in superficial displays of
false patriotism made the song (and others like it) feel hollow for me.
I would prefer "America, The Beautiful", if a song other than "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" is required, because it reflects
the pastoral beginnings of the game.
I'd prefer to keep the Sports world and the Political world seperate, and although I feel the song is inherently a symbol of
America, the way in which it has been placed into MLB feels forced. I think The National Anthem covers the thanks we all
have as Americans on its own.
i'm all about saluting america at sporting events. however, i feel that singing the national anthem to start the game is
satisfactory. stopping the game to again salute america with an additional song seems like we're trying too hard.
I'm all for having people stand up and sing together--Take Me Out To the Ballgame, Sweet Caroline, for example--but this
made love of country, and by extension love of the national pastime seem like an obligation or a test of patriotism.
I'm cool with singing it on Opening Day or July 4th or 9/11, but if it's sang every 7th inning it loses some of that solemn power
that it'd have if it were less frequently sang. To sing it every 7th inning stretch makes me associate the song itself with
baseball, but if it's sang infrequently I feel like the song remains more associated with the special dates or times. And I feel
like the latter should be the case, not the former.
I'm OK with it on Sundays, but only if they also play "Take Me Out to the Ballgame." It really annoys me when they substitute
it for "Take Me Out."
I've been a baseball fan all my life. I felt the inclusion of the song was partially a result of Bud Selig's influence as
commissioner to propagandize on behalf of his friend, George W. Bush. Most people at baseball games aren't thinking very
hard; they want to relax, get drunk, and perhaps pay attention to the game. So I don't think they would think critically about
the implications of playing the song, post 9/11, or its true intent.
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If they wanted to be patriotic, they could have chosen a better song.
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Immediately after 9/11, I thought it was appropriate. Now it just seems gratuitous and out of place.
In Milwaukee they only do it on Sundays and on holidays. That's better than every game, which would almost force the song
into meaninglessness.
In particular, I dislike the goons at Yankee stadium trouncing on personal rights and common sense (like being able to go to
the bathroom). There is nothing patriotic with forcing people to act as you want. This song was written as a peace song
against Hitler and the Nazis. The Yankees are now misusing it as Hitler would have.
In the immediate aftermath of 9/11, particularly in NYC, the song was a reminder that baseball doesn't occur in a vacuum,
and that games flourish because of freedom. The song was also a public and common declaration of a grieving nation. 8
years down the road, the song has lost most of its power because of overuse. And, also because we have sometimes not
acted honorably or justly as a nation in response to 9/11. It makes me think of lost opportunities for how we could have lead
the world after 9/11. It reveals divisions now, instead of establishing unity. Plus, the 7th inning is for another song alone:
"Take Me Out to the Ballgame."
In the weeks after 9/11, I think it was great as it gave us all a sense of comfort. But it no longer belongs in baseball games the 7th inning stretch is about popcorn and crackerjacks, not about patriotism.
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It does not add anything to the game nor say anything about one's patriotism or such
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It feels a little forced, especially cramming it into the seventh inning stretch along with Take Me Out to the Ballgame
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It feels like forced patriotism.
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It felt special immediately after 9/11. Now it's just another song at the ballgame
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It has become a meaningless ritual that slows down the game.
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It has become obligatory and tedious. A disservice to the song.
It has become overly played. It does not need to be played at every game. I do not like that there are religious references in
the song.
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It has nothing to do with baseball.
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It has nothing to do with the game.
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It involves Bud Selig pandering to the Bush Administration and Fox News. It's cheap and easy patriotism.
It is redundant with the National Anthem for one thing. I am also generally uncomfortable with nationalism and ceremonial
shows of patriotism. In a stadium environment especially, where one is often wearing a cap and there is strong peerpressure to remove it, it is very difficult to avoid feeling forced into a pledge of support for the country, even if you may not
personally feel the need or inclination to do so. I'm speaking as someone who has great admiration for what the country
stands for. I just don't feel that symbolic salutes are consistent with what is great about this country and to be compelled to
participate, whether by authoritative or social compulsion is not a positive thing.
It is unnecessary, and breaks the fun feeling of a baseball game. We know it was added for 9/11, but why do we need to
bring up those feelings at every ball game. We are there to have a good time.
It it an interesting fit because it serves MLB well as a way to show their tradition and how they are Americas pasttime.
Baseball is all about history so it is no surprise that they use this song to make their product seem more American and
timeless.
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It just reminds me of 9/11 everytime I hear it. Brings back awful memories.
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It politicizes a non-political moment
It seems redundant to play both the Star Spangled Banner and God Bless America; I am slightly uncomfortable with the
phrase "God Bless."
It seems surpurfluous - we sing the National Anthem, we acknowledge injured soldiers, etc. at games, I am there for
baseball, not to wind myself up in the flag or be overcome with parioxisims of patriotism.
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It serves no significence.
it should be either/or on the national anthem or GBA..... but we don't need to do it twice when I just want to watch a baseball
game
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It should be like in the years gone by. " Take me out to the ballgame". I am in to tradition...
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It should be sung on the weekends only, and not be broadcast on TV.
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It slows down the game. It's about baseball, not some sort of phony expression of patriotism.
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It speaks of close-minded ethnocentrism rather than patriotism or nationalism.
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It takes away from a great tradition of the seventh inning stretch.
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It takes away from the National Anthem, which I find to be much more patriotic.
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It takes the place of a timeless baseball tradition
It was a nice gesture to help bring people together after a tough time. Now that it's 2009, I think it's a bit much that it is still
being sung in New York. The effect is diminished to me, and is starting to seem a little pretentious. Peter Abraham, who
covers the Yankees, says it well: "Does New York love America more than the rest of the country?" or something along those
lines.
It was cool after September 11 but I think the Star Spangled Banner is enough. I am there for a baseball game, not a
concert.
it was fine right after 2001 and maybe 1 year afterwords. Now i think it should only be sung on Sept 11 and maybe 4th of July
at baseball games.
It was fine until the conclusion of the 2001 season (and perhaps the opening of the following year) when the impact of the
attack were fresh and the scars still raw, but after that it became, in my opinion, over-politicized. In a baseball context, it has
become over-used. I think that the tradition of singing the Star spangled Banner is enough, and the addition of the GBA at
mid-game has diminished the intent of both. It feels like someone forcing patriotism on me in a situation where it is not
needed.
It was fine when only done once a week or just weekend games. Not every game. I appreciate the sacrifice of our troops
and everyone owes them a debt of gratitude. However I came to the baseball game to be entertained, not to be reminded of
the harsh reality of war, economy etc.
it was great in the months after 911 but ENOUGH already- this is a sporting event not a rally. isnt the nat anthem enough? it
should be
It was great that it started after 9/11/01. But they do the National Anthem already and there is a reason it is called the 7th
inning stretch. I hate being forced to sit in my seat and not go to the bathroom when it's sung.
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It was in my opinion supposed to be an added show of support after the attacks. Now it feels like grandstanding.
It was included because of an emotional reaction instead of a thoughtful manner. They could have picked America The
Beautiful.
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It was nice after 9/11, now it just makes games longer. We already play the anthem at the beginning.
It was okay for a while, but enough is enough. It kind of distracts from the game, almost defeating the purpose of playing
baseball. Baseball is a distraction from the realities of life, as was proved in the aftermath of 9/11. Now singing the song is
some kind of macho thing and it should stop. Like, if you don't sing the song and love George Bush, we're going to kick your
butt.
It was okay in the year or two after 9/11, but it's not necessary anymore eight years later. It disrupts the flow of the game.
The Star Spangled Banner before the game starts is enough.
It would be fine if it was only on Sundays, or national holidays or something. Every game seems like a bit much though. Its
not the National Anthem.
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It's a fun experience: a game It's supposed to be free of any geo-political and religious nonsense.
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It's a slightly annoying, not much need for it, but it is a good song for the country
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It's a somber, somewhat depressing song.
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It's a symbol of forced patriotism
it's a waste of time; anthem ALREADY sung at beginning of game, doubt patriotism has waned by the 7th inning. Also, many
baseball fans may not believe in God - where does this leave them ?
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It's baseball, and the 7th inning stretch, gimme take me out to the ball game instead.
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It's becoming cliche.
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It's like forced religion on me.
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It's mandatory nature is equivalent to bullying.
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It's not a joyful, happy song. It's a solemn song.
It's not all baseball games, by the way. It isn't just about it being a baseball game, either. It is about the way a song that talks
about God is being pushed upon fans, as some sort of religious-political statement. That's not what I think this country is
about.
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It's not an official anthem and therefore shouldn't be a mandatory happening.
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It's ok on special dates, but every day is overkill.
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It's overkill. Sing it on the 4th of July maybe. Otherwise, let's stick to Take me out to the Ballgame for the 7th inning stretch.
It's overkill. They've been doing it for almost 8 years. I understand that it was important right after and I enjoyed it. But I
don't think they should do it for every game. Just memorial day, 4th of july and sept 11th.
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It's pandering.
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It's repetitive and unnecessary
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It's the 7th inning stretch, people! Not Take Me Out to the Ballgame with an added chorus of God Bless America.
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It's too much already.
It's too much. We have the Star Spangled Banner at the beginning of the game. It's not a patriotic event. It's a ball game.
Way too much jingoism gets mixed into every day events in the U.S.
It's totally uncalled for. We already have the National Anthem at the beginning of games. Why do we need to add this? Were
we playing it during games while we fought WWII, the Korean Conflict, Vietrnam?
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It's unnecessary and lengthens the game.
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It's unnecessary, people should not be forced to stand or stay in one place while it plays
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Its a silly, jingoistic addition that takes away from the real baseball tradition of singing take me out to the ball game.
Its is not the national anthem, so it should not be mandatory at ballgames. Many clubs actrully do not play it at their stadiums
anymore. . Baseball is an entity that bridges people of different factions together. I, myself am not fond of the U.S. at all, yet
love and enjoy going to ballgames with people that do. Baseball brings people together, while politics and nationalism divide.
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just have fun at the games. Sing "Take Me out to the ball game"! No need to sing a serious song.
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Kate Smiths is balls and that recording is worse.. how about a little sinatra?
Like others who personally felt the loss of 9/11, I valued the emotional sentiment expressed during the singing of the song in
2001. Not merely the patriotic sentiment of the song, but the feeling of those singing it in the ballpark. Everyone sang, unlike
the national anthem, and everyone sang with emotion. It was quite moving. But by the 2002 season, with the immediate
impact of 9/11 behind us, it didn't have the same emotion. Suddenly it was just more enforced singing and seemed like a
political tool. The religious references in the song, in addition to the increased length of the stretch, became irritating.
Suddenly the focus was not on enjoying a game of baseball, Take Me Out to the Ballgame, but on the political game of
forced patriotism and religion. I was glad when teams started dropping it, and I think everyone should go back to the way it
was - even the Yankees and their fancy (non-American) tenor. Every game has a genuine patriotic sentiment when it opens
with the national anthem. This forced addition, with its conservative and religious undertones, has no business in baseball.
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Love the National Anthem before the game but I feel God Bless America is forced on us during the seventh inning stretch.
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Mainly because I like "Take me out to the ballgame."
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may be sung, but not at 7th inning strech
My loyalty to "The Star-Spangled Banner" and the fact that "God Bless America" is seemingly viewed as a "better" song than
the national anthem.
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national anthem is enough. take me out to the ballgame is good enough.
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No need to do it every game. Perhaps only on Sundays.
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No need to force religion on others. And patriotism is already covered with national anthem.
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No point. The national anthem is enough.
Not everyone at the ballgames follows a Judeo-Christian system of beliefs. I personally do but I can't help but feel that the
song makes people who have another view...or no view at all, feel rather uncomfortable.
Now that it is ubiquitous it feels like propaganda, more so than the National Anthem, perhaps because it seems to conflate
God and patriotism. I am Catholic but I am disturbed by statistics that I saw during the past presidential election that
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indicated the majority of Americans would not vote for an atheist for president. I now feel that this song encourages this view.
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Often go to NY Yankees games. Served it's purpose for a while after 9/11 but now it's overdone. No need to sing the song
anymore.
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ok for special commemorations; not for everyday. national anthem is enough
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One patriotic song per game is enough.
Out of place; we already do the anthem before the game; no need for this song in 7th inning stretch in lieu of Take Me Out to
the Ballgame; everything about the way the Yankees do it is arrogant, dictatorial and obnoxious
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over done ....maybe once in a while ...but every game is a bit much
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Overkill. We start games with the anthem. It was fine at first, but it should have been temporary.
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overkill.....we already hear National Anthem.
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Overused political statement
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Patriotism is the last refuge of.....
Playing the song so often makes it much less of a special song. It think it should be limited to special patriotic occasions
such as July 4th, Labor Day, etc. Other days should just stick with Take Me Out to the Ballgame.
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Preferred "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" over "God Bless America"
Prior to 9/11, all baseball games began with the national anthem (or anthems, for games involving Canadian teams), and all
seventh-inning stretches included "Take Me Out to the Ballgame." These traditions are time-honored. Adding an additional
song to the seventh-inning stretch has always seemed like patriotic posturing to me. I do think there was any real benefit in
adding an additional ritual -- it seems like it serves only as an affirmation for more-patriotic-than-thou types. Now that the
song has been introduced, it will probably remain a fixture because any team that tries to remove it would be accused of a
lack of patriotism. This seems unfortunate to me.
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Religion has no place at a baseball game.
Right after 9/11 the song was used a coping mechanism for all of us affected by the attacks. Now it is just time to move on.
Plus I do not like that fact that security guards and fans at Yankee Stadium yell at or ridicule those who chose not stand or go
to the concession while the song is playing. Being patriotic has nothing to do with standing quietly for song.
See comments in number 9. I have been an attending fan for years and after 9/11 many fans have been hostile and
aggressive about what can only be described as compulsory participation when it is played and song. Not a pretty sight with
young children watching grown men and women scream, shout and curse at others that actually practice freedom of choice.
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Seems contrived, it's not the national anthem but they makes a big show [hat's off, hands over heart etc.]
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Seems out of place - especially singing it by interrupting the game in the 7th inning. If sung at game, should be at the start.
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Seems too redundant.
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seperation of church, state and baseball
Should have been done away with after the conclusion of the 2001 season. I appreciated the fact that baseball interrupted
their season after the attacks and felt the song was appropriate then as a statement that the American spirit could not be
undermined. It has now however become another example of corporate (in this case MLB) control over the experience
provided their customers. I am sure there is an SOP issued by MLB to the teams stating when, which versions, and how
many minutes/seconds the song must be played. Hence, by doing that, future removal becomes a political hot potato.
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Should have never broke tradition of the seventh inning stretch.
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Shouldn't be sung at every game at every seventh inning stretch. why not save it for special occassions?
Silly. This song does not make one more apt to recognize or appreciate the true bravery and responsibility of those
sacrificing their safety to defend America.
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sing it before the game, not during the 7th inning stretch.
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Sing take me out to the ball game.
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Sitting through that song PLUS take me out to the ball game is too boring.
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Slow's down the game, Star-Spangled Banner is enough patriotism for one game.
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Take Me Out to the Ball Game is the ONLY song that should be sung during the seventh inning stretch.
The games are long enough nowadays with commercial breaks for TV/radio, player rituals in the batters box; when you add
in live performances of God Bless America by people who think every time they sing is an audition for American Idol and they
embellish and drag out even the simplest phrases, those extra few minutes seem like an eternity. Plus, if you want to include
GBA as part of the game, put it right after the national anthem, like most high schools do if they perform both at sporting
events/concerts.
The mere fact that the song is played does not particularly bother me. The idea that it may be used to force "patriotism"
(where this does not mean simple love of country but a particular worldview held by certain people) is distressing.
The National Anthem has traditionally been sung at baseball games for decades. The addition of God Bless America is
overkill. "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" is such a great thing to look forward to in the 7th inning, especially for the kids. It
should stand alone.
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The national anthem is enough. This many years after 9/11, we should let it go already.
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The National Anthem is enough. It's a ball game. Not an American rally.
The National Anthem is sufficient. This is overkill. And at Dodger Stadium, it takes away from "Take Me Out to the
Ballgame," which is a tradition that I really value.
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The National Anthem is sufficient. We do not need to breed rabid nationalists.
The national anthem is sung before each game. You cheapen both God Bless America and The Star Spangled Banner by
giving them equal weight.
The pre-game national anthem and the flying of the star spangled banner should suffice for national pride/patriotism and
support of our nation during a time of war. There is no need to add it in the middle of a sporting competition.
The seventh-inning stretch has always been about baseball. Now it's about making a political statement. Baseball may be the
American game, but it should be a release from worldly worries, including politics and America's place in the world
community. It's just baseball. Bring back "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" and leave it alone.
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The traditional Christian God represented in the song does not represent the diversity of beliefs in MLB or amongst their fans
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There are few things more American than baseball. No need for patriotic songs.
There are many different people who play and attend the games of all different nationalities. A baseball game is not the place
to express your love of your country. You are there to express your love for your team.
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There is no need for it in light of the fact that the national anthem is already sung.
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There is no reason to sing this song at games. In fact it annoys me greatly.
There's already the national anthem to start the baseball game, and "take me out to the ballgame" during the 7th inning
stretch, what's the need to sing another?
Pretty soon they'll be singing songs during the 4th inning stretch for another
event, and the 6th inning stretch for something else. Baseball games are already long enough as is... and we're there to
watch baseball, not to have singalongs galore between innings. I have nothing against singing the song, but is it really
necessary?
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There's no need to play both God Bless America and the Star Spangled Banner
There's no need to politicize a game, especially considering the league in which it's played has expanded to our beautiful,
northern friends in Toronto (and previously, and sadly no more, Montreal). I feel rather uncomfortable with the concept of
making people who aren't citizens, but get paid to play here, sing along or hold their hearts to a song for a country they don't
represent. How would the average citizen of the US feel about being required to sing along to a Venezuelan or Mexican
song while playing down there? (And for those who think that they aren't required, just look back to the fact that Carlos
Delgado was vilified for not holding his heart during the song).
There's only one song that should be sung during the 7th inning stretch: "Take Me Out to the Ballgame." I was fine with it for
the 2001 season, but 8 years later and the Yankees are still trotting out an opera singer to sing it every game? Overkill. I
do think it is appropriate for the song to be sung on days such as Memorial Day, Labor Day, 4th of July, etc., because those
days are celebrations of America. I also think it's absurd that the song is not sung regularly at every game (for most teams),
yet it is sung during the nationally televised playoffs, as though the national audience demands the song being performed
while local games do not. That alone suggests to me that the performance of the song has ulterior motives.
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They already do the National Anthem before the game, singing God Bless America is over the top.
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They already sing or play the national anthem at the games It blends baseball and patriotism with religion
They sing the national anthem before the game. That's enough mandatory patriotism for my tastes. The seventh inning
stretch is for Take Me Out to the Ballgame, and, well, stretching.
This song is not a traditional part of baseball. It was touching to hear it at Yankees and Mets games immediately after the
9/11 attacks. It was a good reflection of the sentiment of the time and very moving since the brunt of the attack occurred in
New York. Now it is brought out for every patriotic day, playoffs, and World Series. Especially annoying now is the fact that
the networks use this as an opportunity to showcase the latest music star.
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tired of sports being used to push patriotism
To correct your assumption in number 12-it is not played at every game as far as I know, but rather on Sundays. I see it as
a transparent attempt by Major League Baseball to latch onto 9/11 for its own purposes. Are movie theater or Broadway
theater people any less patriotic because it's not played in those venues? I don't think so.
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To jingoistic.
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Too forced. I prefer "Take me out to the ballgame" or some other song less religiously, politically charged.
Too many boundaries have been blurred since 9/11. Considering the fact that part of what this country was founded on is
religious freedom (or freedom from religious persection) and the aftermath from 9/11 has undermined that, keeping
references to God out of public events is a way to continue healing America. I haven't heard of anyone at a baseball game
being offended by "Take Me Out To the Ball Game". Keep the game about the game.
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too much country at a baseball game. It seems the national anthem is more than enough.
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too much forced patriotism
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Too much mandatory patriotism.
Two or three songs are sung at baseball games--The Star-Spangled Banner and Take Me Out to the Ball Game, and, with
luck, the home team's victory song. God Bless America is breaking tradition.
We already do the Star Spangled Banner. There are other ways for a team to show that it's patriotic and now that the
Yankees can keep you glued to your seat for it, it has become way too Big Brother for me. Plus I don't like the tune.
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We already sing the national anthem before the game. We don't need another song.
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We sing the Star Spangled Banner, that is enough. Singing God AMerica is overkill
Well I think it's cool we do it at the beginning of sporting events, but I think it's a little overkill now. The whole point of the 7th
inning stretch is to get up an take a break. But on the other hand, it's not like it really takes up that much time.
Well, I believe it forces religion upon people, who's God [etc] and I object to it in the same way I objected to saying the
Pledge of Alligence in school. Also, I find it obnoxious and short sighted when players are from Mexico, Austalia, Japan,
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Taiwan, Columbia, etc AND it is especially dumb when the Toronto Blue Jays are forced to stand there in Yankee Stadium.
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What is the point? Take me out to the ballgame is a perfectly acceptable 7th inning song, and God Bless America actually
sounds frivolous and out of place.
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what's the point? forced patriotism? no thanks...
When the attacks of September 11, 2001 the country needed a rallying cry to keep everyone's spirits up following the
tragedy. And that song to me was perfect for such an occasion. In a time of fear and confusion asking God to bless our
Country seemed to help with the grieving process. I feel that now in 2009 and going forward the inclusion of "God Bless
America" should be removed as a regular during the 7th Inning Stretch at Yankee Stadium. Every team plays on Memorial
Day Weekend and during the July 4th holiday. Save the song for days like that, and should a team's game fall on 9/11 play
the song then as well. I've lived in New York City all my life. Since that day the skyline and city have never looked the same,
and never will again. But to keep reminding ourselves every Yankee home game what we already know I don't think that
almost 9 years later helps much people's healing processes. I also think that the Yankees' security is going too far by forcing
fans to participate. It should be the fans' choice whether or not to participate or not. It is of course their right as an American
to chose to honor the flag when the announcement comes over the Yankee Stadium PA system.
When the Yankees added it to the seventh inning stretch after 9/11, it made sense. It felt like it fit with the situation. As time
has moved on, however, more teams have added it as more and more time has passed from 9/11. It feels like baseball is
trying to prove something by including it, that it's more American than the other sports. Instead, it feels forced and out-dated.
The national anthem is already sung at the start of the game. That's enough. People haven't forgotten about America by the
middle of the seventh inning.
While I feel baseball is America's pasttime, I do not feel that the song is appropriate for ballgames, especially in a league
where not all teams are American.
While I feel like everything is in one way or another political, I feel like it's an excessive display of patriotism that is foisted on
fans who, in many cases, will have already heard the stat-spangled banner an 2 hours earlier--is baseball so mind-blowing
that it makes you forget you're in america two hours after hearing the star-spangled banner?
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Would prefer to sing "This Land is Your Land"
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You don't mess with the tradition of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame."
You sing the national anthem, the song that is supposed to be the official musical emblem of our country before every
baseball game. "God Bless America" is just overkill.
about the same way I feel about the national anthem - which a believe became custom during WW2 -- my concern is that the
song becomes trivialized/marginalized by being played at every game.
After singing the national anthem, it's a bit of overkill. I think "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" is more appropriate, especially
in light of the fact that many players are not even from America.
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Again, it just feels overused a bit.
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Already have the national anthem at the beginning. I like the song and the sentiment, but it seems to be overkill.
Already sing the anthem at the start of the game. 7th inning stretch already has a traditional song associated with it. Do not
see the need to pile on a political statement. Song looses meaning through overuse - rather reserve for holidays &
anniversaries of events important to America.
Although it's not a true political statement song. The middle of a game is not the time for such a patriotic song. The national
anthem at the beginning of the game is enough.
As a fan of the New York Yankees, I think the song is sung too often. It is played at every game and I think the frequency
takes away from the meaning of the song. It should only be played once a week or on special occasions.
As a Yankee fan, I would like to see it sung only on Sundays and patriotic holidays. Hearing it sung at every game (the
broadcasters won't even break for commercials during the 7th inning stretch as they used to) is getting tedious. And the way
stadium security used to enforce a virtual lockdown during this time (although they have since changed their policy) was
dowright creepy.
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As long as take me out to the ball game is still song I don't really care.
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As much as I'd rather keep religion in churches, it's just a song and I don't really care. Plus I rarely attend baseball games.
At first I thought it was a burden, especially because it kind of took prescient over "Take Me Out to the Ball Game". But as a
Yankee fan, I've adjusted to it, and when I'm not at a Yankee game, I'm surprised not to hear it.
At first, the nation seemed to rally to cries of patriotism. The song fits that. Also, since Sept. 11 was in the final 3 weeks of
the baseball season, MLB correctly felt that the song fit the purpose during the 7th inning stretch. I agreed then. Now,
however, I think I am ready to retire the song from baseball and give the 7th inning stretch back to "Take me out to the
ballgame".
Baseball is a GLOBAL game now, with a significant percentage of MLB players from countries outside the US. Also, the whiff
of politics it gives off doesn't belong in the game.
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Baseball is not necessarily the correct place to force your "patriotism" or lack thereof on people.
Baseball stadiums are a place where a lot of people congregate; singing the song in this context may suggest that this is
what we all believe, and given my feelings about the song, I am troubled by this mob mentality approach. On the other hand,
I am a New Yorker, and baseball helped me regain a sense of my country and "normalcy" after 9/11 and this may be the
price I pay. It may be a reminder to me and other fans of our vulnerability. Maybe watching a baseball game is one of the
places where I do celebrate my freedom and my life as an American. I'd rather sing Take Me Out to the Ballgame, which
doesn't seem to have these religious and patriotic issues.
becoming too routine, almost like becoming another 'take me out to the ballgame"
Before games or after games is fine. If you're in New York it's understandable for the 7th inning stretch, but the 7th inning
stretch should be reserved for "Take Me Out to the Ballgame."
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By having it every game, it seems a bit forced and less special of a song. It is important to be patriotic, but I can see how
some people may feel patriotism is being forced on them.
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does not feel inclusive of all beliefs, or lack thereof. I do not like the linking of patriotism to Christianity.
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doesn't belong in the game.
don't remember all the words so I don't know if I agree with the sentiments expressed & that it should be included in a public
venue
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Dont really care either way
Early on it was a good feeling to sing God Bless America with other Americans at baseball games. Anything that brings
people together I think is a good thing. However, I think the song has lost almost all of its meaning as it continues to be
played at Yankee stadium every single 7th inning stretch. Saturation will ruin just about anything.
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Enough is enough
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Fine at first, but no longer necessary. Let's just sing take me out to the ball game.
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Fitting at first, but feels too out of place in the seventh inning.
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For the first two years after the attack I thought it was an important thing, now I think it is getting kind of old.
for the remainder of 2001 i generally liked them playing the song, but that was enough, it should have ceased after the 1 yr
anniversary.
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Forcing people to participate is an infringement upon rights, but good to honor USA.
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Frankly, it makes the 7th inning stretch seem a lot longer.
God Bless America is a good song, but every baseball game starts with the National Anthem. Having more than one patriotic
song is just overkill. That said, it was very powerful hearing it at Old Yankee Stadium last year when we visited.
Hehe. I was trying to figure out why I associated that song with baseball games. Your questionare explained it to me. I only
go to a couple a year, so the association was vague and ambiguous. People all do things in unision at sporting events. It's
part of the experience - cheering and singing for the same team. Bonding. It makes sense to a degree that people all do
something patriotic and civic oriented to take advantage of the crowd/group/energy.
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I am inherently suspicious of patriotic displays, but this one seems harmless. "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" is fine too.
I am not sure if I am correct, but from my understanding 'The Star Spangled Banner' was sung at baseball games before it
became the national anthem. It was probably because of this that it became the national anthem. So the singing of a patriotic
song at a ballgame does have precedents. Still there are times when it doesn't seem like the appropriate venue for it. Or that
maybe just one should suffice. For instance, we just stood up, removed our caps, and put our right hands over our hearts as
someone, oftentimes from the military, sang the national anthem, which might be accompanied by military planes flying over,
and then we do it again in the seventh inning though this time accompanied by God Bless America. Why? To honor those
risking their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan by removing our baseball caps twice a game? That is literally the least we can do,
as it seems like we are not being asked to make any sacrifices at all while the military fights a two front war. I am at a
baseball game to be entertained, yet I am being asked to honor the troops with this small insignificant gesture when no one
is asking to more in taxes for an improve GI Bill or better VA department. I don't just seems like a hollow act somehow.
I am on the fence about this one. The 7th inning stretch is traditionally reserved for the singing of "Take Me Out to the
Ballgame". With the inclusion of "God Bless America", the game is delayed even more. I would rather it be sung just before
hte National Anthem just before the game begins.
I appreciate the patriotism involved, but it takes too long and does not need to be played every game. Save it for
holidays/playoffs/all-star game etc.
I believe that it is a good way to express your patriotism, but it should not be forced on you like it sometimes is at baseball
games.
I do like the song, felt it would make a better anthem than our national anthem, and they do sing the national anthem at
games so there is precedent. It just seems a little forced - I like to show my patriotism in my own way, I don't want to be told
when to do something patriotic
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I do not see the need
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I don't feel that it should be sung at every game.. possibly just Memorial Day, Independence Day week, etc.
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I don't have a problem with it, but I don't feel like it should take the place of a baseball song.
I don't have strong feelings against it, but it feels like a bit of overwhelming patriotism during the games. The National
Anthem has already been sung at the beginning of the game, and Take Me Out to the Ballgame is already sung during the
seventh inning stretch. I thought it was more appropriate after 9/11 but maybe this is a way to help us not forget those
events so easily. I believe it is not played at all stadiums at the seventh inning stretch.
I don't like the mixing of church and state and under the fevered time of immediately post 9/11 I did have misgivings about
the 'God' part of the song.
I don't mind hearing the song live during postseason games, especially in New York. But the way the Yankees play a prerecorded version every single game bothers me.
I don't mind if the song is played during the 7th inning stretch. However, I feel it's best sung live. Our AAA team in Norfolk
plays a Kate Smith recording in which the ending is drawn out...
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I don't mind it - what I object to is the idea that many fans have that there is some sort of obligation to participate.
I don't mind it being sung on days like the 4th, Memorial Day, 9/11, etc, but I think it is overdone at ballparks. Part of our
heritage is singing Take Me Out to the Ballgame during the seventh inning stretch. I feel we shouldn't have changed.
I don't mind it being sung, but I do not see the need to have that song televised during games before going to a commercial
break. I understand the patriotism and everything, but I think it's a bit too much. I respectalby stand if I'm at a game, but if I'm
watching from home, I find it annoying and pointless to have it playing before going to commercial as well.
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I don't mind the singing, but I STRONGLY object to being asked to stand and remove my cap, an honor reserved for the
national anthem.
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I don't see how it can be bad. Again, no feelings either way about how I feel about the song.
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I don't think fans should be required to participate like @ yankee stadium. What if you're from another country!
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I don't think its necessarily a bad thing, but I don't think it is necessary.
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I dont mind it being sung on Sundays....I think singing it every game is a little much
I doubt they sing it in Japan, Korea - see World Baseball Classic. On the other hand, it gets some fans to clear out their
lungs.
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I enjoy it but I'm also aware that others don't like it, don't care for mentioning God.
I feel that this song should only be sung during the 7th inning stretch on certain occasions, such as Independence Day or
Memorial Day. I do not believe that every baseball game needs a reminder of our country during the game; the National
Anthem before the game is enough. I believe the stretch should be kept to the now traditional "Take Me Out To The
Ballgame." Other, local, songs may be added if desired, but "God Bless America" does not need to be sung every game.
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I feel that while I like the song, having it played at all 162 games like at Yankee Stadium makes the song a little less special.
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I felt it was appropriate at first, following 9/11, but don't feel it necessary anymore.
I felt overall it was a missing the point and was being used to whip up the sentiment that has put us in the situation we are in
today. As a New Yorker, however, and someone who watched the towers fall in front of me, it is just a piece of a strange
time in my life that I don't want to forget and that did, for a moment, bring the city together.
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I has jumped the shark. Anything done too many times looses it's meaning.
I have no problem with the sentiment behind it, but I think it has resulted in overkill. I believe it should be reserved for special
events such as: Opening Day, All-Star Game, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, September 11th, and World Series
games.
I have no problem with the song's religious tone. In fact, I support it. I do feel that it should not replace the national anthem.
I have others I prefer My personal favorite is America the Beautiful which I prefer over GBA and Star Spangled Banner I
once heard and fell in live with a professional arrangement of America the Beautiful and Stars and Stripes Forever Best ever
combo of beauty and passion and pace
I have some discomfort in that I realize some feel a religious overtone to it, almost like a hymn, even though God is only
mentioned twice. For me it is nothing more than a song about love of country.
I like "God Bless America" very much. I just think its placement in MLB games outside of July 4th or Sept 11th games is
tedious. I'd like it to stop now. I'm very patriotic but enough is enough.
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I like displays of patriotism in general, but I think that we could have chosen a better song.
I like it as the song it represents as pure love for our country, but I dislike it when it is used to bolster support for jingoism and
militaristic agression.
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I like that they shortened it at Yankee Stadium. It takes about 30 seconds and I fell that is a fair compromise.
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I like the idea but it's kind of a religious song that people may not want to sing at a baseball game.
I like the idea of it being played for holidays such as Memorial Day, July 4th, etc. I also like it when sung for special events.
It's probably not necessary for a generic game.
I like the notion of patriotism. I dislike the reference to god. I feel as if the song is used too often to influence patriotic feelings,
and that it has, ocassionally, been used for purely political purposes. I feel the same way about the National Anthem and the
Pledge. My patriotism is personal, and shouldn't be forced. Further, I feel as if I can be patriotic without being a believer in
god.
I like the song and when it was first sung after 9/11 I understood, but I think it may be overdone as a 7th inning stretch song.
Sing it before the game. As somewhat of a baseball purest, I say save the 7th inning stretch for "Take me out to the ball
game".
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I like the song just fine, but I'd rather see the seventh-inning stretch be devoted solely to "Take Me Out to the Ballgame."
I like the song, but singing it at the 7th inning stretch doesn't quite fit for me. It was OK right after 9-11, but probably should
have been dropped the next season
I like the song, but there seems to be this mindset that the national anthem is not good enough and that God Bless America
should be our unofficial anthem. I suspect that a lot of this has to do with the movement to push, or at the very least
celebrate religion more by the more conservative element of our society.
I like the song, I don't like the reason it has been included in baseball games.
I like the song. You need something to do during the 7th inning stretch, might as well sing this song. Associating patriotism
and 9 11 is jingoistic and George Bush.
I like the sound and its celebration of America, but I don't like the way it is used at sporting events. Seems like fake
patriotism in the name of appealing to some unknown (or non-existing) super-patriotic fan base.
I liked it at the time, but I feel like it is time for it to move on. Maybe if the Yankees didn't over do it so much it would be
better.
I love the song, but I admit it's pretty somber. I wonder if it doesn't take what's supposed to be a fun, entertaining event and
make it slightly moribund. Then again, "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" is kind of kitschy.
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I love the song, but the 7th inning stretch could be well enough to be left alone.
I suppose I like it, but it also strikes me as kind of cheap sentiment...and like everything else ritual, eventually it'll take on a
meaningless, rote quality that will rob of it of any particular meaning.
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I think by playing it so often it minimizes the song and makes people desensitized to it.
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I think it is fine to be sung at a game, however unlike the national anthem, participation should be strickly voluntary
I think it is good to play, but every single game sometimes seems a little much, maybe on certain days such as memorial
day, independence day, september 11th, etc..
I think it should be reserved for special events, like opening day, the Fourth of July, September 11 anniversary and so forth.
Singing it every day diminishes its emotional resonance.
I think it should be saved for special ocassions, such as July 4th, Memorial Day
I think it should be sung at some games but not every single one. It seems like overkill and it loses its meaning when its
sung at every single game.
I think it was important for our national healing process, but now it takes too long and networks seem to feel obliged to show
it.
I think it's appropriate during holidays such as Memorial Day or Independence Day, but unnecessary for all 162 games.
I think it's fine as long as it's done for special occasions (Opening Day, Fourth of July, All Star Game, Military Night, etc.), and
it fits ok since baseball is so closely tied in with our symbols of America. Not every game though.
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I think it's fine once a week. I neither like or dislike it at baseball games.
I think it's more hokiness added to one of my favorite American traditions. As I said earlier, I like the song all right, but it
depends on the time/place of its presentation. Baseball doesn't need it.
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I think its fine for major events (World Series, playoffs)...
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I think occasionally during the year it's fine, but doesn't need to happen every game
I think that in the beginning it was going to be played everywhere no matter what just because of the attacks. But now, I think
that it shouldn't be seen as "mandatory" to be played. We never played it before, some places should be allowed to go back
to what they did before 9/11.
I think that it is a sweet sentiment to include this song during a break in our national pastime, but I don't feel that it is
necessary to play it every day. Maybe once a week or so. Sundays, perhaps? The song's power has been diminished
through repetition. It isn't "Sweet Caroline" or "Rock N' Roll: Part II" and I feel that it shouldn't be treated similarly.
I thought it was a nice touch in the month or so after 9/11, but it has gone on for far too long. There's already the National
Anthem before each game to more than satisfy anyone's need for an affirmation of patriotism.
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I thought it was a novel idea after the September 11 attacks. However, it has become overplayed and feels contrived.
I thought it was an appropriate observance after 9/11, but it feels a little bit like overkill to continue to do it today. I'd be just
as happy with remembering our veterans immediately before the national anthem at the start of the game, then going back to
the old tradition of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" and nothing more.
I understand the thinking - and I was moved first time I saw/heard/sang it.
But - there's that God thing again and I love
Take Me Out to the Ballgame.
I understood why it was important to declare our love of our country after we were attacked, but it has gone on to long and
appears a little strident and over the top.
I wish good things for my country of birth but the song contains direct reference to ideas that I do not share. Also, patriotism
in a group forum can be intimidating.
I would prefer it be sung prior to the game in place of the Star Spangled Banner. Take Me Out to the Ball Game should be
sung in the 7th.
I'd just as soon skip it. But I don't feel too, too strongly about it. In Boston, it's only done on Sundays or special games. It's
not like it's done every game - which would start to irritate me.
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I'd rather it replace the anthem at the beginning. Too often used as a means of forced group patriotism.
I'm a "sweet caroline" fan to tell you the truth...but there is a calm and swelling that comes over the fans when this song is
played....and like I said before..it has some meaning to me beyond the 9/11 connection.
I'm a Cubs fan, so it is not sung during the 7th inning at Wrigley. I don't think it should be imposed on fans on a daily basis. I
like the idea of doing it only once a week, on Sunday pre-games, as is done at Wrigley.
I'm a diehard Yankees fan, so since 9/11, they have played it during the game. I understand the significance of it and
participate in singing myself while I'm at the Stadium. However, I'm very happy that security at Yankee Stadium does not
prohibit you from moving around during that time.
I'm a little torn because I feel like baseball is America's game and it fits. But I also understand how some people can feel a
little uncomfortable when the song is sung in public like that.
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I'm a traditionalist and prefer "Take me Out To the Ball Game" for the 7th inning stretch song.
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I'm beginning to feel it's being overdone.
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I'm just not sure what it has to do with baseball. We don't sing it after the 3rd quarter of basketball or football games.
I'm not sure that it's the best song for uniting people since these days any public display of any type of "religious" feelings or
thoughts is bound to stir up controversy.
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Almost feel it reminds me of Russian school children and propaganda.
I'm uncomfortable with using God at secular events.
I've never associated politics or even patriotism with baseball, just summer fun. It seems forced to me - particularly when
watching a game with non-Americans.
i've never been a big fan of any song(including the national anthem) sung at sporting events as if it had some semi-religious
significance.
Immediately after 9/11, I can understand the use of the song. At least they have limited the use of the song to major holidays,
excluding the Yankees, who for some reason can't realize that this song is not a national anthem. Yes play it on Memorial
Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day because they are national holidays, but every night, please.
In 2001 and 2002, it was a great reminder of our country uniting for one cause, but after the Iraq invasion and the US's
subesequent loss of world support, the song seemed trite right away.
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It feels a little forced.
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It has been misappropriated for jingoism and as a test of one's love of America.
It is a patriotic tune, BUT....participation should NOT be enforced. IT IS NOT THE NATIONAL ANTHEM! An EXACT
analogy exists in Great Britain with 'Land of Hope and Glory', which is sometimes sung at large public events..it is NOT the
National Anthem 'God Save The Queen'..and is not treated as such!
It is okay for the same reason as the national anthem is okay, but I'm not sure I like the idea of people being forced to sing
god bless america - that is antithetical to our nation's creed.
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It loses meaning when its sang everyday.
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It needed to stop a year or two after 9/11.
It needs to be sung at a more up tempo pace, because it is a joyous song. Those who sing it at baseball games often follow
too liesurely of a pace
It only takes a minute or two away from the game. I think we can give that time. It is dicouraging that this causes conflict.
Not every team does it. If the Yankees wish to, let them. If they stopped, I would not be upset either. But, since they have it,
it's nice. They also play YMCA, Cotton Eye Joe and a host of other songs...
It perpetuates an "us vs. them" mentality. ("God, please bless Our country, but not Theirs, if you don't mind.") On the other
hand, it has a very pleasant melody, and one could argue that it gives Americans feelings of comfort and security to sing it en
masse, in public.
It seems a bit contrived to add it to MLB games after Sept 11. Plus there is the issue of "etiquette" during the playing of the
song...
It shouldn't be played at every game - perhaps just special days like Opening Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day and
Game 1 of the World Series
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It started out as a nice thing after 9/11, but I don't think it's necessary anymore.
It was a touching sentiment when baseball resumed after 9/11, and especially with the playoffs and World Series in New
York that year. But it's continued use seems to have less to do with genuinely honoring America, and more to do with
imposing a certain way of showing respect.
It was fine after 9/11. But that was a long time ago. The Star Spangled Banner is enough. I'm patriotic and I love my country,
but I don't want this shoved down my throat at a baseball game.
It was fine in the weeks and months immediately following 9/11 as a rallying song for the country, but is really out of place at
a baseball game. I believe it will remain a part of baseball now because no one will dare to remove it for fear of being
labeled as insensitive to the 9/11 victims.
It was nice during 2001, and maybe even 2002, but at this point it is played out, and the Yankees (even though I am a
Yankee fan) have killed any meaning the song once maintained.
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It's a ball game.
It's a great song, but loses its impact being played so often. See answer #11 above and refer to the Law of Deminishing
Returns.
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It's an attempt to force solemnity / patriotism.
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It's done too often, cheapening it.
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It's getting tiresome.
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it's good to remind ourselves of all we have to be grateful for but the song itself does not do that
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It's nice for there to be a song, but I'm not sure that this is the best choice.
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It's not necessary. We have the national anthem before the game.
It's not really necessary and turns the pastime into a nationalist event. I go to a ballgame as an escape, so I'd rather hear
"Take Me Out To The Ballgame."
It's not something I would've initiated, but it doesn't disturb me or bother me. I feel more like "We already sang the Star
Spangled Banner, now let the Dominican pitcher warm up to pitch to the Japanese guy so the Venezuelan guy can get the
win already"
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It's not the National Anthem but it does remind one of American values.
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It's ok on special days but not every game.
It's OK with me if its played, but if I have to go to the bathroom, or want a hot dog, I don't need Steinbrenner's goons to
pounce on me as if I were desecrating the flag.
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It's puzzling that it and the national anthem are sung at baseball games but not at movies or shopping centers.
It's time to retire it as a regular feature. I say that as a Yankee fan. Trotting it out for holidays (Memorial Day, July 4th, etc.)
would make it feel a bit more meaningful. Now it's just another part of the routine.
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It's too long for most people, and they can't sing along with it. Most people are not at a ball game to give praise to God!
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its a baseball game play take me out to the ball game
Its Baseball...Its the 7th Inning Stretch. What about take me out to the ballgame? Also, the recorded version of God Bless
America used by NY Yankees is pathetic.
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Its just overdone. Right after 911 or during a special game I'd have no problem but for every game its overdone.
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Its not particularly necessary, but I don't think it effects the game much, so I'm ok with it.
July 4, Memorial Day or even every sunday seems fine, but everyday at Yankee games (they are the only ones to do it every
day, I think) is too much. Additionally, the notion that the organization cannot find a currently living person to sing the song
when they need it song in a cultural center such as NY is absurd. Kate Smith died in the mid-80s, isn't it time to retire the
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scratchy record they still play?
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Just seems to be a ritual now . Like ,well NY is doing it well we should do it..It just doesn't really go with baseball. 7th inn
streach should just be "Take me out to the Ballgame" Don't get me wrong now; teams shouldn't be forced by our
government to not play it because it might hurt someones poor little feelings because it dares to have God in the lyrics. Thats
up to the Owners.I just think the song should be used more for maybe schools(oops..can't have God in schools) and Church
,but more importantly I think Our congress should have to sing it everytime they meet---and mean it.
Like i said, it is meaningful at the NY parks. At other parks. it seems like a feeble attempt to cram patriotism down
everyones throat when it isn't needed. The game already has the anthem at the beginning. Plus, it really devalues the great
tradition of singing "Take me out to the Ballgame."
Like the song, and like the patriotic feeling, but not sure about forcing it on others.
Like the tribute to the troops & the associations. But I know that not everyone believes in God. Also I like a separation of
church & state. But, honestly, baseball is not state.
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Liked at first, but now is sort of overkill.
living in new york, after 9/11 it was neat the way the yankees incorperated it. it helped to provide a soothing feeling after
such tragedy. yet 8 years later, i dont think it still needs to be played. Patriotism aside, we are not a communist country. So
when a fan behind me starts singing about people not removing their caps and placing their hands on their hearts (which
removing caps is NOT requested by the PA at yankee stadium), then you know that it's getting a little rediculous.
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Many non-US players. And why should "Patriotism" be forced.
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maybe do it during holidays..but not every game...
Maybe if it was just Sundays, or on special event days. It is overplayed. Plus I am Agnostic so singing a song involving
something called God forces non-Christians to sing or celebrate something against or not part of their own belief structure.
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Mixed feelings - although it's a beautiful sounding song it has too many negative associations for me
Mixed feelings based on the fact that I dont see what patriotism has to do with baseball. But Im indifferent to the playing of it,
If it is important to some people, I say play it. It doesnt bother me at all.
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mixed since in a way its ok, but seems somewhat unnecessary
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mostly harmless, but a little overused.
My feelings are mixed because I feel like the song played an important role after 9/11. On the other hand, I just don't like the
idea of God blessing a particular country.
My opinion changes on this subject, but I overall I guess I agree with the faction of people that this country was founded on
Christian Principles and should remain that way - So I guess I like that aspect of it - that the teams are making that
statement. However it slows down the game and may disrupt the rhythm of the game.
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Necessary right after the attacks, but not now
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No longer necessary to include during the 7th inning
not all baseball games are in the US, an for those games it doesn't seem right. I like hockey games where the Canadian and
American songs are sung. the inclusion of super patriotic experiences at ball games (or how at some football games there
are loads of military planes flying over, etc) feels like we have an identity crisis where we need to verify who we are.
Not every baseball player is American. And considering the flap regarding the Canadian national anthem at the All-Star
Game...
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Not everybody at a game is going to be Christian or American.
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Not everyone who goes to baseball game believes in God, so naturally I can understand why it would offend some people.
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Not necessary.
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not sure its necessary...seventh-inning stretch good enough for me...
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Not sure religion is something that needs to be brought into a fun event.
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Nothing wrong with it, but recordings are really boring, live performances are interesting
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NYPD incident at Yankee Stadium. Forced patriotism is against true "American" freedom.
Occasionally would be ok but I don't like it having taken over at all games. I like "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" at
ballgames. The "Star Spangled Banner" before the game is sufficient patriotism at a money-making, big business event.
Oh, well, I didn't see this part of the survey when I entered my previous answers. So the answer is yes, when think of God
Bless America, I think about how they Yankees play it during every 7th inning stretch. And I wonder if that will ever stop, not
because I want them to stop, mainly because I'm just curious. In a way, I think it would be cool 30-40 years from now if they
are still doing it and I could tell my grand kids, "You know, the started playing this in the 7th inning after Sept. 11", so in a
way, it might serve as a memorial to Sept. 11th.
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OK right after, now it's just annoting
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Once a week is fine. Every day is ridiculous as it loses any meaning.
Once in a while OK, but every Sunday unnecessary. Take me out to the ballgame is good enough for 7th inning stretches.
MLB shouldn't feel that GBA makes it more American or more patriotic. Plus I wonder what folks in Toronto think...
One of the most important factors in the performance of any song, but especially a song with this much meaning, is the
performer. The majority of renditions heard in major league stadiums tend to be subpar. Perhaps if more talented performers
were enlisted to sing more consistently, things could improve. Also, the seventh inning stretch is undoubtedly the inning in
which the stadium can partake in the singing of "Take Me Out to the Ball-game," a song which is more or less baseball's
national anthem. So, for the purity of the sport, the sanctity of singing that song need not be undermined or replaced by "God
Bless America."
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only should be played on holiday games.. memorial day, july 4th labor day flag day etc
Only the Yankees play the song during every 7th inning stretch, while other teams will play it for special occassions. I think
playing it for every game removes its specialness and renders it background music. I also think it's a little silly to immediately
follow the song up with Take Me Out To The Ballgame
overuse can make something annoying eventually. i can understand use the first game of every series with a new team but
for every game-seems a bit repetitive.
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Owners of team can do as they please as an expression of own views
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Playing it on Sundays, as MLB does now, is fine. 81 games a year in the Bronx is overkill.
Please see my answer to #9 with respect to my issue with the separation of church and state. Although baseball teams are
privately owned and the league is privately financed, many baseball stadiums are publicly funded and therefor singing the
song during the 7th inning stretch does not feel right.
Pregame ceremonies tend to be long and drawn out as it is. I like the song; however, placement during pregame can be
tedious.
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Refer to above answer. It just seems like a "forced tradition".
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Same as before... dislike it because of it being outdated but can't say I dislike it because of the theme.
See above. I really cannot stand it at this point ,its always dragged out, and being a Cub fan, we dont sing anything but Take
Me Out to the Ballgame during the stretch- its kind of annoying to add something in there.
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Seems like a New York thing.
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should only be used at more important games and at most once a week
Slows the game down. Don't see the connection between 7th inning stretch and this song. Wonder why this is deemed
appropriate for venue that is supposed to be a fun time...song invokes 9/11 to me now.
Sometimes I feel the song absolutely belongs in baseball, which in my view, is still America's Game. At other times, I feel
baseball tries to use the song to create a more positive image of the sport. My preference would be that the song be played
along with the National Anthem at the beginning of games, not in the middle of the game.
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sometimes they do it and sometimes they dont, different stadiums do it different ways
Sometimes you feel required to be patriotic and sing along when that song comes on because everyone else is doing it. I
want my patriotism to feel natural and genuine, not forced.
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Somewhat feel that it is forced patriotism, but I like to be patriotic so I have no problem with it.
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Sports should not mix with partisan politics
Star Spangled Banner is already in place to honor our country, and the seventh-inning stretch is used, at least by myself, as
a time to stretch and go to the bathroom.
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Thats enough already
the anthem is enough. baseball does not need to be a tribute to america every game. i don't like anybody dictating to me
when i should be patriotic.
The song is a nice song and is patriotic. When sung at baseball games people believe that it is the National Anthem and
they regard it as such.
The song is all right, but I don't love it, and I don't think people should be forced to listen to it every baseball game. It's kind
of an empty gesture.
There is no denying the tragedy of September 11th. However, when you consider the complicated history of
European/American colonization throughout the world, you might question country pride...you might question the feelings
aroused from reciting G-d Bless America. If the song provoked a critical view of America's role in global politics, I might be
more in love with the song being sung so much, but I have the impression the song is sung with kill those arabs in
mind....Then again, maybe I am wrong.
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They should save it for Special occasions
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Too religious, in my opinion, for incorporation into national sporting events. But, I don't hate it.
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use to be a nice way to try and support, apprecitate america and was associated with respect of troops
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Was appropriate after September 11th 2001 but enough is enough.
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Was fine at first but is now old hat.
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was good at first - overplayed now
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We already have the national anthem, so that's enough for America, right?
We live in a free country. I fought for this country. I fought for these freedoms. I like that it is played but disagree with the
stringent nature that it was imposed. I respect the right of others to live their own lives.
We start with the Star Spangled Banner, the 7th inning stretch has always been Take Me Out to the Ballgame. I think there
is too much singing in the 7th inning. I also hate the commercialism of having someone sing America whose point is getting
exposure for themselves, they feel the need to add their flavor to the song, and I feel that cheapens it. I think it should be
sung for special occasions, not every game.
We're (blessedly) a pluralistic society. In the aftermath of the attacks, we needed a venue that unified us, that allowed us to
jointly express our feelings. Baseball provided that -- it was ceremony for people who don't all believe in the same things.
Now, it's just empty tradition -- it's lost its meaning. It's calculated, schlocky.
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We're almost 8 years past 9/11/2001 but too many people died that day to think about discontinuing this memorial.
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What for? It's been eight years, and they're still "hockin a chynik" with it Enough already!
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When we rise for the national anthem at the start of the game, we are already showing our love and respect for our flag and
country. Now, the 7th has become more solemn. I believe that since 9/11, we have been pushed into a "with us or against
us" mentality. Standing and singing, "God bless America", in my opinion, seems like a loyalty oath.
While I like the song a lot, I have gotten pretty tired of how it's been substituted for the more traditional (and fun) "Take Me
Out to the Ballgame." The time for patriotism is at the start of the game, when we sing the Star-Spangled Banner, not threefourths of the way through the game when we need an excuse to stand and stretch.
While I like the song and its admiration for the USA, I feel it has been appropriated for nefarious purposes. No longer is the
song sung as an ode to one's country. It is now seemingly sung as a jingoistic "America is better than the others" anthem.
While I think it's appropriate to honor our country during baseball games, I feel like we already do that at the beginning with
the singing of the national anthem. It may have made sense immediately after the Sept. 11th attack, but we've mourned and
moved on. This is not to say we've forgotten or ever will but the it seems the singing of God Bless America at baseball
games is specifically done to commemorate those who died in the attacks. At some point we need to move on.
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While the song does have tradition in that game of baseball, I think "Take Me Out the Ballgame" has more tradition
While, I understand the reasoning for the addition after September 11, 2001, I feel it's overkill. "Take Me Out to the Ballgame"
belongs in the 7th inning stretch. And "The Star Spangled Banner" belongs at the beginning.
Yankees do it a bit too much - every game at the 7th inning is a lot. Maybe bring it out for special occasions but it's overkill in
its present state.
"Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack", sing a stanza or two of 'God Bless America' Now I don't care if my team ever will
win that...
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a nice tribute, during america's pastime.
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adds hint of patriotism
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america past time
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America's game is baseball.
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American Sport, American song.
Anything that allows us to step away for a minute or two and be united, regardless of what team we're cheering for, is good.
Besides, singing Yankee Doodle Dandy wouldn't fly at Fenway.
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As an inherently American sport, such a prideful song does no harm if sung during the 7th inning stretch.
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As I already mentioned: Yankees Fans never forget!
At first (for the first few years after the 9/11 attacks) I loved it. By 2009, however, it seems kind of arbitrary. However, as a
veteran of the US Army, I appreciate the many ways that MLB supports the military and veterans.
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Baeball is America's game.
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Baseball is "America's past time" it seems fitting.
Baseball is a very patriotic sport, its America's past time. I think the song instills in fans, or at least in me, a sense of pride in
my country and a reminder of the privileges and freedoms that we have (such as baseball) that other countries do not have.
Baseball is about as American an icon can be, I consider it to be a huge part of our social history. At an event like a baseball
game where 50,000 people are brought together by their love of a sport or support of a particular team; I think it is important
to take a moment and remember that we are all united in a deeper and (in my opinion) more important way too.
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Baseball is America
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Baseball is America, and this song is America in a nutshell - it's very appropriate.
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Baseball is America's game and Americans should sing the song to it.
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Baseball is America's game and the song unites both themes of patriotism and pride (of your country and team).
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baseball is America's pastime
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Baseball is america's pastime and God Bless America is a reflection of our country. Therefore the two go hand in hand.
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Baseball is America's pastime and that connection can never be destroyed.
Baseball is America's pastime and therefore it makes sense to play a song about America. Also playing God Bless America
helps the never forget sentiment about 9/11 in the USA.
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Baseball is America's Pastime, so it makes sense to sing it during the seventh inning stretch
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Baseball is America's pastime.
Baseball is America's pastime. I enjoy singing The Star-Spangled Banner before the umpire shouts "play ball" and I like
singing "God Bless America" during the 7th-inning stretch. It reminds me how thankful I am to be at a ballpark in a wondrous
country watching baseball.
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Baseball is America's sport.
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Baseball is an American pastime and it seems appropriate.
Baseball is quintessentially American. It should bring people together. Liberal or Conservative. The destructive types who
complain, are just that, destructive types. The hell with them.
Baseball is the "American Pastime" and although we also sing the Star Spangled Banner, God Bless America is a short song
that can be sung quickly while still honoring our country
Baseball is the American pastime. Especially right after 9/11, the playing of it helped to remind people of how there are things
going on which are threatening our way of life and there are people out there fighting for our freedom.
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Baseball, hot dogs, apple pie. Baseball is part of America's history and culture, so the song God Bless America certainly fits.
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Becoming a more recent tradition
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Being of my generation, I still think of baseball as "America's Pastime", and therefore the song seems appropriate.
Carry over from the Yankees/D'Backs World Series; Yankees are "America's Team"; attacks happened in NY, many fans at
game personally affected; etc.
For a while these were important moments after 9/11 - now I am comfortable with "God Bless America": only being
performed on Sundays. It doesn't need to be performed at every game.
God Bless America adds about 60 seconds to a baseball game. I think it's worth it. The National Anthem is also played
before every game.
Hits home on the symbolism of a baseball as an integral part (though there are many pasttimes that are as integral) of the
fabric and history of our country
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honor america
I am a huge baseball fan. A yankee fan at that. Baseball is more or less an American sport. From what I understand the
Yankees are the only team to play this song every 7th inning still to this day. I view it as a moment of remembrance and the
pride we should embrace as being part of this country. It's a nice catch to do in the middle of an entertainment event.
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I am not opposed to pause during a baseball game to honor our servicemen and women. it is a wonderful gesture.
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I don't believe it should be compulsory for a team to have to play it.
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I don't mind it. It's better than take me out to the ballgame.
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I enjoy group signs of patriotism at ballparks where we play America's game.
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I enjoy hearing people sing about outr country, and show pride in being an American.
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I enjoy honoring our country and what we stand for.
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I have no problem with it being played during the 7th inning stretch, it is as American as baseball
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I like baseball and I like the song. I wish it wasn't recorded.
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i like it
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I like it - why not?
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I like it b/c the yankees started it as a tradition considering it's proximity to history
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I like it played at baseball games, but i would rather hear "Take Me Out To The Ballgame".
I like it sung every now and then. I wouldn't mind hearing it instead of the official anthem in the beginning of a game. I like
"America the beautiful" just as much and would like to hear that as well or part of a rotation of 3 songs
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I like it, but don't think it is needed every game
I like it, but every game is a little excessive. Maybe just night games or just day games or only playoff, or interleague, or big
games against Boston and Mets or something like that. It loses its meaning when it is played every single game.
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I like it, but maybe not at every game. It has become a little over the top at Yankees games.
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I Like it, it doesn't do any harm
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I like it. I didnt know all teams did it. I thought it was just the Yankees. I still kinda do.
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I like it. It seems to fit with our national pastime. Best when used only on Sundays.
I like the association between baseball and America. Baseball is part of US history, even though it was originally a British
game.
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I like the song
I like the song and therefore don't mind it being played. While I like it, I wouldn't necessarily miss it if it was not played
anymore. I don't understand, however, people being adamantly against it being played.
I think 9/11 is something that should be part of our consciousness and inclusion in baseball games is one way to help people
remember.
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i think it gives people a moment to stop and think about things
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I think it is a good venue for people to come together and salute america
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I think it is a nice song that unifies people at ball games
I think it is a nice way to remember the troops abroad. I love the Yankees using the Kate Smith rendition of it as it fits with
the tradition of the team.
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I think it is fine. The crowd seems to participate willingly
I think it is nice especially during times of war to take the time to acknowledge those fighting for the freedoms we have
including sitting in a stadium to watch a baseball game. It unites the majority of the crowd regardless of the team you are
rooting for. I do think people should be allowed to not participate if they choose.
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I think it is nice that our country is recognized in that fashion.
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I think it provides a nice break in the baseball game other than the "take me out to the ball game" singing
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I think it was definitely cool when it started, but now it's rather cliche.
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I think it's a good idea. It's not really a religious thing, and people don't have to sing it if they don't want to.
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I think it's a nice tribute, when done occasionally and on special days.
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I think it's nice. Not entirely necessary, but baseball is America's game.
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I think its appropriate for New York Yankee games because 9/11 occurred in New York and the Yankees were the team that
started the trend, and to my knowledge, are one of the only teams that continues to play it every game.
I'm ambivalent about whether it's included or not. I can't see the song as offensive, however and that's where I see this
survey headed (I may be very wrong). If someone doesn't like it, that's about a minute and a half of pain. I get that in
spades with the music that's played at every sporting event I've ever been to.
I'm basically in favor of MORE public displays of real patriotism, not less.
Isn't this America's game? Why not then sing a song singing some of the praises of this country? I think pride in our nation
is far too little and maybe this will help stir a little pride in our country rather than so many places trying to come up with more
divisions.
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It allows people who want to a chance to display their feelings beisde the Star Spangle Banner @ the beginning of the game.
it brings me back to when I was a kid playing. They played it at little league All-Star tournaments in the 5th inning stretch and
when I was a little older at American Legion baseball Tournaments at the Seventh Inning stretch. All before 911
It creates a feeling of unity and patriotism. Everyone, even the players, participate, whereas when everyone is watching the
game, they're doing their own thing.
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It helps to remind us of the men and women of the armed forces and what they are doing for our country.
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It increases the feeling of cohesiveness of the crowd in the stadium.
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It is a nice tradition during the 7th inning stretch and break in the action of the game.
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It is not offensive to anyone and our country was based upon God's blessings on America.
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It pays tribute to the fallen
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It roots us in two American institutions.
It served a great purpose after 9-11, but now it should only be sung only on patriotic occasions. There is no reason to play it
every game, as there is too much jingoism involved. Also, the crowds simply are not as moved by it as they were in the year
following the attacks.
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It serves as a great reminder of how blessed we are as a nation and how integrated baseball is with our national identity.
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It should be our National Anthem
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It shows that this is Americas past-time.
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It's a good reminder of 9/11 and the wars that followed it.
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It's a good reminder of what our country is about
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It's a historical song, part of our tradition, just like baseball. It fits
It's a nice gesture, and a fine community-oriented tradition... in the same vein as singing the national anthem. There are men
and women fighting on our behalf overseas, so it's nice to pay tribute to them in our moment of leisure.
It's a nice gesture, makes people reflect. Baseball is "America's game" so to speak so I like that we can hear this song at
games.
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It's a nice touch. Plus it adds a homefield advantage.
It's a nice tribute to our country, but I feel that singing it at EVERY game is probably a little too much. I just don't like the fact
that some people try to make this a political thing. Yucky Liberals.
It's a positive new tradition brought on by 9-11 as a way to remember our loss. I prefer it over fare such as Take Me Out To
The Ballgame & Sweet Caroline although they certainly have their place in the game as well.
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It's a reminder to think of the troops during this time.
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It's America's past time...but it shouldn't be played so much. The Yankees overdo it.
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It's Americas Pastime and its a 2 Minute song during a 4 hour game
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It's fine, I mean, why not?
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It's fine. Doesn't hurt the game or fan experience at all.
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It's nice that everyone sings along.
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It's nice to see all the players and fans honoring America.
it's nice to take a break from the frivilousness of baseball and keep america in our thoughts during the game. we should all
be supporting our country and troops.
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It's nice, as I like the song, though it may be a bit overused.
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It's not any different than singing the national anthem at the beginning of the game
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its good bonding for the fans
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its just a feel good song to pick ya up
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Its OK for AMERICA'S past time to celebrate a bit of patriotism while we are at war.
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Just don't think its a big deal -- I like it because its a nice song, but its not all that important to me.
More of a Yankee tradition. The attacks, affecting New York families the most, needed a commemoration by the Yankees,
and this is what they decided to do. I consider it a Yankee thing as much as the Cubs have guests/celebrities in the booth to
lead the crowd in singing "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" at Wrigley. If it is sung consistently outside of Yankee Stadium, I
didn't really notice.
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Nice to see a group of people together celebrating America and baseball is teh American pastime.
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Patriotic - National Pastime
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Patriotisim
Personally, I just see the song being played as a way to remember September 11 and also as a way to pay tribute to those
who serve. As a life-long Yankee fan, I have come to know that the Yankees are very aware of the sacrifice of all of the
servicemen and women. They often give away free tickets to those in uniform/honor them before the game.
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Please, not at the 7th inning stretch of Cubs games. I prefer "Take Me Out to the Ballgame." Before the game starts is better.
Re: aforementioned description. Including this an an event that is "apple pie American" just seems to fit. Also, since baseball
games are traditionally begun with the national anthem, a little "refresher" late in the game is a nice touch.
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Reminds me of out culture of equating baseball with america, tradition and other prideful feelings.
Seems appropriate. In the song, "America" is a proxy for the U.S.A., not the continent. It is musically more pleasing thatn the
National Anthem - especially the Kate Smith version.
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shows patriotism
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Shows respect.
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Sometimes it does get old....
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Song makes me feel proud to be an American and is a fine way to remember 9-11
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Sure beats "YMCA" or "Cotton-eyed Joe"
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take a break from the game
The break for the song provides an opportunity to publicly express my feelings about the US. I enjoy the feeling of unity with
other people in this expression at a ball game.
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The Yankees play it out of respect to the soldiers and first responers, and I agree.
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The Yankees use it and continually show their support to our troops and the wars we are fighting.
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They go together...you know.. like... baseball, hot dogs,apple pie, Chevrolet...and the USA!
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This is America- if at a foreign game, I gues they sing some nationalistic ditty.
To take a mere 2-3 minutes to offer people a time of reflection is not big deal whether it is offered, used, or ignored by a
portion of it's participants.
We all need to be reminded that we are a nation at war. Every American should relish the opportunity to stand up and pay
respect to our great nation.
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We are Americans
We are Americans,and whether we agree or disagree with the politcal atmosphere, I think we can agree that we the country
can use, if not prayers, then positive thoughts. It is a harmless inclusion if you don't feel that way.
We have the national anthem before the game and the 7th inning playing of it is in line.Of ocurs ethey could also do a take
me out ot the ball game song as well.
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we should realize that we have the freedom to enjoy baseball in this country because of its foundation
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As baseball is the national pasttime the singing of the song is quite fitting
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In our recreation, we are reminded of the freedom we have to enjoy it.
"Take Me Out to the Ball Game" was the old standard for the seventh-inning stretch, mostly due to Harry Caray and the
Chicago Cubs. When "God Bless America" is sung, it reminds me to stop every now and then to remember the fight for
LIberty and how important it is to stop each day to think of the price that has been paid.
Adds to the 7th inning stretch...gives fans a chance to remember those who are serving our country during the baseball
game
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America's past-time is a great place to our appreciation
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America's Pastime = Gotta represent the homeland of the game
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America's pastime.
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any time we can be patroitic and realize how truly god has blessed us it is a good thing
As a Yankee fan and a New Yorker, it reminds everyone there of the heroism displayed on 9/11. It also brings back the
image of GWB throwing out the first pitch after the attack.
As I said before, it's a great song, and it brings everybody together. I didn't know that it is now sung at all professional
baseball games.
At first I thought it was just baseball or whoever trying to improve their image by showing off how patriotic it was, and I was at
first against it (against it being at the games, not against the song). Its a 7th inning tradition at the Washington Nationals
games. I do not know how many other ballparks still play it. I was curious about that when I was recently at a game in
Baltimore, where they didn't play it, and that felt so awkward to me. To me now, its more part of baseball than even the
opening pitch.
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At Yankee Stadium it is sung to honor those who have served their country both in the past and in the present
Baseball and patrotism have a long, historic past. Baseball has endured as our "national pastime" and there remains a bit of
nostalgia at every game. The connection between the song and our nation's history come together every game and helps
remind people what our nation is all about.
baseball apple pie and chevrolet america pastime
Baseball has always been "America's Pasttime". Baseball has always been associated w/ playing the Star Spangled Banner
at the beginning of a game & now another patriotic song at the 7th inning stretch (though only on Sunday now).
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Baseball has been referred to and considered our "National Pastime", so it seemed natural and fitting to me to have it
inserted / included during the 7th Ining Stretch. Again, it's a large, communal expression of shared gratitude about the
Country we live in.
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Baseball is "the great American passtime... and this is a great song about an even greater country
Baseball is (or at least was) the national pastime of this country. The song isn't overly complex, like the Star Spangled
Banner, and being tied to baseball just makes it all seem more simplistic and comfortable.
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Baseball is America's game and it is a great way to show our love for our country.
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Baseball is America's game, why not add to that atmosphere.
Baseball is America's Game. God Bless America is an American song, and as previously stated, a song about love for one's
country. It is understandable that the two would fit so nicely together.
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Baseball is America's game. What better song to play, than God Bless America?
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Baseball is America's National Pasttime. It fits very well to sing "God Bless America" during it.
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Baseball is America's past time and it is a good time to remember how blest we are.
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Baseball is America's past time and the country should be honored during every game.
Baseball is America's past time, both America and the sport have growth together and they should be incorperated with one
another
Baseball is America's past time. Everyone knows that, and even the president said so himself. America supports baseball
and baseball should support America.
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Baseball is America's past-time. Especially while we are at war, it is a good thing to appreciate soldiers.
Baseball is America's pastime and I feel a song used to celebrate our country should be sung at every game. Many people
don't arrive in time to hear the national anthem so to play God Bless America during the seventh inning stretch is another
way to pay tribute to the soldiers and servicemen around the world.
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Baseball IS America's pastime so we should require sing it regularly..
Baseball is America's pastime, and I think its great to create a tradition of honoring our country and the men and women who
keep us free.
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Baseball is America's pastime. It should be sung all the time in national events such as baseball games.
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Baseball is America's pasttime and the song is a good way to celebrate America and its traditions.
Baseball is America's pasttime. It is a great tribute to our country. A country which enables us to freely move, express our
view, and jsut allows us to attend a ball game if we want to
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Baseball is America's sport, adding more of an American flavor to it is good.
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Baseball is American's game. God Bless America is America's song. It is also a time when many Americans come together.
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Baseball is Americas game!
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baseball is americas pastime we should honor the country we love
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Baseball is Americas pasttime; so hey God Bless America
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Baseball is an American summer classic. The song fits it perfectly!
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Baseball is as American as you can get. It fits.
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Baseball is our game
Baseball is our great American pastime and there is no better place for it to be sung than a baseball game, and singing at the
7th inning stretch is great in my opinion.
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baseball is our nation's sport more than any other sport by the number of people who watch it.
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baseball is our national past time
Baseball is the American Pastime and I think there is no better song to sing then God Bless American as it has more
meaning then some stupid song like Take Me Out To The Ballgame.
Baseball is the great American pass time. We sing the national anthem before the first pitch. Why not sing God Bless
America during the seventh inning stretch?
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Baseball is the national pastime
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Baseball is the national pastime, it is a fitting way to celebrate America.
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Baseball is the U.S.'s greatest pastime. Why not sing a patriotic song?
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Baseball is very American and we should recognize our country during the game.
Because baseball is a truly American game. Also it gives people a sense of pride. It should be sung at all American public
events along with the Stars Bangle Banner.
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Because I love both and have a high regard for both
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Because it creates a sense of bonding and comraderie, even with the republicans I despise.
Because it has been pushed out of every other public arena and I don't know why. If you don't want to sing it, don't sing it. It
isn't pushing anything on anyone.
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because it shows theYankee s support.
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Because its America's song sung at America's Pastime
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Especially in NY - it helps us remember and support the people still fighting to keep us safe.
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Everyone at baseball games are fortunate to be there because of the country we live in, the sacrifices made by those who
came before us. It engenders pride and a sense nationalism when sung and I feel it's appropriate, especially considering
baseball is our national past time.
For a start it is their choice to add the song. Second I believe it is a good song to play at the game because if Baseball can
do anything it is to unite Americans
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Gives one great pride in this great country
Having experienced this personally many times as the 7th-inning performer, I find that this piece is more well received than
the SSB.
I am a huge baseball fan. I feel it is a part of American life. To stop what is happening in the game and have everyone sing
together (fans of both teams) is a beautiful thing.
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I am impressed the way NY Yankees fans sing it and hold up flags, game after game. It doesn't seem to wear out.
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I believe it makes everyone reflect on the freedooms and liberties that this country give us.
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I believe that this is a tremendious idea.
I did not realize its addition to the game was so recent. I assumed it had always been sung on Sundays at baseball games.
Its tradition.
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I feel it reminds people that God has blessed our country and we have the freedom to enjoy things like baseball as a result.
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I feel it should be song (especially in New York) because of 9/11
I feel its a small way to honor the troops. Its not over done and its just a small reminder to everyone that the world is very
different than it was before 9/11.
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I like anything to be more patriotic.
I like it in the context of Yankee stadium.I liked how they started playing it during it during the 7th inning stretch at Yankee
stadium. Sept 11th is one of the first things that come to mind when someone mentions NYC, and the second thing are the
Yankees. So I think it's only appropriate and fitting to play this song during the 7th inning stretch
I like the fact that we can take a few seconds in the middle of a game, during a part of the game that is set aside as a "stretch
out and relax" part and remember our military.
I like the idea of America's Pastime paying homage to America, especially on days like Memorial Day, Independence day,
and September 11th.
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I like to sing!! :) Better done in conjunction with Take Me Out To The Ball Game
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i love baseball, love america, love the idea of people singing about america.
I miss the word GOD being in our language. It was taken out of the court oath (i.e. "so help me God." I even missed it at my
divorce hearing!) America is afraid of reciting the Pledge of Allegiance -- so as not to offend anyone -- so if baseball games
want to include a song with GOD in it and taking pride in our country -- like baseball, mom and apple pie -- than I say go for
it! And a double Amen!
I myself sang it during the stretch in a minor league game last week It'sa good opportunity to get people in a patriotic frame of
mind.
I think God Bless America should be played at all baseball games. Baseball is an American sport, to me baseball is as
patriotic as John Wayne, hot dogs, and apple pie. Plus, I really do hope God will bless America, we could really use it.
I think I covered this one above but to add some more, I think the playoffs after 9-11 in New York, and with the sitting
president throwing at the pitch at the games, and it being a strike actually tied all together and meant something to a lot of
the people in this country and that everything would work out for us.
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I think it a great tribute to the men and women that worked tirelessly at Ground Zero
I think it is a great show of love for our country and a plee for God (and it does not specify which God) to continue to guide
and protect us.
I think it is appropriate to reflect on our great country and to appreciate all that we have, including the ability to spend a night
enjoying a ball game
I think it is important for thounsands of people to hear the song on a daily basis. It reminds them of those people who we
have lost to be the kind of country we are today. Plus, baseball is Americans sport.
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I think it is nice to get the crowd to feel a bit patriotic.
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i think it is nice to honor america and remember 9/11
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I think it is very appropriate to play in a public venue like a baseball game.
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i think it reminds people of how lucky they are to live in this great country.
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I think it's a very American song and baseball is America's past time.
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I think its great to hear people all sing together, The unity when thousands of people are singing together is uplifting
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I think taking a few minutes to honor the country and soldiers is the least we can do
I think that it forces people to take a minute or two and come together as a group to think about how great our country really
is and how lucky we are to live here.
I think to many people forget why we have what we have and most people need reminded of God and that we enjoy many
god given gifts in this country that most wish to forget !!
I understand why and how people want "God Bless America" to stop at Yankee games, but I personally feel its only a minute
of your life to reflect and join as one to be thankful for living in this country. There are soldiers risking their life for me over
seas, who am I to complain about a one minute song about my country they're defending?
I wrote The Cultural Encyclopedia of Baseball, my dad knew Kate Smith and worked on her radio show (she was the
inspiration for "It ain't over till the Fat Lady sings.") and so I had a special feeling about the song because of the connection to
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my dad. I loved hearing the song at the Stretch, as it gave me goosebumps and was inspirational.
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I'm a season ticket holder to the NY Yankees and think it's a good reminder to all that we still have to defend our freedom
and our way of life.
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i'm from nj - right outside of nyc. i like that the yankees remember the day every game.
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If you have to explain it,you don't get the point. Is it too much to show respect for this country after so many gave so much?
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It adds a spirit to the game and reminds you that it is America's pastime.
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It allows a moment to think about all the armed services
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It beats the Star Spangled Banner.
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It brings people together in a positive tone about their nation.
It doesn't take any real length of time, and reminds us those who are in harms way. This is markedly different from the Star
Spangled Banner (which is mostly sung incorrectly).
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It feels good.
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It gives a great feeling of togetherness.
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It has become part of history now
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It is 30 seconds of your life, not that long to express patriotism towards America.
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It is a harmless tradition that expresses patriotic feelings.
It is a reminder that our country is in need of protection and an opportunity for many many voices to come together and
express their love for country.
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It is a tradition that helps children connect with patriotism.
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It is always good in these times to have liberals like Obama in office to sing patriotic songs
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It is America pass time and it is to tribute those lost in 9/11
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It is America's pastime, why not play it.
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It is fitting to pause and reflect on our blessings.
It is great to sing a traditional song about our country and I like that God isn't taken out of baseball or anything else. Religious
freedom was why the pilgrims came over here in the first place.
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It is soothing for those with patriotic feelings. perhaps it will make less patrliotic people think differently
It makes everyone more aware of this free and beautiful country (America) that we are lucky to be part of. I strongly feel that
if anyone does not like the country (America), they have the freedom to leave America.
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It reminds me of 9/11 and it's a nice tradition to keep
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it reminds me of some of my favorite baseball memories. plus i dont see a reason to not sing it anymore.
It should be played to honor America, just like God Save the Queen should be played in Toronto. Most kids will be able to
learn something from it during a ball game.
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It shows a respect to our country and the freedom that we have to get to go and play these sports
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It shows a sense of community that the fans of both teams share with each other.
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It shows baseballs dedication to their country, and that they respect it.
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It shows how great America is, everyone should celebrate it.
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It's a great song. Combining it with America's favorite pastime seems like a great combination.
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It's a more stirring way to honor the country, in my opinion, than the Star-Spangled Banner.
It's a nice moment with the flags in the stands and people standing together singing as one. Also, it doesn't take very long,
even when Ronan Tynan sings it, so I do not understand why it's an issue. However, I would not be opposed to it becoming a
Friday night tradition or used only in big games (rivalries/playoffs).
It's a reminder that we still have troops fighting over seas. People seem to forget that, and I think anything that can remind
people of that is a good thing.
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It's America
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It's America's game, it's nice to have something in common with everyone in the stadium
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It's America's past time, perfect venue to be played
It's become a tradition, baseball is America's sport and favorite past time. Baseball unites people, it's important to take a few
minutes out of every game to honor everyone who has given something to this country.
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It's great, nice to remember the soilders.
It's not necessarily that it is included in baseball games that makes it significant, its the fact that it is played in a public forum
period. People should hear the song and recognize it and its historical context and importance and know that at our core, we
are a Judeo-Christian nation and we will stray far from that core at our own peril.
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It's now tradition.
It's our national past time, and I think the game represents a lot what we stand for, as the greatest nation on earth. Plus it's a
little reminder that we are all just one great nation under G-D.
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It's patriotic. We are a people whose Constitution allows us to freely assemble.
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It's respectful of the the soldiers that are fighting...they need us to unify on certain things and that song helps do that.
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It's the least we can do to honor all those who have given their lives for our freedom.
It's the national past-time and it's a very patriotic song. Many people aren't even in their seats yet when the national anthem
is sung before the game, including me. I like it because it makes me stop and appreciate that it is just a game, after all, and
how lucky we are that we get to watch the game and appreciate it for what it is.
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It's what America is about. Sunday baseball games, bbqs, and me and my dad watching the game...
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its short and simple and pays respect to our great country
Its the right thing to do as we are a free country able to play baseball which is the country national pastime. Baseball owes
alot to our freedom and country attributes.
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Its the right thing to do.
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Makes fans remember the sacrifice others make for our freedom.
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mountains, prairies, oceans, and baseball.... all of the great qualities of our country
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never forget 9/11
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No explanation needed, just look in the stands
Not all stadiums play this song. Where I live in NY, it is always played at Yankees games, but Mets play "Take Me Out to the
Ball Game". Baseball is America's pasttime, and patriotic songs are a good fit.
Over time, Americans always forget their history and repeat their mistakes. When it comes to important things, they always
do something for a while and then cease. People die without a name and are forgotten much to quickly. It shouldn't have to
be this way- September 11th still impacts probably more than 75% of the living Americans in a direct way and it doesn't hurt
to spend 2 minutes at a ballgame reminding people that it did happen and we should be recognizing and thinking about the
people that perished during the tragedy (and I'm not ultra-patriotic).
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Part of America's thread.
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Patriotic.
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People could simply stop playing it, but especially in New York it is important to not forget-
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people should never forget were we are and where we come from.
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Perfect setting
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Proud to be American
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Refer to answer #9
Regardless of how much more popular some other sports claim to be (NFL, NASCAR), baseball is still our national pastime,
and as such, "God Bless America" serves to accentuate that very fact.
reminds us how good we have it and that there are some people out there fighting to allow us to enjoy things in life, such as
baseball games, often with no recognition whatsoever.
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Ronan Tynan's 7th inning version is like Apple Pie to American heritage. It belongs there!
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Same thoughts as above. I like celebrating the USA.
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Stop the game for a few minutes to honor the servicemen and women that protect our freedom
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The fans all stand and it is a sense of togetherness
The game is considered "America's pastime." The song is so American, shouldn't they just automatically go together? The
only thing missing is the apple pie.
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The purpose is stated before they sing......that they take the time to remember our service folks..........
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The song honors America
There are many people -- primarily the miserable Pete Abraham of LoHud -- who complain about this song being played
during ballgames because it "takes too much time" and he also mocks the patriotism of the New York Yankees, who are the
only remaining baseball team who plays the song. It's stunning to me that this rotund fool cannot understand that New York
was the site of the 9/11 attacks and that the song has a profound meaning for us. To me, it is like saying "We won't forget
you" -- "you" being the three thousand people who died that day. I feel that playing the song during the seventh-inning
stretch is a little tip of the cap to the heroes who sacrificed their lives that day. Surely we can give them a few minutes of our
time. Selfish people like Peter Abraham obviously cannot see beyond their own interests to understand this.
There are so many other distractions that have taken baseball away from being America's game, so it is good to have this
song included.
There aren't very many venues in which to sing the National Anthem or songs like God Bless America. I think the song goes
along with baseball and apple pie and gives you a good feeling inside.
This is great for the next group of fans as they grow up and see that we as a nation still lead the world when it comes to help
and freedom.
To my knowledge only the Yankees perform it every game. At Fenway, the only other park I attend, it's done on weekends, I
think.
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To thank the Armed Forces for letting us have the ability to watch and play these games
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We live in the greatest country in the world and should honor it and baseball is America's Pasttime.
We need a lot more respect for this country and the fans are displaying our flag all over Yankee Stadium during the playing
and fans stand at attention with caps over their hearts
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We need unifying events to remind us that we're all Americans despite differences in politics. We don't get a lot of non- 4th
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of July activities that are consistent around the country.
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We should be reminded that with out our Troops and Freedom . there is NO baseball
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We should honor those serving.
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We should never forget what happened on 9/11.
We should take a moment to acknowledge all the blessings we have gotten in this country. I do wish it was played in the
beginning of the game instead of the star spangled banner.
Where else can you get 45,000 people to sing it all at once? That's why... and because baseball was the only thing that
seemed normal again after 9/11
While baseball has spread over a lot of the world it is still very much an American game and embodies a lot of what I feel
America stands for, therefore the two go hand in hand in my opinion.
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Why not?
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Why not? It's a nice tradition. Even if it only gives one person in the Stadium time to pause and reflect, it's worthwhile.
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Why not.
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without America's freedom and liberty we wouldn't be able to attend baseball games
You take a moment during the game to reflect on the men & women who are protecting our country on a daily basis here and
abroad.
although it doesn't bother me that it is sung at the games, there's something forced about it. when God Bless America
becomes a regular part of every MLB game, then somthing is lost. it becomes less "special" because it is forced. it also takes
something away from the customary performance of the "Star-Spangled Banner" which should be highlighted at the start of
every game.
It's a baseball game not a United States rally or political gathering. Singing the National Anthem before the start of the game
is one thing, I'm not sure how that tradition got started and I'm not sure I understand it but I guess we are honoring our
country. God Bless America should not be included in baseball games.
We should not have a song like that forced upon us in a public setting like this. It is almost a way of peer pressure as it
makes people try to conform to nationalistic tendencies without having them think for themselves. This is done because
when someone sees 50 thousand people singing a song they will want to be included and join in.
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