Do the political leaders in your country say, “God Bless CountryName” or anything similar when addressing the nation?

It’s very common for US presidents and other political leaders to say, “…may God Bless the United States of America.”

I didn’t even realize that. They should stop. Not everyone in the U.S. believes in their god, or any god for that matter. That’s just rude and wrong.

@smudges I thought you were American. I probably overstated by saying many politicians do it, but presidents very commonly do it. Just today in the Jan 6th hearings the chairmen Mr. Thompson said it, and that is what prompted me to ask the question.

I am American, but what does that have to do with anything? Nothing in my answer hints that I’m anything else. I’m confused as to why you would say that.

@smudges I was just surprised you haven’t heard the Presidents say it, although I have to admit I don’t specifically remember Trump saying it. That is baffling to me that I don’t have a clear memory one way or the other about whether Trump used to say it.

I rarely listen to politicians speak but I hear them say that all the time when I do. Not to mention lots of other people in different professions. Like sporting events, and school pep rallies, all over the place. I don’t mind it since I hear it so much and it doesn’t hurt anything.

trump threatens protestors to walk to church to hold a Bible

@RayaHope Do you remember Trump saying it? I am drawing a blank. I can hear in my head, Biden, Obama, Clinton, Reagan, just to name a few.

@JLeslie I really try to not listen to him much (his voice literally hurts my head) but I can’t say that I ever did. I’m sure if it would give him some kind of gain he would say it though.

I found this. It’s possible he wasn’t accustomed to saying it, because he is a New Yorker afterall. Looks like he learned to say it. https://mashable.com/article/donald-trump-god-bless-america-reagan

We used to say “Gott strafe England”.
Good old times.

Thank god, they don’t.

@JLeslie Ok, that explains it. Tbh, I don’t listen to politicians speak, so that’s why I’ve probably never heard it.

Just curious, what are your thoughts on them saying that?

My opinion is I think it is wrong that our politicians do it in a country that is supposed to have separation of church and state, but I don’t think it is worth making an issue about it. Same with In God We Trust on our bills or Christmas being one of the national holidays.

Our Presidents go to prayer breakfasts and it is covered in the news like meeting with heads of state. It has always been a little jumbled up, and if a President naturally says God Bless America, then I am not so keen on controlling what comes naturally to him or her, but it does open the way to bring religion into politics, even if it is ever so slightly.

^^ Completely agree with all you said!

Yeah, but I’m not really sure what they mean by “America” anymore. The whole “Make America Great Again” confused the hell out of me. It seems like the America God was implored to bless was a time when a lot of people had few rights and fewer opportunities.

Made me begin to wonder exactly when America was great.

God bless it.