American citizen and atheist Brad Campeau-Laurion was at a Yankee’s game when during the 7th inning stretch the song “God Bless America” was played. He got up to take a bathroom break before the game resumed and was told by a police officer that he had to remain in his seat until the song was over. He refused and was then restrained by two police officers and kicked out of the stadium. Brad said: “I do not believe in God, nor am in support of this country to a degree of patriotic fanaticism. The fact that I wanted to use the restroom instead of standing through God Bless America should not be grounds for a forcible ejection from a baseball game.” Read more here.
Now, not being a baseball fan myself I had no idea that after 9/11 that many stadiums picked up the practice of playing “God Bless America” during the 7th inning stretch. I also had no idea that as an American citizen one could be escorted out of any building for not showing reverence during the playing of a song.
The song itself “God Bless America” is not even our national anthem. Our national anthem is the “Star-Spangled Banner”. Maybe, those who subscribe to our nation’s patriotic fervor would do well to remember that.