Badin vs. Coldwater
Trotwood-Madison vs. Mt. Healthy
Area H.S. playoff teams
Local choir gets Web attention
Church group's song alluding to abortion, U.S. sin emerges on YouTube and blogs.
Comment: What do you think of the change in lyrics?
Video: Watch and listen to the choir sing
Thursday, September 20, 2007
The money still says, "In God We Trust."
But if you ask one Springfield church choir, why should He still trust us — or even bless us?
Extras
The Grand Avenue Church of God choir has had a song called "Why Should God Bless America?" in its repertoire for more than a decade.
The song is a rewrite of Irving Berlin's classic, "God Bless America."
But this week, with the choir's performance of the song in Florida at a Republican presidential debate, it officially entered the viral video age.
It turned up on YouTube and also surfaced in the blogosphere, prompting both praise and criticism.
"Most people don't know about us," explained head choir director Melanie Clark. "We're just a little congregation in Springfield, Ohio."
A little congregation — but with a mighty big message.
The song opens with the lines, "Why should God bless America? She's forgotten he exists."
References to prayer being taken out of schools and abortion ensue.
Clark said she imagines the song could be controversial.
"But those who are concerned about family values and moral values appreciate it," she said. "We didn't mean to cause any problem."
The event Monday in Fort Lauderdale was a Values Voters debate. According to ValuesVoters.com, the group is made of "voters that believe in American values." Seven of 11 GOP candidates attended, but frontrunners weren't present.
The Church of God choir was invited to perform by Janet Folger, president of the group Faith2Action.
The former legislative director of Ohio Right to Life, Folger first saw the group perform in 1996 at a pro-life rally at the then-Springfield Inn.
While not an original song, Folger thinks "everybody should hear" it, according to Clark.
"People just love it," Clark said. "We just keep getting requests for it."
Comments
By Mike Stamper
September 27, 2007 7:36 PM | Link to this
Today, the London Daily Mail newspaper reported that Saddam Hussein offered to step down one month before the war started in exchange for money and immunity. We could have saved a trillion dollars plus hundreds of thousands of American and Iraqi lives. Instead, our Christian President chose war, because he said God told him to do it. These are the insane times we live in. Killing for the sake of killing, all for the glory of God.
By Freedom Lover
September 26, 2007 7:47 PM | Link to this
I’ve watched this video countless times since I first heard it during the Value Voters Debate. It’s a powerful reminder, that our nation has turned it’s back on a Holy God. Why should He bless us while we have murdered 50 million of His children through abortion? Why should He bless us while we break His commandments? Deuteronmy 28 holds the answers.
By Mike Stamper
September 24, 2007 5:54 PM | Link to this
The post that says “I’m teh ghey” was not made by me. Someone is maliciously assuming my identity. Please remove this offensive post.
By Mike Stamper
September 24, 2007 4:10 PM | Link to this
I’m teh ghey
By Andy Lovas
September 23, 2007 6:47 PM | Link to this
How dare these people misuse this national treasure!
How dare your paper not condemn it!
By Richard
September 23, 2007 1:15 PM | Link to this
Shows just how much the right wing in this Country hates our country and our freedoms. They are the flip side of the fanatical Muslims that also hate us for our freedoms.
By busdrivermike
September 23, 2007 10:28 AM | Link to this
Why does God not give his blessings to America? Well it is quite simple. God is rich, and George Bush has not cut his taxes sufficiently. So we should give bigger tax cuts to the rich, at the expense of the poor. We can do this by cutting all the health care to poor kids. Because Mr. Bush has stated he is opposed to health care for poor kids on philosophical grounds. Since Mr. Bush talks to God, he would know.
See, it is all so simple when you are.
By Mike Stamper
September 22, 2007 1:43 PM | Link to this
Brenda, here is why I made my statement. Over the last 3 months, I have written to over 50 prominent evangelicals asking them to take a stand on Israel’s use of torture against its helpless prisoners. Only two responded. Each said that my concerns were “irrelevant”. I’m convinced that evangelicals turn a blind eye to torture and other crimes, especially the vast crime of our war against Iraq. I’m convinced that evangelicals have no concept of morality other than persecuting homosexuals.
By Brenda
September 22, 2007 10:05 AM | Link to this
Wow! I think that was GREAT. Good job!But as Christian,we know that nobody can take God out of any place. God goes to school with my kids EVERYDAY. But it is a good message. I think it is great that the song is geeting talked about so much. It is planting seed to everyone who is hearing it and talking about it.I am not sure why Mike you would make a statement like that.Other then the fact you don’t know true Christians. That is sad. Very sad.
By Mike Stamper
September 22, 2007 6:55 AM | Link to this
I can see why many would ask the question “Why should God Bless America?”. After crimes like Guantanamo, Abu Ghraib, and Haditha, it’s easy to understand why God might forsake us. Of course, that’s not what “Christians” mean. To them, God is pleased that we are torturing and murdering “the unGodly” in Iraq. What displeases God, apparently, is that we are not stoning homosexuals, “adulterers”, heretics, and blasphemers in the public square, nor forcing compulsory prayer on schoolchildren.
By Darryl
September 21, 2007 11:08 AM | Link to this
I am waiting Jessica…….. What is your solution, instead of “Whining and Crying” about what somebody says?
By Jessica
September 21, 2007 9:49 AM | Link to this
Whining and Crying about the removal of “god” from our society (which “god” by the way? Because the Christian one, he’s the baby of dietys) does not fix what you percieve as “wrong”. How about we find viable solutions to issues that don’t focus on religon or race but on humanity, decency, and doing the right thing because it is right not because a church or belief system tells you to. We have the ability to help each other is SO MANY WAYS but CHOOSE to hide behind religons and gods….
By Jessica
September 21, 2007 9:46 AM | Link to this
Yet again we have people making blanket statments and critizing but not offering any viable solutions. When will people stop running thier mouths and step up to make changes. God is not going to come down from the sky and fix the issues this country has so it is a moot point. We as a country and as citizens of this country need to take the steps to fix what we see as wrong.
By Larry Cogan
September 20, 2007 10:22 PM | Link to this
I agree with those words. Unfortunatly, 90% of African- Americans, including the ones in church - vote democrat. So they are supporting the party that promotes many of the things that this choir is lamenting in song.
By resident close to a school
September 20, 2007 7:51 PM | Link to this
All I can say is wow. At least they sing well. It just really offends me but they are aloud to speak their opinion. Freedom of speech
By EDW.F.FOWLE
September 20, 2007 2:56 PM | Link to this
OUR NATION NEEDS ALL THE HELP GOD CAN SPARE US. WE WERE FOUNDED ON CHRISTIAN VALUES AND MANY HERE AND ABROAD WANT TO DESTROY THAT CONCEPT. YOU CAN BET MOVEON.ORG WILL NEVER PLAY IT OR ACKNOWLEDGE THIS SONG ON THEIR WEB SITES.
By Stephanie M
September 20, 2007 2:30 PM | Link to this
I think the original version is very uplifting and patriotic. But I feel like people who have a close relationship with God do sometimes feel our country has lost it’s wAY. I think the song rings true in a lot of hearts. Kudos on a great vocal performance and standing up for what you believe in.
By J. Robert Holcomb
September 20, 2007 12:16 PM | Link to this
Other than to say “THAT’S WHAT MAKES AMERICA GREAT…EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO SPEAK OUT AND EXPRESS THEIR OPINION” anyone would be an idiot to step into the potential dual controversy of religion/race. Personally, I like the original version very much and find it patroitic, inspirational and uplifting.