Some observations from my conference trip to Atlanta:
I went to the annual conference for my professional association this past week in Atlanta. In general, I like going to this conference. The sessions include all kinds of topics on higher education research (my field) and range from best practices regarding assessment of student learning to how to predicting which students are likely to persist to degree completion, to how to use results from various national student surveys, and how changes in state/federal regulations affect institutions, etc. It's an international conference too - so our 'keynote' address was actually four speakers - two from the US, one from Canada and one from Europe's Eurostat to talk about the problems of researching education in a global world where we collect different information in different ways. I know, probably sounds like a snoozer to all of you, but I found it interesting.
I get to catch up with people I know from all over the place - some of whom I meet at these conferences, some of whom used to work in Illinois and moved elsewhere. It's usually a pretty good time.
Outside the conference, I spent some time in the hotel pool and taking a walk to Atlanta's Centennial Olympic Park and the conference arranged for a block of tickets to the Atlanta Braves game. I normally don't go to the baseball outing at the conference, but it was the CUBS, so I had to. Not that I really follow baseball really, but it was fun. Of course, the Cubs blew what could have been a shut-out game. The highlight of the game though, was that there were as many Cubs fans in the stands as Braves fans - and at one point a two-run homer by the Braves was thrown BACK on the field by Cubs fans... we laughed SO hard.
Another observation from the baseball game: What the fuck is it with singing "God Bless America" at the 7th Inning Stretch?????? I know it's the South, but come ON people. You must insert politics into what is supposed to be a fun time?? I don't even know the words to God Bless America, and frankly, don't care to. I don't think any God takes sides regarding man-made nation-states. Fuck that noise.
I'll post some pictures later.
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The highlight of the game though, was that there were as many Cubs fans in the stands as Braves fans - and at one point a two-run homer by the Braves was thrown BACK on the field by Cubs fans... we laughed SO hard.
Braves fans should be ashamed.
As for God Bless America, I think it's a much prettier song than our National Anthem. The Star Spangled Banner, I'm sorry, but it's really not that pretty of a song. The vocal lines are not that good.
I know how you feel about religion, but just say you wrote your own lyrics to it. You have to admit it's a much prettier melody than the Star Spangled Banner.
Oh, the South is like that - very religious, very patriotic.
As for the conference, yeah, I probably would have caught up on my sleep. No offense. Learning about Education isn't my thing.
From what I understand, the Cubs are the only ones that sing "Take me out to the Ballgame" at the stretch. everyone else sings "God Bless America," even the Sox.
Well, I've accepted the National Anthem as matter of fact at sports games - though I honestly don't understand the need to sing THAT either - aside from drumming up jingoistic patriotism. If it were a real international thing - then I could see, but all but 2(?) teams are American - do we really need to sing it at games?
I'm fine with religion on it's own. It's when religion gets "innocently" injected into politics, nationalism, or public affairs that I start to get ruffled. At least the Star Spangled Banner doesn't mention God...
They did sing "Take me Out" after GBA - I wonder if that was just for the Cubs?
I'm so with you on "God Bless America". I'm so pissed that our culture has become so jingoistic and conflates Christianity with patriotism. It makes people feel that they are not patriotic if they don't believe in pushing God. And that's bullshit. I talked about it about a month or so ago:
God Bless America
Glad you had a good time at the conference. I usually do enjoy conferences that I go to.
I remember reading your post on that. I didn't comment at the time, but I remember it.
I should have gotten up to get a beer during that time - if I'd known that was coming...
If you don't like it, don't go to the games. No-one forced you to go. If they want to sing any particular song during a game in Atlanta or anywhere else, that is their right.
I'm not saying it's not their right. I'm saying I don't like it - and I can STILL not like it AND go to games. I still maintain, though, that anyone who believes that "God" takes sides in national politics is a fucking idiot.
A Different Opinion -- Don't be such a tool. By your reasoning, nobody would ever be allowed to complain or bring up anything. Baseball has zero to do with God. It would be a greater mistake to NOT bring up that fact. "God Bless America" has only been sung in regularity at ballgames since 9/11. It's time to move on. To continue playing the song at this point has more to do with jingoism and forcing God down people's throats.
It would be more like expressing your opinion and less like trying to force your way onto others if it did not contain profanity. The use of "fuck" in the opinion leads one to believe that it is a feeble mind trying to express itself forcibly and is totally unnecessary.
That all depends on how you view profanity. I don't see the use of profanity as "forcing" others into my opinion, rather I use it for emphasis. You can read into it what you wish.
By your own logic, if you don't like what you're reading, shouldn't you just go away and not participate? That's what you suggested I do... I'm curious why it's OK for you to express your opinion on my blog but it's not OK for me to express my opinions about a fucking baseball game?
So, do you use profanity for emphasis in your speeches and papers on education?
If I dislike your opinions to the degree that you seem to be against anything that has God and America in the same sentence or phrase, then yes, I would just quit reading them.
Singing God Bless America doesn't imply that God is taking sides regarding man-made nation-states. It is asking for his blessing for the country and the people in it. It also does not insert politics into the ball game, it shows that the people of Atlanta are proud to be Americans. How do you figure that patriotism is a bad thing? That's what you are saying, just in different words.
Different language for different contexts. This blog isn't a professional forum, isn't an educational paper, and isn't an editorial column. It's a private blog, which means I can express myself in any way I damn well please.
I'm not saying patriotism or being proud of your country is a bad thing. However, when nationalistic attitudes get in the way of people being able to be objectively critical of government policies (like it did over the last 8 years) then it becomes a problem.
I'm saying that it can be expressed in different ways and that for many, like myself, it has nothing to do with God, waving flags, or singing songs. To express my patriotism, I prefer to USE the rights I have for free expression. I also believe our policies should be aligned with our values, so I rally against things like torture, corporate welfare, wars of choice, and improper funding of our Veteran's Affairs benefits.
So how did singing America the Beautiful at the Braves game depict nationalistic attitudes getting in the way of people being able to be objectively critical of government policies?
More like you don't want the people who do express their patriotism by singing to do so because you don't believe it is correct. Nevermind that the majority disagrees with you. Nevermind that is the way of our society to sing the songs. "Many" may agree with you, but the majority do not.
I'm not saying they have to agree with me. I'm merely stating my opinion, as are you.
It's not the singing itself, it's the context in which singing that particular song came about - namely post 9/11 - a time when anyone who criticized the government, policies, or the president was derided as "unpatriotic" and "patriotic" was redefined as having a Flag magnet stuck to your bumper sticker.
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