"God is an American."

[Cyrano]

Back in about 1968, there was a broadway show, (it may have been off-broadway), titled "Red, White and Maddox."

It was the era of the civil rights movement and Lester Maddox was a Georgia hardware store owner who handed out free axe handles with which to beat up black people. This single act made him famous and he was elected Governor of Georgia.

The show, "Red, White and Maddox," contained a song called "God is an American," sung by "good ole Lester," (who was brilliantly played by Christopher Lloyd).

And here we are, 37 years later, and our country still has millions of people who probably think that the song "God is an American," is a statement of fact.

Go figure. There's just no accounting for the heights (depths?) of stupidity that some people can achieve.

[Melodybe]

1. I thought Jesus was Jewish.

[wli]

2. I'm afraid of Americans

David Bowie's song "I'm afraid of Americans" has "God is an American" as a line in it.

[Kraklen]

7. lyrics

Johnny’s in america, low-tech’s at the
Wheel
No-one needs anyone, they don’t even
Just pretend
Johnny’s in america

I’m afraid of americans
I’m afraid of the world
I’m afraid I can’t help it
I’m afraid I can’t
Johnny’s in america

Johnny wants a brain, johnny wants to
Suck on a coke
Johnny wants a woman, johnny wants
To think of a joke
Johnny’s in america

I’m afraid of americans
I’m afraid of the world
I’m afraid I can’t help it
I’m afraid I can’t
Johnny’s in america

Johnny’s in america, johnny looks up at
The stars
Johnny combs his hair and johnny
Wants pussy and cars
Johnny’s in america

I’m afraid of americans
I’m afraid of the world
I’m afraid I can’t help it
I’m afraid I can’t
Johnny’s in america

God is an american
I’m afraid of americans
I’m afraid of the world

I’m afraid I can’t help it

I’m afraid I can’t

I’m afraid of americans
I’m afraid of the words
I’m afraid I can’t help it
I’m afraid I can’t
Johnny’s in america
Johnny’s in america

[Gabi Hayes]

16. that's a song everybody should hear....he did an unbelievable

version of it, live, on Howard Stern, of all places

the live at the BBC theater version, which I have on CD, is also amazing

I have it on video, too, and I think it's the same version as the CD

matter of fact, I'm going out to the car and getting it now

[flakey_foont]

3. I remember that

there was also a line that Gawd was a Democrat
how things change

[Cyrano]

5. Back then, most rednecks were Dems. After Johnson got through the

voting rights and civil rights acts, they fled the party like roaches when the lights are turned on.

Today's southern Rethugs are yesterdays southern Dems. When Lyndon Johnson signed these acts, he remarked, "This will cost us the south for generations to come."

[Englishman Abroad]

4. Ahh that's why..

We have not regained the Ashes after 16 years of trying against the Aussies. He must have stopped being an Englishman after Botham retired in 1986..

[Cyrano]

10. Hi, Englishman Abroad. Welcome to DU.

I assume your post indicates that God is not an Englishman, but it's somewhat obscure and will take some explanation for most of us.

[newyawker99]

13. Hi Englishman Abroad!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Just Me]

6. Under this leadership, Jesus would be tortured to death at Gitmo,...

,...'cause he challenged the authority of the money-mongers.

[eleny]

8. Who was God before America?

:shrug:

[davidinalameda]

11. British of course

duh!

[eleny]

12. I shoulda had a V-8!!!

:dunce:

[charlie]

9. And John Birchers

were loony pamphleteers with crappy no-traffic American Opinion bookstores. Now they're everywhere, in gov't, TV, radio, sports, music. And Lester's former Chief of Staff just landed a commentator deal with Fox News. When I was a kid I never dreamed that rightwingnuttia could ever be such a popular force.

[Must_B_Free]

14. Christopher Lloyd - Rev Jim from Taxi?

and the scientist from back to the future? That Christopher Lloyd?

[Cyrano]

15. Yep, the very same. Check out google.

Sorry it took so long to get back to you on this, but I just picked up on your question.

[The Icon Painter]

17. Ol' Lester

Maddox was not a hardware store owner; he ran a restaurant called the "Pickrick" - motto: 'We rick it up; you pick it up'. He was adamantly against serving persons of colour at his establishment and was photographed chasing away potential customers with a pistol and/or a short axe handle. He capitalized on his notoriety by stacking the axe handles at the cash register and inviting (white) customers to partake in the fun. Yes, he was elected Governor and good people wept. There were decent people who resigned their office rather than serve with this disgusting knuckle-dragger. He was a shame to the state I live in and I rejoiced when he died.

[Cyrano]

18. MadameJ: Thanks for the correction.

It just goes to show what happens when I don't check my facts. Then again, do you suppose my lack of paying attention to facts makes me eligible to be president?

On edit: Sorry I missed his funeral. There's always a perverse feeling of satisfaction in seeing something as trivial as that, which somehow seems to make the world a better place.

[FreedomAngel82]

19. Oh brother

Last Sunday my parents, brother and I went to church with my grandmother since this was going to be her first service by herself since my grandfather has died so she asked us to come with her and they were starting their gospel meeting (we're Church of Christ). A preacher named James Watkins spoke and he was talking about just various things and told how God is above time and space and this world. When people talk about how we should have "Under God" in our pledge or on our money I always ask if they think they're better then someone who is a Christian in another country because of that. :eyes: I guess before 1954 we weren't a Christian nation? And anybody who thinks the founding fathers were Christians are really fooling themselves. Not even Abraham Lincoln subscribed to the Bible.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

20. If he is, how did he get past immigration? Does he have a Green Card?

No wonder he always needs money working for those wages. Pass the basket.