The following commercial currently appears on television in the US:
"Hi, folks, your buddy John Rich here, and if you love God, family, and America as much as I do you should be doing all of your online shopping at MammothNation dot com, and while you're at MammothNation be sure to get some Redneck Riviera whiskey, 100% blended right here in America and proudly supporting Folds Of America. God bless you and God bless America."
If that is not an exact quote of what Mr. Rich said, it is close enough that I don't hesitate enclosing the statement in quotation marks (British, inverted commas).
To my way of thinking, loving God and America has absolutely nothing to do with buying a particular brand of whiskey or even any whiskey at all, for that matter.
An old spititual song comes to mind:
I got shoes, you got shoes
All God's children got shoes
When I get to Heaven gonna put on my shoes
I'm gonna walk all over God's Heaven
Heaven, Heaven
Everybody talkin' 'bout Heaven ain't goin' there
Heaven, Heaven
Gonna walk all over God's Heaven
In a second verse of the song, the singer gets a robe and looks forward to shouting all over God' Heaven, and in a third verse the singer gets wings and looks forward to flying all over God's Heaven. However, after receiving shoes, a robe, and wings and rejoicing at the prospect of walking, shouting, and flying all over God's Heaven, the subtext of the song remains clear: Everybody talkin' 'bout Heaven ain't goin' there.
I do understand that "loving God" might not be the same thing as "talkin' 'bout Heaven" but my point is this: What does buying (and, one supposes, consuming) 100%-American-made Redneck Riviera whiskey have to do with one's patriotism or eternal destination?
Exactly nothing, that's what.
If you think otherwise or wish to rake me over the coals for having a Puritanical streak, please leave a comment.
Any good whisky is heaven.
ReplyDeleteI wist that thou art not a Puritan. Thank you, Tasker.
ReplyDeleteMy god. I thought you surely must be joking, but I'm afraid to fact check you and discover its all true.
ReplyDeleteWhat a strange time we're living in!
Nope, not joking. I wish I were. I’m not judging Mr. John Rich because I don’t want to be judged. What I am is very concerned for the future of our race when so many seem to understand so little about God and have such a lack of discernment about lifestyle choices. Strange time, indeed. Thank you, Debby.
DeleteThe sadness of it is that many people will be persuaded by this nonsense.
ReplyDeleteI wondered whether this post would resonate with anyone or whether I was just speaking into the wind. I’m glad to learn that some readers see the incongruity of it all. Thank you, Janice.
DeleteI do not need someone to tell me whether I feel patriotic or not. I also do not need someone to evaluate my religious convictions. Judge not...
ReplyDeleteNot judging, just observing and reporting, but message received loud snd clear and and minor course corrections made. Thank you, Emma.
DeleteI was not accusing you. There have been those who have come right out and said things like that aimed at people like me. I am sorry if it seemed personal. It was not.
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