"We'll put a boot in your ass / It's the American way". Is it?

No, it doesn’t reflect my views. Some of us respect other nations and enjoy the world’s diversity. We all bring something to the table.

In my area, a lot of us would get out our weapons and defend our families and homes against any invader without batting an eye, or die trying.

If you were to ask the vast majority of Brits, they’d most likely say your average yank is loud, brash, arrogant & loves momma’s apple pie.
Having got to know a lot of you on here, I of couse, no different…some of you don’t like apple pie ;-}

@ucme Bahahaha!!! I HATE apple pie, but apple pie moonshine is really good!!

Do you claim Russell Brand then? :) He’s so quiet and unassuming…

As an “other Nationality”, I think we tend to perceive Americans as characteristically doing the kind of chest-thumping that is shown by that song, but it seems a little empty from an outside perspective. Like loudly chanting “We’re number one!” when… you mostly aren’t. And claiming to be some kind of beacon of democracy, when your own doesn’t even function and hasn’t for years. These kinds of statements generally elicit an eyeroll and a sharp, amused exhalation.

As an American, I have never heard that mantra and thinks it represents no one but Hannity’s need to be overly simplistic and silly, as usual.

@gailcalled After 9/11 the entire country was hurt, angry and out for blood. You never heard, saw, or read about any of those post 9/11 feelings?

I still see images of civilians holding hands and jumping to their deaths to avoid being buried alive or burnt to death, I will never forget it. I know there are regional differences in America, but I truly believed almost everyone shared those emotions as a Nation mourned.

It seems to be. I don’t happen to concur.

That song lyric just reeks of the type of jingoism I fully expect from Fox News. It’s depressing just how many here would agree with it.

@ucme My mother is a Brit, so her apple pie is lackluster. Her shepherd’s pie on the other hand…

What an egocentric, asshole-ish sentiment.

It’s not my way, and I don’t think it is most people’s way.

Whenever some fools commit a terrorist act against the United States, they might as well just bend over and assume the position because they will get it in the end.

@gondwanalon That’s if the boot ever gets aimed at the right rear end.

I beg you not to judge all Americans by Sean Hannity and his ilk. Many of us are prudent, tolerant, hold well-informed positions, believe in the Social Contract, and want to work for the greater good. I swear this is true.

@SadieMartinPaul Very well said. You summed it up terrifically.

That’s the way things work in the ‘hood on the South Side here in Chicago. Tweak the lyrics of this song just a teensy bit and you’d have a perfect gang anthem.

Unfortunately, there is an over-abundance of conservative Americans who do feel this way (at least those among us who watch the FOX channels). But not ALL Americans believe this, there are Americans who DO care about those of us who have fallen below the poverty line, we DO care about the Social Contract, we do care about our fellow Americans, & a great many of us are NOT racists.

It is a song that came out after the attacks on America on September 11, 2001. These are the lyrics: American girls and American guys, will always stand up and salute.
We’ll always recognize, when we see ol’ glory flying,
There’s a lot of men dead,
So we can sleep in peace at night when we lay down our heads.
My daddy served in the army where he lost his right eye,
But he flew a flag out in our yard ‘til the day that he died.
He wanted my mother, my brother, my sister and me.
To grow up and live happy in the land of the free.

Now this nation that I love is fallin’ under attack.
A mighty sucker-punch came flying in from somewhere in the back.
Soon as we could see clearly through our big black eye,
Man, we lit up your world like the fourth of July.

Hey, Uncle Sam put your name at the top of his list,
And the Statue of Liberty started shaking her fist.
And the eagle will fly and it’s gonna be hell,
When you hear Mother Freedom start ringing her bell.
And it’ll feel like the whole wide world is raining down on you.
Ah, brought to you, courtesy of the red, white and blue.

Instrumental break.

Oh, justice will be served and the battle will rage:
This big dog will fight when you rattle his cage.
An’ you’ll be sorry that you messed with the U.S. of A.
‘Cos we’ll put a boot in your ass, it’s the American way.

Hey, Uncle Sam put your name at the top of his list,
And the Statue of Liberty started shaking her fist.
And the eagle will fly and it’s gonna be hell,
When you hear Mother Freedom start ringing her bell.
And it’ll feel like the whole wide world is raining down on you.
Ah, brought to you, courtesy of the red, white and blue.

Oh, oh.
Of the red, white and blue.
Oh, hey, oh.
Of my Red, White and Blue.

Is that how we roll? It is according to Bubba and our current POTUS.

@bkcunningham But the great embarrassment here is that all that righteous rage was exploited for Bush and Cheney’s own personal agenda, and that boot was applied to Hussein, who had nothing to do with 9/11. For Hannity to keep using this song makes him a laughingstock… or perhaps he’s just laughing at his own viewers.

Toby Keith and his endless supply of American pride songs. Ugh, gag me.

But I do think some Americans were in that mindset right after 9/11 – and you have to look at that quote in context. It wasn’t just some random statement. A lot of artists sang these types of songs to make Americans feel like we were a strong nation and that we’d get our revenge for all the lives taken that day. So I don’t think there’s anything wrong with the song, aside from it being horribly overplayed.

On the other hand, I think that is the American way. We are the world police, after all, and have no history of keeping our asses out of war. It may not be the “way” of individual people, especially liberals, like most of us here, but America as a country? Yeah, we’re bullies.

I’m so glad that I’m Canadian.

@livelaughlove21 what you said is very true and I don’t think there is anything wrong with the song but here, over 11 years later, we have a conservative talk show host still using a specific part to express what he believes we are, or should be. I do agree with you however about how we do seem to like to have things our own way and are willing to bully others until we get it.

Not my way. Generally, it does seem to be the way for more conservatives than for liberals.

My point, @glacial, is that Obama used the boot logic in his campaign for reelection.

@livelaughlove21 Exactly, we are global bullies and are rarely ashamed of it, even when we bomb schools full of kids “accidentally.”

I know everyone thinks I’m an evil conservative, but the facts is, the majority of our military are registered Republicans, who would defend their country with no hesititation and they’d kick as much a$$ as possible.

@KNOWITALL Which is, in itself, ironic – given that the Democrats have a much better track record in kicking ass for its own military. Republican politicians don’t appear to give a crap about soldiers or veterans. Which is probably also why they’re so much more eager to start wars.

The song was a response to the 9/11 terrorist attack. Yeah, I wanted to put a boot up someone’s ass too.

Tora tora tora…Right after the Pearl Harbor attack a Japanese admiral said, “I think we’ve awakened a sleeping monster.” Well, yeah. We’d rather sleep. We’d rather have peace, but if you push us into a fight,we’ll fight.