God bless America's pastime

"Please stand and take off your hats for the singing of 'God
Bless America.'" That's how the announcer introduced the seventh inning stretch
at a recent Minnesota Twins game I attended. Minnesotans are nothing if not
rule followers, so we stood, many took off their hats, and some even joined in
singing.

My experience with "God Bless America" is limited. I don't think
I've ever sung the song in worship or encountered it in many public gatherings.
I learned the song in elementary school, but I don't remember singing it
outside class. But in recent years "God Bless America" has enjoyed a sort of
resurgence, partly because "The Star-Spangled Banner" is so difficult to sing.

I have mixed feelings about the song;  if I had my druthers it wouldn't be sung in public venues
with the assumption that the listeners are praying along with the singer.
That's my interpretation of the announcer's instruction to "take of your hats."
The song is addressed to God; it is a prayer. I suppose that if you think it's
best to stand and take off your hat to pray, then the announcer was on to
something.