God Bless America?

For years and years Democrats and Republicans alike have proclaimed "God Bless America!" at the end of their campaign speeches. This phrase is always certain to draw a loud cheer from the crowd, no matter what was said before, or what was going to follow. (Kind of like how at UNC anyone can add "Go Heels!" to the end of a speech and everyone will leave thinking the speech was amazing...) For years and years I've also been frustrated with this cry. Leaving aside all thoughts on whether or not it does Christianity any good to have a nation proclaim itself as a Christian nation, and whether or not politicians mean "America" or the "United States" (which could be a pretty important distinction, considering the United States' relationship with some of our American neighbors to the South...) this cry seems a little bit hollow.

First of all, the United States HAS been blessed. Especially if (as it seems sometimes to mean) blessings=monetary wealth. We do live in a land that has freedoms, where we are (theoretically) free from persecutions--especially those of an incredibly heinous nature. Aside from a handful of bombings/terrorist attacks, the United States has not been engaged in a war on its own territory since the Civil War. Citizens of the United States do have the "American Dream" (no matter how impossible this dream actually is...), at least United States citizens (and many immigrants as well) can have thoughts and dreams that things could get better for you and you won't be killed tomorrow in a car bombing, etc. The United States has been blessed.

Second of all, this cry seems to be (whether proclaimed by the most liberal of liberals, the most moderate of moderates or the most conservative of conservatives) not inquiring after God to bless the nation, but rather proclaiming that anything this nation does is blessed by God. Whether it be war, abortion or oppression, turning a blind eye to genocide or human trafficking, the battle cry of "God Bless America" seems more to say "We will do these things and we will be blessed" rather than "God show us what to do so that we can be blessed by You to be a blessing to others".

But maybe I'm being too harsh.

All of that being said, I think that God has some very strict requirements placed on those who are blessed by Him:

At the end of every seven years you must cancel debts...there should be no poor among you, for in the land the LORD your God is giving you to possess as your inheritance, He will richly bless you...For the LORD your God will bless you as He has promised, and you will lend to many nations but will borrow from none...If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your brother. Rather be openhanded and freely lend him whatever he needs...Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land.
-Deuteronomy 15:1-11 (selections)

No poor among you. Lending from many nations, but borrowing from none. Lending freely to your brother. Forgiving all debts every seven years*. Using the fact that there will always be poor among us as a reason to give more rather than an excuse to care less.

This is my question: Do we, as the citizens of the United States, really want God to bless us? Because with great blessing from God must come great responsibility. Are we, as a nation (or as individuals, for that matter), ready to be blessed?

Most days I don't think that I am...
_________

*I don't believe that God is talking about personal debt to credit card companies here. I think He's saying that we should give freely to the poor (individuals and countries, alike), and if they don't pay you back in 7 years figure it is okay. Because if you've made it for 7 years without the money, you can make it.