Okay. So I said I wasn't going to comment on politics or religion anymore--or so I intended. But.....

The Chicago Cubs have long had the tradition of singing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" in the middle of the 7th inning. That's fun and popular with everybody.

During the playoffs and World Series, the 7th inning stretch has degenerated into something more serious and troubling. That, of course, is the new tradition of performing (singing or instrumental) "God Bless America".

I'm sorry, but to this avowed "non-believer" (okay, atheist), this is not the time or place for this "American theme song". I am apalled that it is forced upon all of us. For those of you that say, mute or turn it off, I say "I do", but that's not the point.

Naturally, I object to the message--not just that it assumes there is a god (which there isn't), but that "he" blesses, guides, and protects us (America)-- like he takes sides. I'm as patriotic as anybody, but this smacks of Jingoism.

This "God is on our side" philosophy is prevalent everywhere, from the individual who points his finger to the "heavens" after hitting a home run, to the team manager or coach who praises God for a win, to the President of the United States for ending every speech with "God bless the United States of America".

I know, I know, get used to it, Randy. Accept it as a fact of life. It's just that I get tired of it being crammed down my throat all the time. It's on every Inidana license plate ("In God We Trust"), it's on money, it's in the Pledge of Allegience. Now it's inserted in a baseball game.

Yes, I enjoyed Tony Bennett singing "God Bless America", even if I did try to ignore the words and message. But this solemn minute of religious patriotism injected into a baseball game is a little too much for me to take without an objection or two. Trick or treat?