To observe the hubub over something as innocuous as Michelle Obama’s “controversy” is evidence of the America worship that detracts Christians from our higher priorities.  It’s not Michelle’s statement that I’m calling innocuous, but the “importance” of it.   It is simply the feeling that thousands have,  after Reagan, BushI, Clinton,  and Bush II.  Clinton brought a great deal of loss of focus and abandonment of the “change” he promised,  so there was little room for “being proud”,  and then of course,  the big embarrassment and master divider, decider,  and criminal, Bush.  After those 25 years,  who doesn’t agree except for those who think patriotism means unquestioning and “believing in America”.  Even liberal talk shows are talking about how she “shouldn’t have said this”.  Bull.  It’s how millions feel.  It’s definitely a relief to have someone represent the country who isn’t the bumbling brainless “front man” for the truly ingrained criminals and cynics and profiteers who lurk behind him.  But as inane as this appears to me to be,  my previous post lifting up some stuff David Fitch posted, which is directly related to the stuff I posted in reaction to Charlie Pardue’s post this past week,  holds much more import for me. Michelle’s statement being overblown as it is is but a symptom of the effects of what amounts to nationalistic idolatry (even to some extent on her part,  on the score of what attributes of “America” should we be “proud” of)