Giveing God a hand!

“Put bluntly, the American consensus consists in America’s faith in the institution of war as a divine instrument and sacred mandate to be exercised around the world” (Stout 284)

“The whole address can be understood as only the most recent statement of a theme that lies very deep in the American tradition, namely the obligation, both collective and individual, to carry out God’s will on earth” (Bellah ,5)

This seems very cynical and smug, but both articles, especially Stout, would have us believe that America’s conflicts have only on exceptionally rare occasions met any standards of justification.  So much so that the American myth would not accept the realties Stout points out of continual warfare.  Rather, America as peaceful and only a defensive and reluctant participant in violence is the accepted mythology. 

“What’s good for general motors is good for America.”  This, probably apocryphal, quote is attributed to American businessman, Charles E. Wilson.  In light of the quotes above could American Civil religion be boiled down to “what’s good for America is good for the world?” or “what’s good for America is good for God?”