NEW YORK - The Reverend Jeremiah Wright, erstwhile spiritual advisor to Illinois Senator Barack Obama, will perform his own interpretation of Irving Berlin’s “God Bless America” at Yankee Stadium during a Memorial Day game against the Boston Red Sox. Reverend Wright will sing “God Damn America” during the seventh inning stretch of next Monday afternoon’s contest. “I know that tempers are going to be short already, what with the traditional heated nature of this historic rivalry,” said Reverend Wright. “I’m looking forward to raising the temperature even higher.” The Reverend said he was thinking about setting an American flag on fire while he was singing, but hadn’t made up his mind. “Although I think it would improve the overall visual effect, I don’t want to distract attention from my message.”
A spokesman for the Yankees said Reverend Wright had been asked to participate in the traditional seventh inning ceremony by club owner George Steinbrenner. Yankee fans made Berlin’s song a traditional sing along at the stadium following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. A representative for the estate of Irving Berlin said the celebrated composer would “surely be turning in his grave” over the defilement of one of his signature tunes.
Reverend Wright was grateful for the opportunity to express his contempt for our country in a public forum. “Only in America ” he said.
