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Discussion Groups / English Usage / January 2004"God bless" vs. "God bless you"
Listening to a Bluegrass performer accept an award and bid the audience farewell with "God bless" reminded me that in olden days folk tended to use "God bless you" instead under similar circumstances. Wondering when the change occurred, and more importantly, why? My suspicion is that the newer form is less threatening and more politically correct, as it calls for a generalized blessing as opposed to a targeted one. Your thoughts please. -- ================================================= Do you like wine? Do you live in South Florida? Visit the MIAMI WINE TASTERS group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/miamiWINE ================================================= > Listening to a Bluegrass performer accept an award and bid the > audience farewell with "God bless" reminded me that in olden days folk [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > politically correct, as it calls for a generalized blessing as opposed > to a targeted one. Your thoughts please. It was Red Skelton'e sign-off phrase way back in the 50's "Good night and God bless"  SignatureBill In alt.english.usage on Mon, 19 Jan 2004 14:24:31 GMT Bill Schnakenberg <willshak@frontiernet.net> posted: >> Listening to a Bluegrass performer accept an award and bid the >> audience farewell with "God bless" reminded me that in olden days folk [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] >It was Red Skelton'e sign-off phrase way back in the 50's >"Good night and God bless" I recalled his saying that too. s/ meirman If you are emailing me please say if you are posting the same response. Born west of Pittsburgh Pa. 10 years Indianapolis, 7 years Chicago, 6 years Brooklyn NY 12 years Baltimore 20 years > Listening to a Bluegrass performer accept an award and bid the > audience farewell with "God bless" reminded me that in olden days folk [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > politically correct, as it calls for a generalized blessing as opposed > to a targeted one. Your thoughts please. I don't think it's a change - the two expressions have co-existed for some time. The former is more cutesy to my ears, the latter more expressive of genuine religious feeling. -- John Dean Oxford De-frag to reply > Listening to a Bluegrass performer accept an award and bid the > audience farewell with "God bless" reminded me that in olden days folk [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > politically correct, as it calls for a generalized blessing as opposed > to a targeted one. Your thoughts please. Note that "God bless (...)." is subjunctive. It is not "God blesses." It is a "pious wish". The subjunctive is alive, but not well, in the English language. GFH |
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