Comparisons between New York and Iran are hard to resist these days.

Consider a pronouncement this week by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Iranian president and front-runner for the title of world leader with the creepiest smile. Mr. Ahmadinejad is not exactly a beacon of democracy. But even he seems to understand that using the police to enforce cultural values is probably not a good idea. “Cultural issues should be dealt through cultural channels, and I am against security confrontations,” he said.

Wouldn’t you know that New York City, its Police Department and the New York Yankees find themselves in sync with him? The police, they all agree, have no business enforcing cultural values. To be more specific, they have no business stopping anyone who wishes to wander around while a certain Irving Berlin song is being played.

The song is “God Bless America.” It is played  usually in the Kate Smith version  at every Yankee home game during the seventh inning. All baseball teams performed this ritual after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. But before long, most stopped routinely doing so. How many times in a single game is it necessary to assert one’s patriotism? Isn’t the pregame “Star-Spangled Banner” enough?

Not for the Yankees. Come the bottom of every seventh inning, their fans are told to stand. Some no doubt still find the song inspiring. But after eight years, others barely pay attention, no more moved to love of country than they are by the late-inning blaring of “Cotton-Eyed Joe.”