Seely, have you ever noticed that while singing America the Beautiful, as anybody that loves America, and hates Sara Palin, sometimes do at sporting events, or into the phone when calling the Alaska governor's office, that America is referred to as "her" in the song?

Here, listen to Ray Charles sing it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghz4_kikLkE

It is odd, and common, to refer to states as female.