O beautiful for pilgrim feet,
Whose stern, impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!
* * *
I’m sick of seeing “250” everywhere. Sneakers, T-shirts, baseball caps, coffee mugs, jock straps (just kiddin’!)—and even wv.250.com (not kiddin’!).
And that’s not the worst of it. Benedict Arnold is leading the semiquincentennial parade. So what about this for a book title? 250 Ways to Leave America.
Or what about this from our new bestie ayatollah: 250 Ways America Sucks!
(Soon to be required reading at Columbia University.)
Or what about this? 250 Ways to Make America Better.
Now we’re talkin’.
Unlike the pompous “Make America Great Again,” “Make America Better” is unpretentious. We’re not great. Never were. At our best, we’re good.
Make America Better.
Look ahead, not back. Progress, not perfection! That’s good enough.
Full disclosure: I made up that book title, 250 Ways to Make America Better. Just to be sure, I googled it. AARGH. There’s already a book by that title published in 1999 by George magazine (JFK Jr., editor).
If you’re interested, it’s available on Amazon, but only in paperback. List price (no kiddin’!): $1,386.65. Fret not, it’s just $498.95 on eBay, with free shipping.
Fortunately, we don’t need that book. We already know a hundred different ways to make our country better. But it will take time.
Our nation is occupied. Collaborators flourish. Democracy is under siege.
Much has been marred, scarred, and destroyed in our beautiful country by the traitor in the White House. Our name has been disgraced. Our flag besmirched. Our anthem inglorious.
Our hearts are broken.
And to think our national anthem was written in a time like our own—the nation threatened, under attack, battered, and bombarded. But we stood tall, fought back, held on, our flag still waving.
OUR flag. Not his.
Today more than ever we need to salute OUR flag and sing OUR national anthem. Even while we mourn, we must reclaim what belongs to all of us. After all, a lot of good work can be done even with a broken heart.
Sing loud. It’s a big country.
#251: Make “American the Beautiful” the national anthem.
And the people’s voice shall rise and fill the land, and from that mighty swell, darkness will be overcome, and light will once more fill this land as hope again reigns supreme.
In the meantime, enjoy the extra large fireworks display this year but hold off on celebrating the birth of our country for a couple of years, until after this darkness passes, So, hang on because it’s going to be a bumpy ride and like the original fighters of our independence, it will demand much of us. Let us all move forward with compassion for those that are affected most by this aberration of democracy. Keep the dream alive.
As noted it is up to us not god. We are so so far from self control and lawful confirmation of liberty. But we know how to rein in the excesses and abuses! Thanks for another Sunday morning and a safe 4th to all.
Heather C Richardson reported, “ Yesterday House speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), a Trump loyalist, warned a crowd at the Faith and Freedom Coalition conference in Washington, D.C.: “If we were to lose the midterms, heaven forbid, these Democrats—y’all, impeachment’s not even the big concern. They will turn every committee of Congress into an investigative body, and they’ll go after the president’s family, the Cabinet, his donors, and friends—half of you in this room will be targeted. I run the protection program. I’ll take care of you. Ok, we’re gonna win. We’re gonna win the midterms.” China, over 5,000 years old sees a cycle of strength and weakness in countries peaking at about 225 and then going downhill til past 300, then slowly rising again, but not necessarily to what they were when first seen globally as a power. It seems obvious we are on a downhill trend. I’d like China to be wrong on this up and down cycle.
So true. Took the kids to Kings Dominion past Weds..they played the National Anthem before gates opened. Every person, staff, and kid I could see, turned and sang with hand over heart, caps off and true allegiance. It was heart warming. It was hopeful. I am staying hopeful.
Camus echoes your theme: “Freedom is nothing but a chance to be better.” Your words also ring true: “Look ahead, not back. Progress, not perfection! That’s good enough.” To make progress, we need creative non-conformists who raise questions and not just the flag. Having your hand over your heart is one thing, but having your hand on the plow is another.
Love that last line!!
People such as us, those in opposition to the current regime, have been excluded from America by this particular chief executive. With a simple wave of the hand, he declared only those who agree with him are “real Americans.” So at least 50 percent of America exists in a nether world, purgatory, or wherever, simply by decree. Yet we the excluded, and it’s an honor to be on that side of the line, continue to grieve for “normal.” Whatever that is? Things will never be the same again. Keep in mind that this abomination will be in power until January 20, 2029. That’s a lot of time to wreck more havoc and to try and ensure that the world permanently remains turned upside down. As Jimi Hendrix exhorted us so long ago, “Keep on pushing, straight ahead!” Nonetheless, our world has permanently changed. Let’s roll with it the best we can. What other choice do we have?
We’re a nation of high ideals highlighted by deep dark stains on our history. The important part is that we continue learning. Learning from our past. Our current predicament will be categorized in the dust bin of history right next to slavery. The absolute capitulation to kakistocracy. A corporate takeover of our highest ideals dictated by the lowest iq.
Right on target !!
Great, thoughtful peace. I love America. It is my home and her people are my people, but we are the most powerful country imaginable, and every bit of us and our history is human. We weren’t deigned to glory by the Almighty. If being American makes you feel better than other people,America has failed. Our government made massive mistakes, horrendous genocide and slavery, subjugation of women, using people as commodities of suffering. It is in facing our faults and working for the least of these that we become great.
Has anyone else caught the contagious “Influenzer” bug? While I comprehend and embrace your blog, Randy, and your reader’s comments, it has begun to feel to me that, in view of this purely cruel and destructive administration, “Make America Better” is a low bar. I’m thinking how each of us surely goes into the world daily as embodiments of kindness, generosity, peace, intellect, loyalty to our democratic values and meaningful relationships, ad infinitum. Alas, I have been worn down by our corrupt Influenzers and feel the weight of lead shoes. Russia has an inside stealth group of drone saboteurs called Black Spark. They are in support of Ukraine’s freedom from another brutal “Influenzer.” Their motto is “Words are the spark, action is the flame.” It is unquestionably a grace that brought them to mind now, because I commit to opening to all of your “sparking” words here so that my “actions” around our Independence Day celebrations will reflect “better” and raise the bar for myself and my national brothers and sisters. Creativity. It’s percolating as we speak. Thank you All! 🎆
Yes! Yep! Yahoo! Better & Better. Hands on the Plow! Hold on! WE are Better than this (iteration of America).
Thank you!