I'M PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN...
Where at least I know I'm free...
As I watched President Trump's New Hampshire rally on YouTube last night, he followed the usual pattern for such events. His audience having waited hours anticipating his appearance, he came on stage and, before beginning his remarks, stood facing the people assembled there while Lee Greenwood's famous song was played. Here are the lyrics:
If tomorrow all the things were gone
I worked for all my life
And I had to start again
With just my children and my wife
I'd thank my lucky stars
To be livin' here today
'Cause the flag still stands for freedom
And they can't take that awayAnd I'm proud to be an American
Where at least I know I'm free
And I won't forget the men who died
Who gave that right to me
And I'd gladly stand up
Next to you and defend her still today
'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land
God bless the USAFrom the lakes of Minnesota
To the hills of Tennessee
Across the plains of Texas
From sea to shining sea
From Detroit down to Houston
And New York to L.A.
Well, there's pride in every American heart
And it's time we stand and sayThat I'm proud to be an American
Where at least I know I'm free
And I won't forget the men who died
Who gave that right to me
And I'd gladly stand up
Next to you and defend her still today
'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land (love this land)
God bless the USAAnd I'm proud to be an American
Where at least I know I'm free
And I won't forget the men who died
Who gave that right to me
And I'd gladly stand up
Next to you and defend her still today
'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land (love this land)
God bless the USAListen to it here: Lee Greenwood "Proud to be an American" (youtube.com)
Listening to that song, watching Donald Trump stand there, it suddenly struck me what a fitting, well-deserved tribute Greenwood's song was, in word and spirit, to the man who, notwithstanding his imperfections (he who has none, let him cast the first stone), has so courageously stood up for America in the face of a great onslaught of deadly treason, sedition and lawlessness that threatens the very existence of our country. He has paid and continues to pay a high personal price for doing so. Everyone in that room, and every decent person watching knew that Donald Trump is a patriot and a true friend to America.
At the same moment, I thought of the pathetic, corrupt, bought-and-paid-for sellout, bribee, traitor and illegitimate, election-stealing occupant of the White House, Joe Biden, and how it would never occur even to his most ardent supporters to pay to this saboteur, this destroyer of America, such a patriotic musical tribute as Lee Greenwood's piece. Just imagine Joe Biden standing there while Greenwood’s piece is played. The very thought is ludicrous, offensive, an insult to intelligence.
Nothing would be more egregiously out of place than to characterize Joe Biden as a lover of America, someone who cherishes our American freedom, someone who American patriots would be proud to "stand up next to...and defend her still today".
Joe Biden obviously is in the business of destroying America, not defending her.
As I listened to Greenwood's song, the spirit of it, the stark and brutal contrast between these two men to me suddenly seemed profound, overwhelming, undeniable. No subtle distinctions necessary, no delicate parsing of words, no nuanced, specious, sophisticated arguments for or against. Just the glaringly obvious, slap-up-side-the-face contrast between light and darkness, good and evil.
Who, I thought, can't see this?
And with that thought I was reminded again that what is really in process in all this is not so much a political contest between two very different men but a great test of the intellectual, moral and spiritual substance and values of the people who will choose between them.
Measured against the values of traditional America, these two men, these two objects of our national attention, could not possibly be more radically different or more easily vetted as to their impact on the future of our great nation. Both have well-established track records in terms of what they have done for - or, in Biden's case, to - the people, and, for those with even a few firing synapses, the results speak for themselves. No rocket science required in the assessment - only the rudimentary survival skill, the ability to discern light from darkness, good from evil, truth from lies.
Still, the more things change, the more they stay the same. Nothing new under the sun. It's all happened before. The light shines in darkness and the darkness comprehends it not:
"For as their laws and their governments were established by the voice of the people, and they who chose evil were more numerous than they who chose good, therefore they were ripening for destruction, for the laws had become corrupted. Yea, and this was not all; they were a stiff-necked people, insomuch that they could not be governed by the law nor justice, save it were to their destruction."
- Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Book of Mormon, Helaman 5:2&3 - about 30 BC in ancient America
Truth vs. lies, honesty vs. dishonesty, reality vs. fantasy, law vs. lawlessness, order vs. chaos, liberty vs. tyranny, patriotism vs. treason, light vs. darkness, good vs. evil, God vs. the Godless...
What'll it be folks? The choice is yours.
If you can be fooled, you will be.
These are the times that try men's souls...
Torquemada
As usual, you are right on!