My Beautiful America

[fiVe]

My Beautiful America (Recitation)
Charlie Daniels Band


Have you ever spent the late afternoon watching the purple shadows deepen in the Arizona desert?

Or seen or heard an elk plow their way through waist-deep snow on a cold Colorado dawn?

Did you ever see the sun go down in Hawaii or see the stormy waves break over the rock-bound coast of Maine?

Or have you ever seen an eagle fly up out of the mists of Alaska or a big October moon hanging full over the still Dakota badlands?

Have you ever tasted the gumbo in New Orleans, barbecue in Carolina, or the chicken wings in Buffalo?

Have you ever had Brunswick stew in Macon or cornbread in Birmingham or brisket slow cooked over Hill-country mesquite wood?

Did you ever drink water from a gurgling branch in Utah, stand on the mountain above El Paso del Norte and see the lights twinkling clear over into Mexico?

Did you ever jingle horses in the pre-dawn stillness of a perfect Texas day and watch their shod hooves kicking up sparks on the volcanic rock?

Or tended a trot line on a foggy Carolina morning or heard the distant song of a lovesick whippoorwill in the pristine Tennessee late night?

Have you seen the faces on Mount Rushmore or stood at the Vietnam Monument?

Have you ever crossed the mighty Mississippi or been to The Daddy of em All in Cheyenne, Wyoming?

Or seen the mighty Vols run out on the football field on a chilly autumn afternoon?

Did you ever see the Chicago skyline from Lakeshore Drive at night or the New England foliage in the Fall or the summer beauty of the Shenandoah Valley or Indiana covered with new snow?

Did you ever see a herd of wild horses running free across the empty spaces of Nevada or caught a wall-eyed pike out of a cold Wisconsin stream or marveled at the tall ships docked in the harbor at Baltimore?

Did you ever see the early morning dew sparkling on the bluegrass or the wind stir the wheat fields on a hot Kansas afternoon or driven the lonely stretches of old Route 66?

Have you ever heard the church bells peal their call to worship on an early Sunday in some small town in the deep South or passed through the redwood forest as the sun was going down?

Have you ever been to Boise or Baxley or Beauford or Billings?

Have you ever passed through Sanford or Sulphakur or San Angelo?

Have you ever seen the falls at Niagara?  The Ice Palace in St. Paul?  Or the Gateway to the West?

This then is America, the land God blesses with everything.  And no Eiffel Tower, no Taj Mahal, no Alps, no Andes, no native hut nor royal palace can rival her awesome beauty, her diverse population, her monolithic majesty.  

America the free, America the mighty, America the Beautiful.


I pledge allegiance to the flag
Of the United States of America,
And to the republic for which is stands,
One nation,
Under God,
Indivisible,
With liberty and justice for all.

[Sindawe]

Whats the matter Blackburn, you some kind of communist?

[Nathaniel Firethorn]

Have you ever...

Maybe about fifteen of those.

For that matter, have you ever seen a newly hatched sea turtle on the Florida beach, scrabbling for its one-in-ten-thousand chance? (Did that one last night.)

Or seen trillium blooming in the Adirondack woods...

Or heard the wood thrushes in a song competition along the Delaware and Raritan Canal toward evening in April...

There are a lot more out there. I hope I can get to a good fraction more.

- NF

[Sindawe]

Written by a socialist?  NO!  NOT POSSIBLE!  THATS a PINKO LIE!!!

http://rexcurry.net/bookchapter1a1a.html

[Jamisjockey]

I pledge allegiance to the flag
Of the United States of America,
And to the republic for which is stands,
One nation,
Under God,
Indivisible,
With liberty and justice for all.

I refuse to repeat that.

You and me both.

[The Rabbi]

It's a piece of cloth, guys. Try idolizing the constitution.

It's a piece of cloth like the Constitution is a piece of sheepskin.
People have died, literally, for that flag.  It is a symbol of freedom and honor, of the greatness of the country and its citizens.  We may not always be the fastest turtle in the race and we sure have some problems but when disaster strikes Americans are there to help.  We put aside differences and pitch in.  That is the American way.
So go ahead and kvetch about this and that and you';ll stand on principle and not say the pledge and not stand for the flag.  And whether you are on the left or the right I just say pfui.

[grampster]

Consider the flag to be a objective representation of the unity of 50 states which are made up of a population of free men, emboldened and enlivened by the Constitution.

  Where that flag waves, it waves in the face of tyranny and despotism.  It is a hated symbol to those who would trample on the rights of their brothers and sisters, who would, for their own gain, imprison, torture and murder those who stand in their way.

It waves and pops in the winds that blow free, a symbol for which myriads of men and women have given their lives so that the rest of us can sit on our fat, lazy behinds and spout gibberish on the internet and elsewhere.

It is a standard from behind which cowards hide as they throw invective at their fellow citizens all the while using the freedom that flag symbolizes to shield their ability to speak their foolish minds and espouse warped logic.

Sometime's some of you folks just don't get it.  That makes me sad.  Mostly you're young.  You have not been around long enough to get ahold of the wisdom of years and observation.  Better you should be quiet now, and hold until you've paid the dues you need to pay to be worthy enough to criticize the symbol of what is right in the world.  Then mayabe you'll have something worthwile to report.  

Yes, you heard me.  What is right in the world.  Show me one place on earth that was or is, that self criticizes itself or holds itself up to or strives to gain always the higher ground; usually at our expense for the uplifting of others.  At present thousands of our sons and daughters are in harms way putting forth their goodness for which that flag is a symbol.  To criticize that symbol sullies the blood they give honoring the idea that it represents.

  Good is never enough for most of us; for we try always to be better.  And most of us are willing to lay aside our notions when a better one is put forth.  That's the trouble with most of the critics; always and quick with the complaint.  Tardy or a no show with the solutions.

[Art Eatman]

The U.S. of A. is not a place.  It's an idea, or a set of ideas.  They're idealized throughout the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.  The flag is the symbol of these ideas.

I don't forget the screwups and goofs and the various bad things that have happened through these last couple of centuries, but they're nothing more than the imperfections of people.  What is in the forefront of my thinking when I see the flag is the efforts we've made to do better, to rectify past mistakes and as a collection of imperfect people, to avoid them in the future.

The Model T was not the perfect car, but it was a hell of an improvement over a horse and buggy.  We're not the perfect nation, but we're a hell of an improvement over the others--and I've seen many of those "others".

The flag is a symbol of a striving to do better for our people and other people, to increase Liberty and personal sovereignty.  That people in positions of power don't understand that, or do that, doesn't demean the flag; they only demean and degrade themselves.

Enuf.  Anybody needs more than that, tough.

Art

[Brrlgrrl]

Thank you, grampster and Art!

[caseydog]

The more I understand about the nationalist, socialist origins of flag worship, the more I look at the people who talk about how great our flag is and how much they love it with a raised eyebrow.

It's a piece of cloth, guys. Try idolizing the constitution.

We had a flag before we had the constitution , when a bloody worn out band of soldiers liberates some hill in a far off land from a bloodthirsty dictator , do the raise a copy of the constitution up that flagpole ?? We're not imposing our constitution on them , we're imposing the will of the American people that that land should be free, whether it was in France or Italy or Okinowa.

I'd have loved to see you recite that cloth line to anyone who witnessed the flagraising at Iwo Jima.

I could care less if you want to recite the pledge or not , but don't call the flag just another rag , too many good men have had it draped over their coffin for that.

I guess there's a whole townfull of commie hand over heart rag worshippers sending this boy off then , i'm sure they'd be happy to hear your opinion next time your in Texas.

http://www.jameskiehl.com/  


Ray

[grampster]

Thank you Ray.  I can't say much more...my screen and keyboard just got pretty blurry.

[The Rabbi]

I'd rather die for the constitution and it's ideals than a flag. Excuse me if I don't meet your fascist standards for flag fetishism. wink Currently I'd rather die for bringing out country back to where it should be, rather than die for what it is now.

I'd rather you would die for the Constitution too.  I knew we'd agree on something.

[Robert Sears]

Go anywhere in the world and hand someone the constution and most won't know what it is but show them the flag and I bet they know where it's from and what it represents even if they don't like it or what it stands for.  Grampster and Ray well said. I tend to get blurry eyes myself.
  Blackburn most people don't know or care who wrote it. It's the sentiment it expresses that is important. Please don't ever be around me when its being said and be dierespectful.

Bob

[Sindawe]

I'd rather you would die for the Constitution too

I'm glad to see that The Rabbi is upholding the high posting standards he exhibits on THR.Org.  Oh, wait a moment....

Please don't ever be around me when its being said and be dierespectful.

Or what?  You'll beat him bloody?  Fine examples of American decency and fair play you two are.

[caseydog]

It's the sentiment it expresses that is important.

So you agree with the national socialists. Charming.

No Blackburn you're 20 or so , you haven't seen near enough to get it yet ! , it's the sentiment that is gathered from a lifetime of watching otherwise normal Americans show great respect for the flag at the worst possible time in their lives, watching widows accept the folded flag at her soldier husbands funeral and hug it like she was hugging her husband , watching the legless veteran at a memorial day parade remove his hat and salute the flag that he fought under when his legs went missing , it's about the soldiers who took the flag recovered from the WTC to Afghanastan as an inspirisation to get the job done because of how many Americans that they never knew died under that flag.

It has nothing to do with supporting the "current" government , nor does the pledge of allegiance , the pledge states " I Pledge allegiance to the flag...... and to the Republic for which it stands" the Republic consists of the Declaration of Independance and the Constitution , as well as all the great people of America , we all have one stitch in that flag. It has nothing to do with the current crop of theives we have installed in the District of Corruption.

Talk to some formerly oppressed people , or the victims of some disaster worldwide - man made or natural, some of the most comforting sights locked in their memory after the ordeal was the ships or planes or helicopters bearing the American flag , because as horrible as you may think this country is now , no one can project freedom , relief and compassion like America and the American public, and the symbol of that known worldwide is the Stars and Stripes.


Heck how can you have so much disdain for something the Liberals love to see burned in protest , for something that instills so much anger in our enemies that they burn and trample them for every news camera they can find because of who and what it stands for.


I'd like to hear how Oleg feels about the flag , coming from an oppresive country.

Ray

[brimic]

There's one in every bunch

[Gun Runner]

Okay so 2 (TWO) of those...and I live less than 2 miles from the "mighty" Mississippi, which isn't very mighty at all up here.  

[caseydog]

It's an avatar for our country.

An AVATAR !! A freakin AVATAR

AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHRRRRGGGGHHHH , the Yahoo generation , where's that banghead smilie thing ??

Step away from the computer and engage in a disconnected life for a year or three , go to a parade , a Veterans Day service , go to an old grave yard and thank a few guys with "avatars" by their headstone and thank them that you have the freedom to come on here and call them national socialists.

I have to go now before I can no longer repress the urge to cuss uncontrollably.

[Sindawe]

An AVATAR !! A freakin AVATAR

Would you feel better if we called it an Icon?  And not in the sense of the little pictures of things on your PC's desktop.

i·con     P   Pronunciation Key  (kn)
n.
also i·kon (kn)
1. An image; a representation.

2. A representation or picture of a sacred or sanctified Christian personage, traditionally used and venerated in the  
Eastern Church.

3. An important and enduring symbol: “Voyager will take its place... alongside such icons of airborne adventure as The Spirit of St. Louis and [the] Bell X-1” (William D. Marbach).

4. One who is the object of great attention and devotion; an idol: “He is... a pop icon designed and manufactured for the video generation” (Harry F. Waters).

5, Computer Science. A picture on a screen that represents a specific file, directory, window, option, or program.

[grampster]

Blackburn,

Just curious?  Are you the product of a government school?  Or were you homeschooled?

[USP45usp]

I pledge allegiance to the flag
Of the United States of America,
And to the republic for which is stands,
One nation,
Under God,
Indivisible,
With liberty and justice for all.

The new "American Pledge":

I pledge allegiance to myself
and the fact that everything should be given to me
and to the person, of which I stand,
One me,
Under no god or gods,
Invisible, until I want more
With liberty and justice for me, and for me to be able to remove the liberties, and justice if I don't agree.

Wayne

[Perd Hapley]

The Beautiful America piece appears to be a new version of America-Why I Love Her, written by John Mitchum and recorded by John Wayne, in the 1970's.  I guess we'd better take a look at their political views, though; could be a couple of fascists.

Blackburn,

Can you explain what you don't like about the Pledge of Alliegance itself?  Maybe it was written by a fascist, but what is wrong with the words?  Isn't its meaning quite different now than what was intended?  I'm also curious what exactly you object to in the way some people treat the American flag.  Where do we go overboard?  

Thanks,

fistful

[Bemidjiblade]

My dad was at the flag raising at Iwo Jima.  and half of his friends were at that battle.  I would sooner spit in his face than even repeat half of the things that have been said in this threat.

[Jamisjockey]

You think I don't see the symbolism of the flag? You think I don't associate all the wonderful things about our country with it, get a warm feeling when I see it? Your statement seems to assume I don't, just because I also know a flag for what it is--a piece of cloth that knows nothing of democracy, freedom and countries, and works no magic.

I bear much, much more affection to the Constitution and the sheer genius and forward thinking from great men set down in the Declaration of Independance. Do you not agree that when someone burns a copy of the Constitution, it is much more vile and backwards than someone burning a flag?

Well said.

Ditch the pledge of allegience (to the flag).  Any 'allegiecnce' should be to the constitution and ideals that founded this country.

[Perd Hapley]

Ditch the pledge of allegience (to the flag).  Any 'allegiecnce' should be to the constitution and ideals that founded this country.

Isn't allegiance to the flag just a metaphor for allegiance to the constitution and ideals that founded this country?