My flight was canceled Saturday night much to my dismay, but every cloud has a silver lining. I got to take a predawn flight out of West Virginia and as the sun rose over the mountains the words to this song came to mind.....
America the Beautiful
Words by Katharine Lee Bates,
Melody by Samuel Ward
O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
O beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern impassioned stress
A thoroughfare of freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!
O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife.
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life!
America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness
And every gain divine!
O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
O beautiful for halcyon skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the enameled plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till souls wax fair as earth and air
And music-hearted sea!
O beautiful for pilgrims feet,
Whose stem impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till paths be wrought through
wilds of thought
By pilgrim foot and knee!
O beautiful for glory-tale
Of liberating strife
When once and twice,
for man's avail
Men lavished precious life!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till selfish gain no longer stain
The banner of the free!
O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till nobler men keep once again
Thy whiter jubilee!
I also couldn't help but wonder if we've forgotten the principles this country was founded on after running the words of this song through my mind. The morning sun rise revealed the purple mountain majesties, and as the plane crossed over rural Virginia the waves of amber grain were visible from the window. I saw the sprawling sea as we moved down the coast, and wondered how long God would shed his grace on thee. After all we've abandoned Him and the principles that America was founded on. The land of opportunity has evolved into the land of entitlements.
I'm convinced the biggest threat this nation faces is loose in Washington. No terrorist group could have a bigger effect on our economy, nor undermined the principles the founders endeared. Modern day legislation in the times of our forefathers would have led to cries of traitor and duels would have ensued.
The greatness of our country inspired the words to the above song. Has anything since 9/11 stirred that kind of patriotic emotion? I'm not aware of any current lyrics to that end. So what's missing?........
One Nation under God
Indivisible ........
Perhaps!
God Bless
Capt. Bill
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The BEST!!!!!!!! if not perfect rendition of
ReplyDeleteAMERICA, The Beautiful is on YouTube you must check out Ray Charles version of AMERICA, The Beautiful.
After hearing RAY sing it you will! be moved.
Thank you for your time.
...............................I MAN
With liberty and justice for ??
ReplyDeleteThank you for your time.
...............................I MAN
Not sure the ending to the song, but your Washington comments are right on and they have no clue what they are doing nor care about the people until they need money!
ReplyDeleteTerry
ReplyDeleteToday I'm sure that whiter jubilee line would have been construed as racist. I'm sure it was meant in the best possible way! They weren't as politically correct back then! Nor were people as sensitive.