My Country Tis' of Thee

Saturday, May 2, 2008

I was sitting at my computer reading the messages on EONS on several different political sites, and the song 'My Country Tis' Of Thee' kept running through my head.  What exactly does this song mean to me.

My country tis of thee

This is my country. All of my known family was born here. With all of it's problems, injustices this country The United States of America is my country. I know of no other, nor do I want to live in another – well maybe Jamaica for a season or two, then come HOME.

Sweet land of liberty

Yes, it is a country of liberty. When and if anyone reading this finds a PERFECT country, please let me know. As I read the blogs and some of our political statements, just on this site; in some countries we'd be tried for treason. But we have the right to speak. LIBERTY, that a Black man who meets all of the qualifications for President of the United States (and he's not rich). In no other country that I know of can a man with the background of Barack Obama run for the highest office in the Country. Do you realize that means that if any of our children so chose (Lord, let it not be) they can run too. 

Land where my fathers died

My dad served in WWII, the Korean War, and three tours in Viet Nam. He served thirty years defending this country and what it stands for. All of my sons except two have entered the Armed Forces, and many uncles and cousins chose to serve this country. They didn't wait for the draft or have their time deferred and some do; though they could have. Before my dad, his dad, and his dad before died after living through slavery. But they were proud, and taught their sons and daughters to be proud in this country.

Land of the pilgrims pride

I really don't know, can't speak for them. But I imagine since they were escaping the servitude and loss of freedom of religion in England, they must have taken much pride in getting here too. It is really too bad that the greed for territory made a situation that others also had to be put down, enslaved, and land that was rightfully others was taken by force.  Maybe after all these years we can come together and all take pride.

FROM EVERY MOUNTAIN SIDE, LET FREEDOM RING

Our fathers' God to thee,
author of liberty, to Thee we sing
long may our land be bright,
with freedom's holy light
protect us by Thy might, Great God, our King


This last verse is seldom heard, much less sung. But I believe as we live out this last verse, only then will we be truly able to capture the whole and wonderful essence of this song.