One of the misconceptions about conservative republicans is that when we wave that flag loudly and proudly, that we heap scorn on those who don’t. While I disagree with Alan Colmes on most issues, I trust that he is sincere when he claims to be “red, white and liberal.” I will not criticize others who choose to show their patriotism in a calm, silent, stoic manner. I only hope that my right to be over the top in all things positive about America is not seen as nationalism, ethnocentrism or jingoism. If it is, so be it. I get angry when I see 9/11 footage, I beam with pride when I see firefighters, emts and police officers rescuing people, and I still get charged up watching highlights of the 1980 Olympic Hockey Game where we beat the Russians and Al Michaels asked us all if we believed in miracles. Yes! This is America, of course we do. America is a miracle.
To this day, nothing gets me as misty eyed as listening to Lee Greenwood singing “God Bless the USA.” As I hear the words, I picture sports highlights, as well as my own journeys. I travel all across this land, and the song amazes me, as do the people.
“From the lakes of Minnesota” (I have yet to go, but the Mall of America is a destination…I met Governor Pawlenty and Senator Coleman, and look forward to meeting Jesse Ventura.)
“To the hills of Tennessee” (From the Titans Adelphia Miracle “Tennessee has pulled off a miracle! There are no flags!” to the wonderful Jewish community of Chattanooga, to the most romantic horse and buggy ride I have ever been on)
“Across the Plains of Texas” (Dallas has where JFK was shot, plus where JR Ewing was shot. I apologize for the good people of Dallas for “Standing on the star” outside a Cowboys Preseason game. Deion Sanders has an awesome house)
“From sea to shining sea”
“From Detroit (Northwest has a large airport hub) down to Houston” (Fat Robert made my Mardi Gras. Thank heavens Sister Mary and the Nuns had no idea what happened in that hotel banquet hall 5 hours earlier. Bikers know how to party, and they worry about the public school systems)
“And New York (Brooklyn born, Long Island raised, Mark Messier made 1994 a sports season for the ages, and Rudy Giuliani remade Gotham into a world class city…and 9/11 is seared into me forever)) to LA” (Randy Newman is right, I love living here)
“There’s pride in every American heart, and it’s time we stand and say”
“I’m Proud to be an American, where it least I know I’m free
And I won’t forget the men who died, who gave that right to me
And I’ll gladly stand up next to you, defend her still today
Cause their aint no doubt I love this land, God bless the USA.”
It is more than a flag. It is a story of 50 noble kingdoms, each one with their own special story. From Mom’s diner in South Carolina, to that quiet hotel in Fort Payne Alabama, to that record store in Pocatello, Idaho, where I finally found a cassette that no one else in America seemed to have.
In 2006 I finally made it to Hawaii, and holding back tears, touched the ground at Canton Ohio, the home of the National Football League Hall of Fame.. In December of 2007 I will make it to Green Bay Wisconsin. I was told to go to Brett’s Restaurant and have the ribs. I have partied in Miami, celebrated Passover in Chicago, and kissed the forehead of a troubled but sweet girl in Scranton, Pennsylvania. I have danced sweetly with one in a hotel room in Salt Lake City, and more suggestively in Gulfport Mississippi. From “Sweet Home Chicago (Baby Dontcha Wanna Go) to the Louisiana Boogie (Baby wontcha slide on down), every city has a hamlet that is unique.
Braselton North Carolina has the “dropping of the possum” (it is harmless, no animals get hurt), and there are are no songs for pure fun like “Blue Moon of Kentucky,” or the “Alabama Jubilee” (hail hail the gang’s all here).
Brooklyn has the Boardwalk and the original Nathan’s hot dog restaurant, and Oakland has my friends of the Raider Nation.
I love what Lee Greenwood sings because I love seeing for myself who the people are that make up this land. I look forward to meeting every single one of these people and shaking their hands, and of course, hearing their stories.
The people add to the beauty of the song. May we all have the privilege of experiencing what Lee Greenwood writes about.
“There aint no doubt I love this land…God bless the USA.”
President Bush said after 9/11 that “The entire world has seen the state of our union, and it is strong.” I hope you all get to see for yourselves.
Time to throw a dartboard at the map and see which people I will be lucky enough to get to know next.
eric
‘Tis true that most of US are ‘Americans’ -a very diverse people- but some ain’t! Our system allows those who would destroy US to hide within our midst. When we ’embrace our diversity’ and pat ourselves on the back for being so ‘inclusive’ we need to pause and look around, we need to look those who stand beside US in the eye, be need to be supersensitive to the fact that not all are “Americans”; that our most dangerous enemies stand within a knife’s thrust of our hearts. Be proud AND cautious America. And remember too, not all who are citizens or legal residents believe in this country — some actually want to destroy it, to rewrite the Constitution and replace it with another ‘system’, or burn it and have no ‘system’ at all. We have the greatest country on Earth, if we can keep it. Have a great day!