I wrote about this song last year. I think that another reason why I like it so much is that has a little different and broader focus than the "Star-Spangled Banner." While I like the national anthem, "America the Beautiful" is about so much more.
I've always been a lot more interested in the political history of the US than its military history. I am grateful for the sacrifices made by so many who have fought for this country, but it all would have been for naught without the political and legal systems that were set up early on. So I'll sing "America the Beautiful" today and read things like Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address, the Gettysburg Address, and, of course, the Declaration of Independence.
04 July 2006
"America the Beautiful"
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
I love America the Beautiful as well.
But you know, Amira, all those documents you cite, weren't they the result of war? Or resulted in war? I don't think you can separate our military history from our legal history.
I'm not a war monger, the older I get the more I am a pacifist. But our country is founded on the backbone and guts of those who fought tyranny.
Sure they were, and there are plenty more examples. But there are few wars and revolutions that actually result in real change and better governments.
There are far more examples of wars and revolutions resulting in a rotten government because the non-military leadership simply wasn't there. It takes a lot of backbone and guts to fight a war, but I think it takes even more to make sure a good government is implemented afterwards.
Consider:
The missing element in every human 'solution' is
an accurate definition of the creature.
The way we define 'human' determines our view
of self, others, relationships, institutions, life, and
future. Important? Only the Creator who made us
in His own image is qualified to define us accurately.
Many problems in human experience are the result of
false and inaccurate definitions of humankind premised
in man-made religions and humanistic philosophies.
Human knowledge is a fraction of the whole universe.
The balance is a vast void of human ignorance. Human
reason cannot fully function in such a void; thus, the
intellect can rise no higher than the criteria by which it
perceives and measures values.
Humanism makes man his own standard of measure.
However, as with all measuring systems, a standard
must be greater than the value measured. Based on
preponderant ignorance and an egocentric carnal
nature, humanism demotes reason to the simpleton
task of excuse-making in behalf of the rule of appe-
tites, desires, feelings, emotions, and glands.
Because man, hobbled in an ego-centric predicament,
cannot invent criteria greater than himself, the humanist
lacks a predictive capability. Without instinct or trans-
cendent criteria, humanism cannot evaluate options with
foresight and vision for progression and survival. Lack-
ing foresight, man is blind to potential consequence and
is unwittingly committed to mediocrity, collectivism,
averages, and regression - and worse. Humanism is an
unworthy worship.
The void of human ignorance can easily be filled with
a functional faith while not-so-patiently awaiting the
foot-dragging growth of human knowledge and behav-
ior. Faith, initiated by the Creator and revealed and
validated in His Word, the Bible, brings a transcend-
ent standard to man the choice-maker. Other philo-
sophies and religions are man-made, humanism, and
thereby lack what only the Bible has:
1.Transcendent Criteria and
2.Fulfilled Prophetic Validation.
The vision of faith in God and His Word is survival
equipment for today and the future.
Human is earth's Choicemaker. Psalm 25:12 He is by
nature and nature's God a creature of Choice - and of
Criteria. Psalm 119:30,173 His unique and definitive
characteristic is, and of Right ought to be, the natural
foundation of his environments, institutions, and re-
spectful relations to his fellow-man. Thus, he is orien-
ted to a Freedom whose roots are in the Order of the
universe.
That human institution which is structured on the
principle, "...all men are endowed by their Creator with
...Liberty...," is a system with its roots in the natural
Order of the universe. The opponents of such a system are
necessarily engaged in a losing contest with nature and
nature's God. Biblical principles are still today the
foundation under Western Civilization and the American
way of life. To the advent of a new season we commend the
present generation and the "multitudes in the valley of
decision."
Let us proclaim it. Behold!
The Season of Generation-Choicemaker Joel 3:14 KJV
- from The HUMAN PARADIGM
Jim Baxter
Sgt. USMC
WWII & Korean War
semper fidelis
WWII & Korean War
Post a Comment