Quick Takes: “This Land is Your Land”

[sheshe2]

by Nancy LeTourneau

July 1, 2016 5:14 PM

As we head into this July 4th weekend, I’m thinking about the fact that a lot of liberals struggle with the whole idea of patriotism. That’s because the word has often been associated with the air-brushed view of this country that omits the struggles and focuses mostly on symbolism. President Obama’s speech at the 50th anniversary of the Selma march gave us a more honest look at what patriotism really means.


And yet, what could be more American than what happened in this place? What could more profoundly vindicate the idea of America than plain and humble people –- unsung, the downtrodden, the dreamers not of high station, not born to wealth or privilege, not of one religious tradition but many, coming together to shape their country’s course?

What greater expression of faith in the American experiment than this, what greater form of patriotism is there than the belief that America is not yet finished, that we are strong enough to be self-critical, that each successive generation can look upon our imperfections and decide that it is in our power to remake this nation to more closely align with our highest ideals?

That’s why Selma is not some outlier in the American experience. That’s why it’s not a museum or a static monument to behold from a distance. It is instead the manifestation of a creed written into our founding documents: “We the People…in order to form a more perfect union.” “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.”

Read More: http://washingtonmonthly.com/2016/07/01/quick-takes-this-land-is-your-land/

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A Country that was literally built on the backs of black men and women.

KMOD posted this video tonight. It is breathtaking.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1018878992

I know many hate this song. All they can relate to is war. Yet this was a war that began your freedom. I don't like war, yet some are worth fighting. This one was. This young woman, so much beauty and passion.

This land is your land~ it is mine as well, we need to share equally.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men ( I will add women here) are created equal.”

Happy 4th.

[WheelWalker]

1. Agree completely.

Simply breathtaking.

[heaven05]

2. so true

all human beings ARE created equal, it's just that some can't accept that and I do believe that religion(Ham and Noah) is a huge culprit in perpetuating racial hate.