The right lyrics for patriotism (My Weekly Column in the Liberal School News paper)

Northern Star ^

[metalmanx2j]

Two years ago this month, musician Johnny Cash passed away. I have been a fan of his music since as far back as I can remember, and one of my favorite songs is "Ragged Old Flag." Its theme resonates throughout American history, but today it seems lost.

In "Ragged Old Flag," Cash tells the story of Old Glory, where it came from, where it went, and how it waves on despite hard times.

In one verse he sings, "You see, we got a little hole in that flag there/ when Washington took it across the Delaware/ and It got powder burned the night Francis Scott Key sat watching it/ writing ‘Say Can You See.’"

In another, he sings, "She got cut with a sword at Chancellorsville/ and she got cut again at Shiloh Hill/ There was Robert E. Lee and Beauregard and Bragg/ and the South wind blew hard on/ that ragged old flag."

As Cash sings his song about tumultuous times in American history, it serves as a great reminder of the American spirit.

Still America faces tough challenges which will determine our future.

The Gulf Coast has been battered by two powerful hurricanes. Gas prices are unstable to say the least. Iraqi insurgents are severely testing military and civilian resilience.

Americans are practically going to war with each other over these issues as we simultaneously battle terrorists aching to kill us all, regardless of political affiliation.

There is never a time for disunity, especially now. Another Johnny Cash song, "The One on the Right is on the Left," serves as a warning to those who let political fixations get in the way of working together.

In this song, Cash tells the story of a very talented folk group which should have made it big, but they let "political incompatibility" get in the way. One night, the group got in a huge brawl on stage which ended the band’s career.

This will be America if we don’t stop bickering and start compromising.

First, people have to get over the fact George W. Bush is the president.

I realize he is a very polarizing figure, but he isn’t going to be here in 3 years. He isn’t a dictator who can stay in power forever.

Secondly, radicalism on both sides cannot be tolerated because it serves no one. President Bush’s policies should be criticized from time to time, but calling him "Hitler" is just ignorant, petty and childish.

Lastly, learn to compromise on issues. Sure, it doesn’t make everyone completely happy, but when does anything make everyone happy?

Compromising takes the best of both sides to create an overall superior policy.

These steps can help build a stronger, more united America. After all, the last time I checked, the official name of this country was the United States of America.

I am very confident America will get past this period stronger than it was before. That is the central theme of "Ragged Old Flag."

America beat the odds to gain Independence. It survived a brutal civil war.

It got through the challenging times of the Depression and WWII only to emerge as the world’s most powerful and prosperous state.

The only thing that can bring us down is ourselves. Johnny Cash said it better than I ever could:

"And [Old Glory’s] getting thread bare/ and she’s wearin’ thin/ but she’s in good shape for the shape she’s in/ ‘Cause she’s been through the fire before/ and I believe she can take a whole lot more."

I do too.

Columns reflect the opinion of the author and not necessarily that of the Northern Star staff.

[airborne]

DON'T TREAD ON ME by METALLICA

Liberty or death, what we so proudly hail
Once you provoke her, rattling of her tail
Never begins it, never, but once engaged...
Never surrenders, showing the fangs of rage

Don’t tread on me

So be it
Threaten no more
To secure peace is to prepare for war
So be it
Settle the score
Touch me again for the words that you’ll hear evermore...

Don’t tread on me

Love it or live it, she with the deadly bite
Quick is the blue tongue, forked as lighting strike
Shining with brightness, always on surveillance
The eyes, they never close, emblem of vigilance

Don’t tread on me

So be it
Threaten no more
To secure peace is to prepare for war
So be it
Settle the score
Touch me again for the words that you’ll hear evermore...

Don’t tread on me

So be it
Threaten no more
To secure peace is to prepare for war

Liberty or death, what we so proudly hail
Once you provoke her, rattling on her tail

So be it
Threaten no more
To secure peace is to prepare for war
So be it
Settle the score
Touch me again for the words that you’ll hear evermore...

Don’t tread on me

[GAB-1955]

Johnny Cash
Ragged Old Flag
Written by - John R. Cash
I walked through a county courthouse square
On a park bench an old man was sitting there
I said, "Your old courthouse is kinda run down"
He said, "Naw, it'll do for our little town"
I said, "Your old flagpole has leaned a little bit
And that's a ragged old flag you got hanging on it"

He said, "Have a seat," and I sat down
"Is this the first time you've been to our little town?"
I said, "I think it is"
He said, "I don't like to brag
But we're kinda proud of that Ragged Old Flag

"You see, we got a little hole in that flag there
When Washington took it across the Delaware
And it got powder-burned the night Francis Scott Key
Sat watching it writing Say Can You See
And it got a bad rip in New Orleans
With Packingham and Jackson tuggin' at its seams

"And it almost fell at the Alamo
Beside the Texas flag, but she waved on though
She got cut with a sword at Chancellorsville
And she got cut again at Shiloh Hill
There was Robert E. Lee, Beauregard and Bragg
And the south wind blew hard on that ragged old flag

"On Flanders Field in World War I
She got a big hole from a Bertha gun
She turned blood red in World War II
She hung limp and low by the time it was through
She was in Korea and Vietnam
She was sent where she was by her Uncle Sam

"She waved from our ships upon the briny foam
And now they've about quit waving her back here at home
In her own good land here she's been abused...
She's been burned, dishonored, denied and refused

"And the government for which she stands
Is scandalized throughout the land
And she's getting threadbare and wearing thin
But she's in good shape for the shape she's in
'Cause she's been through the fire before
And I believe she can take a whole lot more

"So we raise her up every morning
Take her down every night
We don't let her touch the ground
And we fold her up right
On second thought, I do like to brag
'Cause I'm mighty proud of the ragged old flag."

©1974 House of Cash, Inc.

[GAB-1955]

Johnny Cash
Ragged Old Flag
Written by - John R. Cash
I walked through a county courthouse square
On a park bench an old man was sitting there
I said, "Your old courthouse is kinda run down"
He said, "Naw, it'll do for our little town"
I said, "Your old flagpole has leaned a little bit
And that's a ragged old flag you got hanging on it"

He said, "Have a seat," and I sat down
"Is this the first time you've been to our little town?"
I said, "I think it is"
He said, "I don't like to brag
But we're kinda proud of that Ragged Old Flag

"You see, we got a little hole in that flag there
When Washington took it across the Delaware
And it got powder-burned the night Francis Scott Key
Sat watching it writing Say Can You See
And it got a bad rip in New Orleans
With Packingham and Jackson tuggin' at its seams

"And it almost fell at the Alamo
Beside the Texas flag, but she waved on though
She got cut with a sword at Chancellorsville
And she got cut again at Shiloh Hill
There was Robert E. Lee, Beauregard and Bragg
And the south wind blew hard on that ragged old flag

"On Flanders Field in World War I
She got a big hole from a Bertha gun
She turned blood red in World War II
She hung limp and low by the time it was through
She was in Korea and Vietnam
She was sent where she was by her Uncle Sam

"She waved from our ships upon the briny foam
And now they've about quit waving her back here at home
In her own good land here she's been abused...
She's been burned, dishonored, denied and refused

"And the government for which she stands
Is scandalized throughout the land
And she's getting threadbare and wearing thin
But she's in good shape for the shape she's in
'Cause she's been through the fire before
And I believe she can take a whole lot more

"So we raise her up every morning
Take her down every night
We don't let her touch the ground
And we fold her up right
On second thought, I do like to brag
'Cause I'm mighty proud of the ragged old flag."

©1974 House of Cash, Inc.

[TaxRelief]

What compromises do you suggest?