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And here is the most poetic ode to visceral patriotism ever written I think, and reflects my sentiments about our land, our home, and our joy in being a part of an ongoing great experiment in the pursuit the better angels of our nature, and that of all mankind. The moats against evil now are moral ones, not physical ones, but I think Shakespere did not miss that as well. Sappy I know, but it reflects my own personal leap of faith:


This royal throne of kings, this sceptred isle, 
This earth of majesty, this seat of Mars, 
This other Eden, demi-paradise, 
This fortress built by Nature for herself 
Against infection and the hand of war, 
This happy breed of men, this little world, 
This precious stone set in the silver sea, 
Which serves it in the office of a wall 
Or as a moat defensive to a house, 
Against the envy of less happier lands,-- 
This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England.
William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616), "King Richard II", Act 2 scene 1

Oh, well done! That is also one of my favorites!

One sad thing about the USA is that we have not yet produced a Shakespeare. I remain hopeful.

JohnHuang2 and I discussed last year how literature and history were being intertwined with the war on terror, although many of the people doing so did not realize what they were doing. It is interesting to go back and read the references to the Crusades, St. George and the Dragon, Roland, and King Arthur. Those who don't have a literary background missed it, but I found it quite striking, especially coming from the mainstream media sources like Howard Fineman.

They have reverted to type, of course, but for a moment in September of last year they were carrying a message that was, I believe, from a higher source. We are, I believe, called to wage this war. (You may feel free to consign me to the loony bin...but it was quite striking at the time.)