America, America, God Shed His Grace On Thee ....
Happy Birthday America !!! God has indeed shed His grace on the United States of America and we are thankful !!!
Thanks to our military for all they do to keep us safe and preserve our freedoms.
O beautiful for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties above the fruited plain!
America! America! God shed his grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood, from sea to shining sea.
O beautiful for heroes proved in liberating strife,
Who more than self their country loved, and mercy more than life!
America! America! May God thy gold refine,
Till all success be nobleness, and every gain divine.
O beautiful for patriot dream that sees beyond the years
Thine Alabaster cities gleam, undimmed by human tears!
America! America! God shed his grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood, from sea to shining sea.
(Rally in Buffalo, NY. AP photo by David
Duprey.)
Below is a reposting of the article "I AM FREEDOM AND I'M ON FIRE" with, in case you missed it:
By R.J. Godlewski
©July 1, 2008, All Rights Reserved
I am freedom. I am the wind that fills the sails of democracy; which propels the vessel of humanity safely through the treacherous waters of tyranny and slavery. I am all-powerful, all-consuming, ever-lasting. I hear my children’s call for I have come well before them and will last long after they are gone. Even absolute evil cannot deny me course of will for the Son of God had died so that I might live amongst His followers. Yes, I am freedom, but even my closest friends dare not call me simply ‘free’ for that is a name that I despise with a passion; for I exist by the grace of God and venture forth through the blood of proud men and women who’ve sacrificed their lives so that I might be known. They are counted amongst my greatest friends and I have granted them an ever-lasting bond because of this.
I must remain steadfast for my enemies are legion. They seek to chain me with liberal platitudes and contriving legislation as if the wind itself could be corralled by mere words alone. Some try to act on my behalf only to subjugate their people through opportunistic laws and profitable regulation. Often, my worst enemies try to emulate my best qualities in the hope that others would not notice. Thus they use my good name to deny the very lives of millions of unborn children or others from protecting themselves. I exist openly for all, but not all deserve my heritage.
I am color blind, for I see people from the very first moments of their creation. I am not agnostic for I know intimately from Whom I hail. I only discriminate against those who deny me from others; for then I simply say “I do not know you!” No one can prevent me from taking root within others – repeat, no one!
I triumphed over King George III, Napoleon, Hitler, Tojo, Mussolini, Stalin, and many others. I will work my magic on those nations brutalized by the likes of Ahmadinejad, Castro, Kim, and Chavez for when I reside within the hearts of men, I am invincible and no power on earth is greater than I. I had led the Israelites from the clutches of the pharaohs and I will guide their nation even today. I upheld the figure of liberty within the New World and today that hemisphere dwarfs all others in the cause for which I exist.
I am like a raging river that cannot be dammed by the best devices of mortal man. So, too, am I like a powerful hurricane that does not come about with the secrecy of a mere tornado, for all know that I am coming even if I might be just beyond the horizon. Most of all, however, I am like a raging firestorm; inextinguishable to all who try to impede my progress. I am the very light that guides civilization forward, the flare that calls aid to the impoverished and hungry, the searing torch that cauterizes the wounds of slavery. I am freedom and I am on fire. Who might you be?
I AM FREEDOM, AND I’M ON FIRE!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!
Happy 4th Deb!
Back in 2 weeks!
Posted by: Mushy | July 05, 2008 at 11:07 AM
Happy Birthday America, may you have many, many more and thank you for what you are, a beacon for what is good, for freedom, for liberty, for hope in this dark and dangerous world and for being the protective brother who we don't appreciate and acknowledge enough.
Thank you most of all to your sons and daughters who put their lives on the line, in distant parts of the world for those they don't even know, for something bigger than themselves.
Posted by: MK | July 04, 2008 at 09:06 PM
Super tribute Debbie.
Have a blessed and wonderful Independence Day!
Posted by: Layla | July 04, 2008 at 07:18 PM
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snake hunters sez,
Hi Debbie! A wonderful tribute, thank you.
For this July 4th, another fine post from one
of your favorites, Raymond S. Kraft.
Enjoy! reb
__________________________
www.lazyonebenn.blogspot.com
Posted by: Ralph E. | July 04, 2008 at 05:17 PM
Magnificent post truly Deb!Happy Fourth of Juuuuuuuuly my friend! :)
Posted by: Angel | July 04, 2008 at 04:40 PM
...and as my remote relative, the Bossa Nova genious creator, João Gilberto performed in his last show in Los Angeles:
"In my youth, we used sing this American song: "God Bless America" by Irving Berlin."
God bless the land that gave us birth!
No pray'r but this know we.
God bless the land, of all the earth,
The happy and the free.
And where's the land like ours can brave
The splendor of the day.
And find no son of hers a slave?
God bless America!
God bless the land, the land beloved
Forever and for aye!
God bless the land that gave us birth.
God bless America!
Posted by: Ernesto Ribeiro | July 04, 2008 at 10:35 AM
Yeah, Happy Birthday America!
Rob
Posted by: Wind Rose Hotel | July 04, 2008 at 04:26 AM