|  Aren't
we surprised at the low percentage of citizens who vote?
Did we ever wonder why they do not vote? What can we do
to encourage them? Perhaps we can begin by following the
advice of one of our greatest presidents: "Let
reverence for the laws be breathed by every American mother
to the lisping babe that prattles on her lap; let it be
taught in schools, in seminaries and colleges; let it
be written in primers, spelling books and almanacs; let
it be preached from the pulpit, proclaimed in legislative
halls, and enforced in courts of justice " (Abraham
Lincoln).
Why not memorize patriotic songs and quotes? And why not
teach them to our family? Shouldn't every citizen have
the National Anthem memorized? I remember
when "America the Beautiful" was considered
to replace "The Star Spangled Banner" because
it was easier to perform, but we maintained the original
anthem because of its historical significance. (Consult
an encyclopedia.)
 |
Let
every citizen memorize the Pledge of Allegiance:
"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United
States of America and to the Republic for which it
stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty
and justice for all. " |
When
my daughter, Francene, and I were in New York making a
television commercial, we thrilled at the inscription
on the Statue of Liberty:
Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door! (Emma Lazarus)
My friend, who was a WWII bride from Wales, says her most
patriotic experience was when they sailed in sight of
the famous Statue after two weeks at sea. There were 5,000
homesick, seasick, young brides standing anxiously at
the ship's rail. When pulling into the harbor, the Italian
brides were greeted by music from a band; the English
brides made their own music by singing "For He's
a Jolly Good Fellow" in honor of the ship's captain.
One of my fIrst patriotic memories was when I heard Kate
Smith majestically rendering Irving Berlin's God
Bless America. As a mother, I thrilled to play
this song, as well as other patriotic tunes on our accordions
as a family:
God bless America, land that I love.
Stand beside her, and guide her
through the night with a light from above.
From the mountains to the prairies,
to the oceans white with foam,
God bless America. my home sweet home.
God bless America, my home sweet home.
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