Eden Political Cartoons

This week, instead of a toon, how about a tune?!

I enjoyed this patriotic song, Born Again American, and had a few comments. How about you?

What a wonderful anthem, on its own!  And what wonderful performers and stories! Beautiful production.  Fairly bipartisan in it’s politics. But a note of caution: Read the back story.
I almost signed up… (though, as an involved Christian citizen, I’m already signed up!) …until I listened further to the background of producer Norman Lear (People for the American Way). He uses words like  “sacred honor”, patriotism,  American values, and God. But I wonder if they mean the same things to him as they do to some of us.

The song has a sacred feel, down home images, blue collar protests, patriotic words and borrowed gospel phrases. (another ”Proud to be an American”?)  But I wonder - Does my patriotism spring from my faith? Or vice versa? My faith isn’t given from my country or even in my country.  The old Right used to chant:  “America, love it or leave it!”  Now the New Left sings: ”Let’s just get to work & get along!” Neither is my idea of patriotism.
Is this just a nit picky point? …No, just foundational.  See, my faith isn’t in America, but in The One who gave her to us - the freedoms, principles and virtues that make democracy an expression of Heaven on earth.  I will stand up, fight, even die when these are threatened from without. I will also speak up, resist, even die when these are threatened from within.
Maybe listen to the song again and notice:  No moral issues mentioned (except selfish politicians & the greedy rich). No active soldiers involved. No thanks to a Creator who endows us with all these rights.
Hey, more power to those who did the song! I pray for more renewed patriots and responsible citizens. But if it’s OK, I may not join their movement.  I’m already there.    -from Dave, just a born-again Christian who’s privileged and blessed to be an American.