Sunday, July 4, 2010
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Sunday, July 4, 2010
TODAY
July 4, 1776
Omar
P.L. Moore
by
Omar P.L. Moore/PopcornReel.com
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Sunday, July 4, 2010
I'm 234 years old today but I feel very young at heart.
The Native American Indian has always owned me and I am forever theirs, their
blood enriching me, though so sadly at their great peril, murdered by bands of
Europe's rapacious and savage intruders of an age even before I was officially
born.
Africans have been with me before Columbus arrived and Africans have been
brought to me by force.
I've welcomed millions of immigrants, with Lady Liberty still guiding you
through me.
Billions of you have called me your new home. Many of you have a deep
love-hate relationship with me. You won't leave even though some people
want you to.
Some of you, whether famous or not, love me so much that you name your children
after me.
I admit that on occasion I have looked the other way when some of you fought
even harder than self-described patriots have.
I have been shaped by deeply flawed and fascinating founding fathers. I
have been challenged by mighty nations. I've presided over the enslavement
of Africans and the bloodiest war over me has been fought on me, tearing me
apart until I could barely survive.
The greatest of you have defined me and taken me through the most troubling
hours.
I have done so much right and wrong. After all this time I still get some
things wrong, even though I've been right more than enough times. To your
credit, you've fought hard to make sure that I right the wrongs.
You've often told people to love me or leave me.
You keep trying to perfect me even as I remain a work in progress and am loved,
feared and envied throughout the world.
You've fought extremely hard for me and won me independence from the British,
who declared that the sun would never set on their empire, which once stretched
over two-thirds of the Earth.
You've fought and died for me at 16 and 19 and 23 and 53 and up, and many
numbers in between. Some of you have been grateful for the struggle over
me. Others have disrespected you even when you were dying to protect me.
Women born on me weren't able to vote on me until 1920. Suffragettes stood
tall on me. Now, 90 years later, 17 women bear my first and last
name preceding the word "senator". Eventually three of you at
once will sit
on the Supreme Court that represents me well and sometimes terribly.
Presidents loved and reviled have been killed on me. You wept for them,
and so did I.
I have flown in every corner of my home, whether in Alaska or Hawaii or Seattle
or San Francisco, or Chicago or Cincinnati or Lawrence or Louisiana, or Miami or
Manhattan, or Montana or Massachusetts.
I have shed oceans of tears but you have enjoyed it, riding your boats and
swimming in the endless beauty I've offered you.
You've polluted me. Yet no matter how many times you've spat on me and
burned me, I rise, get stronger and multiply.
I am the face responsible for a million and one standing ovations. I can
make you cry. Songs have been sung in my honor and glory.
All I can do to show appreciation is wave. I ripple, resplendent and
majestic in the wind.
I bask in the blessing of the sun.
I am silent in the brightness of the stars and moon, and the seduction of the
night sky.
I've seen change.
I've felt pain.
Nature's wrath has tested me. The earth has shaken me. But no one
can ever break me.
I can be a cruel place.
I'm a kind face.
Many ills still swirl around me.
I'm a culmination of many firsts.
Stripes, stars and colors adorn me.
There's blue for truth, white for justice and red for valor. There are so
many other colors, and those are represented by the citizens who live within me.
I believe I've been compared to apple pie and baseball.
I'm somewhat of a mystery, since I've heard many times that I have a way that's
always preceded by "truth, justice and the..."
I'm wondering what way I am if I am not truth and justice.
I've presided over violence and been attacked but have stood tall, mighty and
powerful as ever.
Some have misused me for their own selfish ends. Flying me and invoking me
to justify something oh so sinister.
I move defiantly in the wind representing the promise of something greater,
deeper and triumphant.
Identify what's right and wrong. Let the world know I still care about
what's right.
And I always have.
I am everywhere but I cannot be everywhere at once.
You have made me as much as I have made you.
Keep fighting for me. Never give up on me. Keep believing in me.
I am great but can be better -- but only if you can too.
As tough as times are right now I represent something that can be so life
affirming.
You are exactly who I am counting on.
You can lead me in the right direction to a better fate.
Today is my very special date.
Today and everyday, it's time to celebrate.
I couldn't possibly blow out all these candles without your help.
Don't take me for granted. I've seen so much.
And I've still got some learning to do.
I know in my heart that I am good. I've been great to you. You know
it too.
Many nations live within my heart.
E Pluribus Unum.
Remember me always. Stay true to me. And I will stay true to you.
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