She was old then with white hair but belted God's Blessing on America like all Hell was breaking loose.
Full of joyful pride, the patriotism of her performance sent shivers down the spines of the all white crowd and I can still see her in a chiffon gown, arms spread wide with a glistening mouth full of pearly teeth.
At the time it was still what people believed.
Later I learned Woody Guthrie's "This Land is Your Land", originally titled "God Blessed America", as a protest response to Kate Smith's song.
Kate Smith proclaims God blesses everyone in America.
Woody Guthrie admonishes everyone's not blessed ... people are poor, unemployed, without insurance ... people "wondering if this Land was made for you and me?"
There are fireworks on island tonight as thousands celebrate Kate Smith's America even if they can't afford it.
Others will watch the painting of the sky with prayer whispers to God that "things please get better."
And the Hero Worshippers will also be in force glorifying every decision the United States has ever made ... including the stupid ones that costs mostly poor kids trying to get out of poverty their lives to keep America strong.
Last year we were out of the country for the 4th of July.
It's my preference these days because in addition to my distain of the crowds, police control, orange cones, the screech of sirens and bombs bursting in air ... or elsewhere ... I'd rather get away from it.
Patriotism borders on demagogy ... blinded devotion to the Military ... Storm Trooper Law Enforcement maintaining order at all costs ... and the mindless blending of religion with politics ... leave me wondering.
I do believe God blessed America once ... and then left it to us to keep Holy and we haven't done a very good job.
In fact I think we've done a really bad one.
I also believe this land was made for you and me ... but it's not anymore.
It's made for the rich and not the poor and the elected officials side with the rich and the status quo so the rich get richer and poor get poorer.
I find little to celebrate in such things.
"Love it or leave it," someone's bound to say.
Maybe we will leave. Sarah and I certainly talk about it.
But we love it too much to ignore the bad and exclusively focus on the good.
Exclusively focusing on the good is blind love which always leads to bad things.
Maybe that's why we shoot fireworks into a dark sky to remind ourselves to shed a little light on who we really are ... and who we're not.
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