Wednesday, July 04, 2007

My Country (Má Vlast)

Millions of people at work, crime and play,
Our interests conflict, sometimes hard.
One man's need for hedges can get in the way
Of observing the next fellow's yard.

We whine and protest and sneer at each other,
Our leaders, our parties, our parents.
We turn to our sisters to turn on our brother
And give glory to outrage and nonsense.

Some say in complaining that loyalty's measured;
Some say in supporting our vermin.
Some would make war before taking pleasure.
Some take pleasure and then give the sermon.

But I's born to this nation, made one under God,
And let my heart always be loyal.
For bigotry's heavy when carried abroad
And home's where the common are royal.

Patriotism has one definition
And has held this one meaning forever:
Whatever the folly, crime or sedition,
To be fools, thieves and scoundrels together.


GROUSE, v.t. To magnify miniscule ills for the greater good, the essential duty of the patriot and the believer.
PETTY, adj. Noble.

Happy Independence Day to all Americans, foreign and domestic.

19 comments:

Hobbes said...

Petty is as petty does.
Happy Fourth of July, Doug.

Kyahgirl said...

Happy July 4th Doug. Grouse for supper?

Anonymous said...

Happy 4th. Independence, the true meaning, eludes me this 4th

If only we were fools, thieves and scoundrels together

Sorry Doug, I know I used to be me much better at political stuf

But you need faith for that, and I have little left

Anonymous said...

Bravo, Douglas. Carpe this Independence Diem.

TLP said...

I'm a patriot. On major holidays. I'm as *noble, by your definition, as the next person.


*An to prove that, I'm gonna grouse about the "made one under God" thingie. It was founded on "Freedom of Religion," but should have been founded on "Freedom of or from religion." (Not that Atheistism isn't a religion.)

You knew I'd have to grouse about that, didn'tya?

Anonymous said...

Happy 4th all you Americans.

This Canadian is trapped at work. I know...petty of me since I had Monday off.

Anonymous said...

wow, Doug, way to kick off Independence Day in style. loved the poem and the "sentiment".

Grouse: birds of a patriotic feather...

Happy 4th to one and all! (sorry you're still at work, sweet Jenna -- tho' i'm pretty sure we felt your pain on Monday!) ; )

mireille said...

"Fools, Thieves and Scoundrels. Together." "Live Free or Die." "Don't Tread on Me." Good company. Happy Independence Day, D! xoxo

Anonymous said...

grouse -- a word of ever changing plummage supposedly protected by the 1st Ammendment.

petty Tom (closely associated with Heartbreakers)

Ariel the Thief said...

there are people who want to make us one under God here too. frightening conception.

hope you're having a great 4th of July!

Anonymous said...

Happy 4th ~ no time for definitions (for me anyway).

Perfect poem for today.

Karen said...

Hope you're having an awesome 4th!

Jamie Dawn said...

Happy Independence Day, Doug!
Have a BLAST!

I LOVE this great country of ours!!!
God bless America!!!!!!!!!!!!

javajazz said...

happy 4th on the 5th!
xo

Indeterminacy said...

I'm a day late here too - On 4th of July I think about our American values and ideals and am sad to think how they have been corrupted in the last 6 years.

Doug The Una said...

Thanks, Hobbes. May things work out ok in your country, too.

Thanks, Kyah.

Pia, we are if we'll admit it.

Carped, Al. You too, buddy.

TLP, don't hide your light under a bushel.

Thanks, Jenna. Happy day, anyway.

Haha, Neva. It's a colorful plumage we share.

Mireille, I'm honored!

Quilly, they let me keep talking. First Amedment must be doing alright. The next nine I'm a little worried for.

Ariel, may the angels protect you.

Thanks, g. You too, I hope.

Thanks, Karen, I did. Hope you did as well.

Amen, Jamie Dawn and I do too.

Thanks, JJ. I hope your Canada Day was grand.

Indie, corruption has always been one of them. We're doing ok. A mid-course correction now and then is the price of vigilance.

Anonymous said...

Grouse: A complaint about something you can't stomach, or an inedible bird.

Petty: Unfairly obsessed with facts.

Doug The Una said...

So, non-partisan, Andrew?

Minka said...

Smetana loved Prague, someone's gotta love your country...it might as well be you guys.
It's a great country, wonderful people and such an amazing history, you'd think one could make soemthign greta with that, wouldn't one?