Skip to main content

Then Conquer We Must When Our Cause it is Just

Dear Reader,


Can you guess where the song lyrics in today's title come from? It comes from the National Anthem of the United States of America. "What are you talking about, Dale?" Well, they come from one of the other verses that we hardly (if ever) sing at sporting events or other ceremonies. Read these lyrics:


Oh, say can you see by the dawnā€™s early light 
What so proudly we hailed at the twilightā€™s last gleaming? 
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight, 
Oā€™er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming? 
And the rocketā€™s red glare, the bombs bursting in air, 
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. 
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave 
Oā€™er the land of the free and the home of the brave? 

Those lyrics you know. How about these?
On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foeā€™s haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, oā€™er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses? 
Now it catches the gleam of the morningā€™s first beam, 
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream: 
ā€˜Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave 
Oā€™er the land of the free and the home of the brave! 

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore 
That the havoc of war and the battleā€™s confusion, 
A home and a country should leave us no more! 
Their blood has washed out their foul footstepsā€™ pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave 
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave: 
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave 
Oā€™er the land of the free and the home of the brave! 

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand 
Between their loved home and the warā€™s desolation! 
Blest with victory and peace, may the heavā€™n rescued land 
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation. 
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just, 
And this be our motto: ā€œIn God is our trust.ā€ 
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave 
Oā€™er the land of the free and the home of the brave! 

Francis Scott Key wrote a long poem. It is a beautiful peace of work. 

This mention of the National Anthem is honor of Independence Day. Most citizens of the US call it the fourth of July. However, I try to use the actual name of the holiday to remember what it is all about. Our country has had independence from Great Britain for 239 years now. The liberties and luxuries that we enjoy are abundant. There are lots of threats to those liberties, but we can discuss those another time. 

Today, I would simply like to share a video that embodies the spirit of the United States. The statements that Robin Williams makes in this video are so accurate and beautiful that I watched the video twice (doesn't sound that impressive, but I usually don't watch things multiple times).



Happy Independence Day! 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

You make me dance like a fool, forget how to breath, shine like gold...

Dear Readers, Ok, so I can't fit the entire title into the title box. It's a good song, go look it up: "You make me smile." The title can apply to anyone, I've found. The rest of the lyrics would probably refer to a best friend or a significant other, but anyone can make you smile. They all have the own way of doing it. Some are just funny all the time and you can't help smiling when you're around that person. I know some who take care of people so well that you just smile when they're doing something for another. Others you can talk to about your problems and no matter what they say, it seems to make sense and you feel better...thus a smile. Ok, a smile doesn't always come in that case, but people usually smile after that. Anyone can have a blonde moment and make everyone smile because of it. I'm glad I've got friends who can do all of these: have blonde moments, take care of others or have an episode of hyperactivity that you can't he...

Am I Proud to Be an American?

This weekend is the 4th of July, or Independence Day in the United States of America. One of my favorite songs during this time of celebrating the country is "God Bless the USA." The words paint a detailed picture of the beauty of the United States, both in a physical and emotional aspect. Our country is often depicted in a majestic manner such as this, making it seem like the greatest in the world and we often hear those bold words, "I'm proud to be an American."  With all of the issues that have been cropping up over the past couple of years such as impeachment, systemic racism, foreign intervention, and most significantly the COVID-19 pandemic, I have reflected deeply about what we celebrate with the 4th of July. These issues are just a few of the many that have made me wonder about the country we praise so proudly.  Am I really proud to be an American?  Thomas Jefferson wrote the candid words of the Declaration of Independence, which were th...

That's What Makes the World Go 'Round!

Dear Reader, Bonus points go to whoever can name what movie today's song title comes from. Comment below to submit your answers. Today I wanted to give you an update on the great " ALS Ice Bucket Challenge " that is taking the internet by storm. What started as a small campaign to raise awareness and funds for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's Disease) has grown and caused thousands of people to dump ice or ice water over their heads. That is how it works: one person nominates another to the challenge. That nominated person then has 24 hours to either donate $100 to the ALS foundation or have a bucket of ice dumped over their head. I would like to think most people are both accepting the ice bucket challenge and donating to charity. I won't judge, though. With all of this publicity that the ALS campaign has received, it made me think of other fads that people participated in during the 1920s and 1930s. Did you know that people regularly participated...