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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 dawn’s early light 
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming? 
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight, 
O’er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming? 
And the rocket’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 
O’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 foe’s haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o’er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses? 
Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam, 
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream: 
‘Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave 
O’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 battle’s confusion, 
A home and a country should leave us no more! 
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps’ 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 
O’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 war’s desolation! 
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav’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: “In God is our trust.” 
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave 
O’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! 

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