CAROL PORT: PATRIOTISM IN SCHOOL
Some years ago when I was in elementary school, every day began with saying the Pledge of Allegiance followed immediately by singing “My Country ‘Tis of Thee.”
Today’s schools are so worried about offending someone that this is no longer the case. We cannot celebrate Christmas... we celebrate the Holidays. We no longer hear Christmas Carols sung at Christmas.... OH! Excuse me... Holiday Concerts. Life in America as we knew it no longer exists. We see children in elementary schools singing praises to Barack Obama. We listen to children singing silly songs about Santa and about getting no presents because we don’t want to offend anyone.
I for one am tired of it. Tonight I had the wonderful pleasure of attending a PTA kick off at my Grand Daughter’s school. Eighty some elementary school kids performing for a large group of parents and siblings. After some catchy and cute tunes the whole choir, as one voice, sang “My Country ‘Tis of Thee.”
My country,' tis of thee,
sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing;
land where my fathers died,
land of the pilgrims' pride,
from every mountainside let freedom ring!
My native country, thee,
land of the noble free, thy name I love;
I love thy rocks and rills,
thy woods and templed hills;
my heart with rapture thrills, like that above.
Let music swell the breeze,
and ring from all the trees sweet freedom's song;
let mortal tongues awake;
let all that breathe partake;
let rocks their silence break, the sound prolong.
Our fathers' God, to thee,
author of liberty, to thee we sing;
long may our land be bright
with freedom's holy light;
protect us by thy might, great God, our King.
Text: Samuel F. Smith, 1808-1895
It was amazing. It was heart warming and brought tears to many an eye. They sang with all they had. They sang because they believed the words.
Think about the words of the song. Do we still have a “Sweet land of Liberty?” What would our fathers who died think of our country today? Is it still “land of our pilgrims’ pride?”
“My native country thee, land of the noble free, thy name I love.” “Let music swell the breeze and ring from all the trees, SWEET FREEDOM’S song.” How beautifully sung by children with clean souls and shining faces, our nation’s future, singing like angels.
Every American citizen should have the last verse of this most wonderful song etched in their minds. “Our Father’s God, to thee . author of liberty, to thee we sing; long may our LAND BE BRIGHT WITH FREEDOM’S HOLY LIGHT; protect us by thy might, great God our King.
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