#393 Musings Beyond the Bunker #393 (Saturday July 2)
Good morning,
POETRY
In lamenting the Court’s roll-back of Constitutional right of privacy protecting a woman’s right to terminate an unwanted pregnancy, Nancy Pelosi read a poem at her press conference. In these days when we question the direction in which America is headed, under minority rule, with democracy challenged by manipulation of the concept of open, fair and free elections, these words seem timely. For many, this Fourth of July may be the most subdued in a long time, with many Americans no longer recognizing our nation. There is work to be done in the years ahead. Here is the poem, written by an Israeli poet as he surveyed his own unfamiliar land:
I HAVE NO OTHER COUNTRY
By Ehud Manor
“I have no other land,
Even if my land is burning.
A simple word in Hebrew penetrates
Into my veins, my soul.
My body aches. My heart hungers,
But this is my home.
I will not be silent, now that my land
Has changed her appearance.
I will never forego reminding her of this,
And I will sing it in her ears,
Until she opens her eyes…”
Hopefully this Independence Day we recommit ourselves to the values and greatness that brought us here.
MUSIC
Since Monday is the Fourth of July, I thought I would share a few iconic renditions of the National Anthem, sung at different times and different circumstances, and with nuanced message.
Otis Redding, which Martine Singer noted is played at the beginning of the play King James:
Lady Gaga at President Biden’s inauguration:
At Buckingham Palace changing of the guard after 9/11:
At the Boston Bruins game after Boston Marathon bombing:
Jimi Hendrix, a classic:
Have a great weekend,
Glenn