We're living through a National Anthem remix. It's a troubling tune.
written by contributor Bill Mix
September 26, 2025
“O say can you see…” That America is losing its freedom. That democracy is being taken away. That America is being taxed without representation of the people, for the people and by the people. It is losing its values because of President Donald Trump, and the Republican Party, are changing our lives day by day.
“O say can you see…” That America is not being governed by the Constitution, but by the pen placed on executive orders. The GOP does not meet, debate, discuss, or resolve. They just implement Trump's executive orders. Republicans do not meet with or listen to their constituents. They only talk with themselves after getting orders from on high.
“O say can you see…” America has no more neighboring countries or partners that respect us. It is only through threats and coercion that other countries even meet and speak with American officials. America has become a bully, not a diplomat. America uses force, fear, and hatred as tools for political warfare. Trump and the GOP also use fear internally and externally. There is no more “home of the brave, nor land of the free." America and Americans no longer feel free, but anxiety.
For 60 years America was free. In the 1960s Martin Luther King, Jr., and the Southern Christian Leadership Council freed America. President Lyndon Johnson, a reformed Southerner, signed the Voting Rights Act and other legislation freeing America from laws that supported hate, fear, racism, bigotry, and prejudice. But, now, the Republican Party is enslaving America again.” Can you feel it? Can you see it in the news? Can you hear it in private conversations? Do you sense the hyper-anxiety that something bad and wrong is happening?
“Oh, can you see by the dawn’s early light.” If so, that would mean you are "awake." You see that the GOP has taken our money and used it to make the rich richer. The tragedy is that we are not awake and therefore can't see this truth. The plan is brilliant. Keep repeating a lie and people will start believing it. It is a scheme to keep you asleep.
Trump does not want America to wake up to the truth. So, they make “progress,” “democracy” and “freedom” bad words. They called that being “Woke.” Obama’s Affordable Health Care Act was “Woke.” Unifying the world under “climate change” was “Woke.” Former President Biden’s Infrastructure Act was “Woke” because it improved jobs and salaries. When Biden tried to help reduce student debt that was “Woke.” Affirmative action (DEI) for women and minorities was “Woke.” Helping the poor and widows is “Woke.” Giving aid to poor countries is “Woke."
When Americans are “WOKE” it is difficult to fool them. When they are “WOKE” they can see clearly what is going on. That is what freedom feels like- seeing clearly.
The Star-Spangled Banner ends with verses that we never sing: “O thus be it ever when free-men shall stand…the conquer we must, when the cause it is just, And this be our motto – In God is our trust…and the Star-Spangled banner shall wave O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.”
We need to remember another song, “This land is my land; this land is your land…” Let us take it back — again by speaking up and voting in 2026.
When we as a country become imperialists around the globe, we can not retain our own democracy for very long. With imperialism comes the always unpopular "forever wars" syndrome, that only benefits the pigs feeding at the trough of the military/security state.
ReplyDeleteRepublicans, Democrats, or other, it doesn't matter. You seem to favor the party out of power and vilify the one in power. Yet when the one out of power was in power, what was different? Your essay could have easily said the other party and been equally true. Additionally, all of them are owned by the Israel lobby.
Angel Amore
YES! things were much better when we has a corpse in the WH
ReplyDelete