GREATNESS IN AMERICANS

I had recently watched the movie “1776” a musical rendering of the hard work and compromise that preceded signing of our Declaration of Independence.” Reading the latest grim news about the debt ceiling stalemate, I started thinking about Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Abraham Lincoln and some other of our inspirational leaders who overcame tremendous obstacles.  How would they respond to today’s crisis? Ruminating on them, the melody of Pete Seeger’s “Where have all the Flowers Gone” came to mind. I’ve changed the lyric a bit and share it below:

WHERE HAVE ALL THE WISE MEN GONE?

(To melody of “Where have All the Flowers Gone” by Pete Seeger)

Where have all the wise men gone? / Long time passing

    Where have all the wise men gone? / I’d like to know

    Where have James and Thomas gone? / Into books read by no one

    We need them to return / We need them to return

Where have all the leaders gone?/ Long time passing

    Where have our great leaders gone? /I’d like to know

     Abraham could lead us yon / Restore a once great spirit gone

     We need them to return / We need them to return

Where have all our problems gone? / None are passing

     Where have just solutions gone? / They never show

     Where have honest people gone? / Not to Washington, not one

      We need them to return / We need them to return

Where has this great country gone? / Some say passing

      Where has this one nation gone? / Long time ago

       Stood up men who sought to be / Men of high integrity

       We need them to return / We need them to return

 Copyright 2011 by Robert S. Steinberg

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