This Land is our Land

This Land is Our Land

President Bill Clinton said, “There is nothing wrong with America that can’t be fixed by what’s right with America.” I thought about that for a while.

 I’ve written over the months about the myriad things wrong with America from my perspective: racists, homophobes, antisemites, grifters, anarchists, cheaters and criminals. We have arrogance, greed, national division and mistrust in our government, institutions and leaders.

However, Stu Bykofsky said “America is not its government. They are not one and the same. Governments change. Politicians come and go. But American idealism is constant.”

So, what’s right with America? She is kind, compassionate, loving, inclusive, respectful, lawful, proud, ambitious, quirky, challenging, inventive, big, restless, defiant…and more. At 250 years of age, she is still a work in progress and still aspirational.

I am inspired by Stu Bykofsky’s essay, “Who’s Land? Our Land”, 6/28/26. He celebrated the Declaration as a promise made by the Founders to its people, and to all the people of the world (and secured only by seven years of the horrible Revolutionary War). He reminded me that we are the country of the people; by and for the people. The land belongs to WE the people.

Woody Guthrie’s 1940 song has been on my lips for two weeks. It is widely recognized as a patriotic song, representing ideals of shared land, community, and inclusion. The first and last stanzas go like this:

“This land is your land, this land is my land; From California to the New York island; From the redwood forests to the Gulf Stream waters, this land is made for you and me.

Nobody living can ever stop me, as I go walking that freedom highway; Nobody living can ever make me turn back; This land was made for you and me.”

I spent July 4^th with friends, our flag, food, music and fireworks to celebrate this land I love. I had a great day. I hope you did too.

RESIST APATHY – CELEBRATE AMERICA

Janet Jeffery – Gold Beach