Lee Greenwood: not a constitutional scholar
Marko takes issue with a crappy song:
Which right is that–the right to be free? That’s not “given” to us by anyone, that’s our inherent inalienable right as humans, as noted by the Founding Fathers. This is questionable Constitutional scholarship. Our armed citizen soldiers may defend our freedom, but they’re not the source of it.
He’s probably also not a geologist or poker player.
September 11th, 2008 at 11:23 am
The song is an expression of gratitude toward those that gave their lives to protect the freedoms we enjoy. It is not a technical discussion on the issue. Since when is poetry, even bad poetry, considered to be an accurate reflection of anything?
I’ll give Mr. Greenwood props for at least one thing, he allows the US Military to use his song royalty free. The Navy and Marines play it at graduation ceremonies, the USAF plays it to signal the end of an exercise–he basically gave the song to those who serve.
Piece of crap song or not, I don’t know of any other songwriter that has done anything similar.
September 11th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
I don’t think it’s a crappy song. He was from a different generation, and has inspired countless servicemen/women. Maybe Marko should get off Bill of Rights high horse, and try to take the song for what it is: an inspiration to millions of Americans.
And in case not everyone knows the words, here they are:
God Bless the U.S.A.
If tomorrow all the things were gone
I’d worked for all my life
And I had to start again
With just my children and my wife
I’d thank my lucky stars
To be living here today
‘Cause the flag still stands for freedom
And they can’t take that away.
I’m proud to be an American
Where at least I know I’m free,
And I won’t forget the men who died
Who gave that right to me,
And I gladly stand up next to you
And defend her still today,
‘Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land
God Bless the U.S.A.
From the lakes of Minnesota
To the hills of Tennessee,
Across the plains of Texas
From sea to shining sea.
From Detroit down to Houston
And New York to L.A.,
There’s pride in every American heart
And it’s time we stand and say:
REPEAT CHORUS
And yes, actually he was a poker player
“… Lee Greenwood foresook a college scholarship, a promising baseball career, and even his own high school graduation in the early 1960s to perform as a musician in Nevada casino lounges. He performed by night and dealt blackjack by day before moving to Los Angeles, breaking through with a demo session in Nashville in 1978, and scoring success with ‘It Turns Me Inside Out’ in 1981.” Snopes
But if anybody wants a more current song of inspiration of what it means to be an American, try this:
I’m American
by Stuck Mojo
We are in an undeclared war on all fronts for our rights, unalienable or otherwise, and I’ll take all the inspiration I can get.
No, the military doesn’t give us our God-given rights. But they do sacrifice themselves to see that they are not summarily taken away. Without brave men and women who suit up everyday, and go out to mee the enemyt, and sometimes be killed, high-and mighty Marko might be singing another tune.
September 11th, 2008 at 10:07 pm
If those men hadn’t died, there wouldn’t be a friggin’ Constitution for Greenwood to be or not be a scholar of.
September 11th, 2008 at 11:16 pm
but that doesn’t rhyme.
September 11th, 2008 at 11:29 pm
OK, how about this then:
September 11th, 2008 at 11:51 pm
I know this is pedantic, but it’s a pet peeve of mine: if the rights were truly inalienable, as the Founding Fathers claim, then there would have been no need for them to point out that fact or to work to explicitly protect them…
September 12th, 2008 at 12:27 am
Inalienable simply means you can’t give them away… doesn’t mean they can’t be infringed.
September 12th, 2008 at 2:09 am
Well tgirsch if murder and rape were truly unacceptable there wouldn’t be any, right? Does the existence of both mean you support the proposition that they are acceptable?
Same damn thing. Unalienable means you can’t lose it, surrender it, or have it taken. Your body may suffer the consequences of resistance, but the right does not cease to exist, nor does your proper claim on it.
You gotta be smart enough to know this little bit.