I’m going to ask my fellow bloggers to indulge me for a few moments as I stroll down Memory Lane. I am currently working on a project assembling hundreds of my favorite songs from the Sixties. Yes, it was a controversial time and many of is suffered from misplaced idealism. Many of us grew out of it. You can tell those who didn’t. I’m referring to 60 year old men with gray ponytails and women who still think they look like Cher. Bless their hearts.  Anyway, I came across this song by Steppenwolf, (yes boys and girls, they did more than Born To Be Wild) and it hit me really hard at how those who do not recall the past are doomed to repeat it. This particular song is important for two reasons. One, I can not recall another pop song that was primarily an American History lesson (albeit an extremely abridged one) and two, I will bet you dollars to proverbial donuts that if you give these lyrics to any high school student, they would immediately think it was written in the past two years and not nearly forty years ago.  This is merely an exercise in self awareness. Take it for what it’s worth. I doubt the Powers That Be will learn anything from it but what the heck… 

Once the religious, the hunted and weary
Chasing the promise of freedom and hope
Came to this country to build a new vision
Far from the reaches of kingdom and pope
Like good Christians, some would burn the witches
Later some got slaves to gather riches

(A nod to RichK)

But still from near and far to seek America
They came by thousands to court the wild
And she just patiently smiled and bore a child
To be their spirit and guiding light

(At least they signed the guest book. – A nod to Dennis Miller)

And once the ties with the crown had been broken
Westward in saddle and wagon it went
And 'til the railroad linked ocean to ocean
Many the lives which had come to an end
While we bullied, stole and bought our a homeland
We began the slaughter of the red man

(A nod to our own consciences)

But still from near and far to seek America
They came by thousands to court the wild
And she just patiently smiled and bore a child
To be their spirit and guiding light

The blue and grey they stomped it
They kicked it just like a dog
And when the war over
They stuffed it just like a hog

(Note that even then some of us knew it was not a Civil War.)

And though the past has it's share of injustice
Kind was the spirit in many a way
But it's protectors and friends have been sleeping
Now it's a monster and will not obey

(Can anyone say Homeland Security?)

The spirit was freedom and justice
And it's keepers seem generous and kind
It's leaders were supposed to serve the country
But now they won't pay it no mind
'Cause the people grew fat and got lazy
And now their vote is a meaningless joke
They babble about law and order
But it's all just an echo of what they've been told
Yeah, there's a monster on the loose
It's got our heads into a noose
And it just sits there watchin'

(Hey neo-cons, wake up! This is not what you promised us in ’94.)

Our cities have turned into jungles
And corruption is stranglin' the land
The police force is watching the people
And the people just can't understand
We don't know how to mind our own business
'Cause the whole worlds got to be just like us
Now we are fighting a war over there
No matter who's the winner
We can't pay the cost
'Cause there's a monster on the loose
It's got our heads into a noose
And it just sits there watching

(Let’s not confuse a refusal to learn with prescience.)

America where are you now?
Don't you care about your sons and daughters?
Don't you know we need you now
We can't fight alone against the monster 

(Is this war really lost? I mean the war to reinstate the principles this country was founded on. Looking at our so-called leaders, It wouldn’t be a good bet. Fortunately that little tiny bit of Hope I have makes me think even this can be overcome.)

Thanks for bearing with me. I know we have many problems to deal with in the U S of A but since we have intentionally inflicted most of them on ourselves, I certainly hope we wake up (as a nation) and try to right the course we are on. Thank you.