Star Spangled Banner - 2014

This weekend will be the 200th anniversary of the bombardment of Fort McHenry that Francis Scott Key witnessed and wrote a poem that was eventually set to music and became the United States's National Anthem.

To me, the lyrics of the U.S. National Anthem bring to mind ideas of freedom under assault, and the triumph of the American Constitutional idea. The question that occurs to me in 2014 is: Does the flag of freedom still wave in America? The answer is: I don't know--it's not clear to me that this is a country that lives up to its values.

I thought I would take a stab at writing a poem that mirrors Key's poem, but from today's perspective. I do not have the creativity to do that, but at church a few months ago, we prayed a prayer for religous freedom that was a pretty good summation of what I am thinking: How is it even necessary that in 2014 Christians in America feel the need to pray this prayer?

Prayer for the Protection of Religious Liberty

O God our Creator, from your provident hand we have received our right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. You have called us as your people and given us the right and the duty to worship you, the only true God, and your Son, Jesus Christ.

Through the power and the working of your Holy Spirit, you call us to live out our faith in the midst of the world, bringing the light and the saving truth of the Gospel to every corner of society. We ask you to bless us in our vigilance for the gift of religious liberty. Give us the strength of mind and heart to readily defend our feedoms when they are threatened; give us courage in making our voices heard on behalf of the rights of your Church and the freedom of conscience of all people of faith. Grant, we pray, O heavenly Father, a clear and united voice to all your sons and daughters gathered in your Church in this decisive hour in the history of our nation, so that, with every trial withstood and every danger overcome--for the sake of our children, our grandchildren, and all who come after us--this great land will always be "one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." We ask this through Christ our Lord.

My Choice for Final Credits Song for "The Hobbit: There and Back Again"

"I See Fire", the song that plays over the final credits of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, is a nice, mellow folk song by Ed Sheeran that works quite well as the credits roll. But there is an existing song that I think would be very effective as a final song for the third installment of The Hobbit--"Wild Mountainside", written by John Douglas of the Trashcan Sinatras and given a very nice rendition here by Eddi Reader. The lyrics would need a slight revision and maybe a verse added, but as it was composed, this song is a love song to Scotland--I think it could be worked quite easily into a love song for Middle-Earth. Here are the lyrics:

Beauty is within grasp
Hear the islands call
The last mile is upon us
I'll carry you if you fall

I know the armor's heavy now
I know the heart is tired
It's beautiful just over
The wild mountainside

Snow is falling all over
Out of clear blue sky
Crow is flying high over
You and I are going to wander

High up where the air is rare
Wild horses ride
It's beautiful, let's go over
The wild mountainside

Wild and free we roam
Only a mile to go

Wild and free we roam
Only a mile to go

Beauty is within grasp
Hear the highlands call
The last mile is upon us
I'll carry you if you fall

I know the armor's heavy now
I know the heart inside
It's beautiful let's go over
The wild mountainside
It's beautiful just roaming
The wild mountainside

You could change "islands"/"highlands" to "mountain" and it would mostly work for the movie. I would also change the line about "Wild horses ride" to "Wild eagles fly". Another verse might add some specific detail about the action in the final movie. Those who have read the book know that there are some sad scenes in the final movie, and I think these lyrics are reflective of that emotion, as well as the "carry you if you fall" sentiment as well. Fans of the movie would have tears in their eyes if this was the song at the end of the film.

Incandescent Light Bulb 1879–2013 R.I.P.

The passing of some things need to be marked. Today is the end of an era in America. Beginning January 1, 2014, it will be illegal to manufacture or import incandescent (or filament) light bulbs. Today is also the last page of the 2013 History Channel Desk Calendar that I received as a gift a year ago. The item for today is the birthday of the incandescent light bulb. Thomas Edison had his first demonstration of the light bulb on this date in 1879. So we discover that the birthday and deathday of this amazing invention falls on the same day.

Pondering this, I wonder if something else is passing—the freedom of Americans to make their own choices. As we see with the ban on incandescents, it is not that they were dangerous or unsafe (they are actually safer than CFLs because of the mercury in CFLs), but only that some people in decision-making positions decided that it's just better if we get rid of them. Incandescents are not as energy efficient as CFLs, so they must be banned. I don't like banning things just because I may not like them. This way of thinking leads to a soft totalitarianism, and it makes me concerned about the future of this once-great nation.