A Liberal Revival of Americanism
A Liberal Revival of Americanism - washingtonpost.com
Woody Guthrie, a sometime columnist for the Daily Worker, wrote "This Land Is Your Land" to make the case that his beloved country ought to be governed for the benefit of its least fortunate people. One verse, routinely omitted when "This Land" is performed in elementary schools, expressed the anger of many Americans who had lost their jobs during the Great Depression: "In the squares of the city -- In the shadow of the steeple/Near the relief office -- I see my people/And some are grumblin,' and some are wonderin'/If this land's still made for you and me." Surprisingly, the 87-year-old Seeger -- Guthrie's old friend and comrade -- rasped out a variant of those lines when he and Springsteen appeared on the frigid steps of the Lincoln Memorial. To my knowledge, no prominent conservative lodged a protest. If a former communist can get away with singing a verse frequently considered too radical for schoolchildren at an event to honor a popular new president, something has definitely changed in the politics of patriotism.
Pete Seeger and Bruce Springsteen - "This Land is Your Land" - Obama Inagural Celebration Concert
