Since we the plain people built something to last.
A revolutionary spark in the night,
Where everyday citizens stepped in the light. 🕯️
But freedom takes effort, it doesn’t just stand,
When shadows of tyranny creep through the land.
So do not obey in advance, we are told,
Keep truth in your heart, and be steady and bold. 🛡️
Defend institutions—the courts and the press,
For they need our voices to clean up the mess.
Defend multiparties, protect every vote,
And keep our republic so safely afloat. ⚖️
Hold fast to your ethics, whatever your trade,
And wipe away symbols of hate on parade.
When leaders start marching with torches and lies,
Stand up and stand out beneath liberty's skies. 🦅
If truth is abandoned, then freedom is gone,
So dig for the facts as we journey along.
Support the free papers, read carefully, too,
And separate lies from the things that are true. 📰
Get out of your chair, step away from the screen,
Go march in the streets where the people convene!
Protect your own secrets and keep your mind clear,
And do not let tyrants control you with fear. 🚶♀️
When false, sudden panics come rattling the door,
Remember the founders who faced them before.
As Frederick Douglass so wisely declared,
They acted as rebels because they all cared. 📜
In twenty-twenty-six, as the midterms draw near,
We’ll vote for the values we hold very dear.
Choose leaders who champion justice and law,
To keep our democracy free from a flaw! 🇺🇸
————————————-
We are the Pro-Democracy Comment-Chain Crew, using our comments to boost pro-democracy leaders and indie media. Employingthe Algorithm Advantage so truth can grow! ✨🇺🇸🗳️⚖️🕯️🌱
Beautifully written, Katie and thank you for all that you do. There are so many more good people than bad, we just need to know how to approach them. We should all share our personal experiences with each other, it feels liberating when we do.
We have ways to approach people. We just need more volunteers to take it on. I've run canvasses for 15 years and we never have enough people to knock doors. Most people are afraid to talk to individual "strangers" and won't push themselves out of their comfort zones, even when the state of our democracy is at stake. Yet we know that talking individually with people, and LISTENING to people, is what it takes to increase the vote.
Since we the plain people built something to last.
A revolutionary spark in the night,
Where everyday citizens stepped in the light. 🕯️
But freedom takes effort, it doesn’t just stand,
When shadows of tyranny creep through the land.
So do not obey in advance, we are told,
Keep truth in your heart, and be steady and bold. 🛡️
Defend institutions—the courts and the press,
For they need our voices to clean up the mess.
Defend multiparties, protect every vote,
And keep our republic so safely afloat. ⚖️
Hold fast to your ethics, whatever your trade,
And wipe away symbols of hate on parade.
When leaders start marching with torches and lies,
Stand up and stand out beneath liberty's skies. 🦅
If truth is abandoned, then freedom is gone,
So dig for the facts as we journey along.
Support the free papers, read carefully, too,
And separate lies from the things that are true. 📰
Get out of your chair, step away from the screen,
Go march in the streets where the people convene!
Protect your own secrets and keep your mind clear,
And do not let tyrants control you with fear. 🚶♀️
When false, sudden panics come rattling the door,
Remember the founders who faced them before.
As Frederick Douglass so wisely declared,
They acted as rebels because they all cared. 📜
In twenty-twenty-six, as the midterms draw near,
We’ll vote for the values we hold very dear.
Choose leaders who champion justice and law,
To keep our democracy free from a flaw! 🇺🇸
————————————-
We are the Pro-Democracy Comment-Chain Crew, using our comments to boost pro-democracy leaders and indie media. Employingthe Algorithm Advantage so truth can grow! ✨🇺🇸🗳️⚖️🕯️🌱
Oh my Katie, such a beautiful heartfelt tribute to America and the renditions from Marvin and Whitney. I am still wiping my tears. I have such hope for the great people of this country. Thank you and Happy Independence Day.
I love the part about baseball and optimism. As a veteran, I know that tomorrow is always worth fighting for. This country is a great experiment, and we just need to keep working to make it better. Thank you for sharing these beautiful words.
Baseball has always been my passion. There's something poetic about the game. I always recall the famous Roger Angell line: "Since baseball time is measured only in outs, all you have to do is succeed utterly; keep hitting, keep the rally alive, and you have defeated time."
I used to keep it on my tv outside my darkroom while I worked in the summer because of its summery vibe. I don't follow it at all although a former business partner of mine was the photographer for the Cleveland Indians in the 1980s. But it has an aura.
Beautiful. As a 50+ year Cubs fan in 2016, I too cried when they won. I thank you for being here - it's people like you who speak the truth emphatically who make this country great.
As a 60+ year Red Sox fan, 2004 holds that special place for me. My father-in-law passed the year before, and my wife always thought that he had a chat with God about this "curse" thing. I'm so happy that I was able to bear witness to this.
On October 7, 1968, at the height of protests against the Vietnam War, Feliciano was invited by Detroit Tigers broadcaster Ernie Harwell to perform "The Star-Spangled Banner" at Tiger Stadium in Detroit during Game 5 pre-game ceremonies of the 1968 World Series between the Tigers and the St. Louis Cardinals.
His personalized, slow, Latin jazz performance[7] proved highly controversial and damaging to Feliciano's career in the months, even years, that followed. Some listeners thought he had "desecrated" and disrespected the national anthem but when asked about it, Feliciano explained that the reason he offered a non-traditional rendition of the anthem was to get people to pay attention to it.[13]
In a November 2017 NPR broadcast, he expressed pride at being the one to open the door for artists who could later interpret the nation's anthem.[14]
His World Series rendition, which features Feliciano accompanying himself on an acoustic guitar,[7] was released as a single that charted for 5 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 50; the first time the United States' anthem appeared on the American music charts. That recording of the national anthem is now on permanent exhibit in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York."
Beautiful, thank you, Katie. America is not and never will be perfect. Nothing and nobody is perfect. But we have to keep striving for that perfection. My Dad used to say: shoot for the moon, the worst that can happen is you land amongst the stars.
What a gawjus essay, Katie! Congrats on your win last week! We are so lucky that you are one of our defenders (and prosecutors)!
Hear! Hear!
Plus, the iconic Marvin Gaye - and the UNSURPASSED Whitney Houston to boot!
And the illustrious Katie Phang is well on her way to both!
🗽 The Rebels of Our Time
Two hundred and fifty long years have now passed,
Since we the plain people built something to last.
A revolutionary spark in the night,
Where everyday citizens stepped in the light. 🕯️
But freedom takes effort, it doesn’t just stand,
When shadows of tyranny creep through the land.
So do not obey in advance, we are told,
Keep truth in your heart, and be steady and bold. 🛡️
Defend institutions—the courts and the press,
For they need our voices to clean up the mess.
Defend multiparties, protect every vote,
And keep our republic so safely afloat. ⚖️
Hold fast to your ethics, whatever your trade,
And wipe away symbols of hate on parade.
When leaders start marching with torches and lies,
Stand up and stand out beneath liberty's skies. 🦅
If truth is abandoned, then freedom is gone,
So dig for the facts as we journey along.
Support the free papers, read carefully, too,
And separate lies from the things that are true. 📰
Get out of your chair, step away from the screen,
Go march in the streets where the people convene!
Protect your own secrets and keep your mind clear,
And do not let tyrants control you with fear. 🚶♀️
When false, sudden panics come rattling the door,
Remember the founders who faced them before.
As Frederick Douglass so wisely declared,
They acted as rebels because they all cared. 📜
In twenty-twenty-six, as the midterms draw near,
We’ll vote for the values we hold very dear.
Choose leaders who champion justice and law,
To keep our democracy free from a flaw! 🇺🇸
————————————-
We are the Pro-Democracy Comment-Chain Crew, using our comments to boost pro-democracy leaders and indie media. Employingthe Algorithm Advantage so truth can grow! ✨🇺🇸🗳️⚖️🕯️🌱
Beautifully written, Katie and thank you for all that you do. There are so many more good people than bad, we just need to know how to approach them. We should all share our personal experiences with each other, it feels liberating when we do.
We have ways to approach people. We just need more volunteers to take it on. I've run canvasses for 15 years and we never have enough people to knock doors. Most people are afraid to talk to individual "strangers" and won't push themselves out of their comfort zones, even when the state of our democracy is at stake. Yet we know that talking individually with people, and LISTENING to people, is what it takes to increase the vote.
I LOVE to canvass. I hate phone banking and it's gotten worse with virtually everyone having caller ID.
🗽 The Rebels of Our Time
Two hundred and fifty long years have now passed,
Since we the plain people built something to last.
A revolutionary spark in the night,
Where everyday citizens stepped in the light. 🕯️
But freedom takes effort, it doesn’t just stand,
When shadows of tyranny creep through the land.
So do not obey in advance, we are told,
Keep truth in your heart, and be steady and bold. 🛡️
Defend institutions—the courts and the press,
For they need our voices to clean up the mess.
Defend multiparties, protect every vote,
And keep our republic so safely afloat. ⚖️
Hold fast to your ethics, whatever your trade,
And wipe away symbols of hate on parade.
When leaders start marching with torches and lies,
Stand up and stand out beneath liberty's skies. 🦅
If truth is abandoned, then freedom is gone,
So dig for the facts as we journey along.
Support the free papers, read carefully, too,
And separate lies from the things that are true. 📰
Get out of your chair, step away from the screen,
Go march in the streets where the people convene!
Protect your own secrets and keep your mind clear,
And do not let tyrants control you with fear. 🚶♀️
When false, sudden panics come rattling the door,
Remember the founders who faced them before.
As Frederick Douglass so wisely declared,
They acted as rebels because they all cared. 📜
In twenty-twenty-six, as the midterms draw near,
We’ll vote for the values we hold very dear.
Choose leaders who champion justice and law,
To keep our democracy free from a flaw! 🇺🇸
————————————-
We are the Pro-Democracy Comment-Chain Crew, using our comments to boost pro-democracy leaders and indie media. Employingthe Algorithm Advantage so truth can grow! ✨🇺🇸🗳️⚖️🕯️🌱
Brilliant!!!
Love you Katie and thankful for all you’re doing for Epstein Victims and our country. Go Katie!💙
YOU are America. I love that America ...
Oh my Katie, such a beautiful heartfelt tribute to America and the renditions from Marvin and Whitney. I am still wiping my tears. I have such hope for the great people of this country. Thank you and Happy Independence Day.
Thank you for your optimistic message. My heart has most definitely been heavy of late.
There are people like you who know how to battle the lawlessness that give me hope.
I love the part about baseball and optimism. As a veteran, I know that tomorrow is always worth fighting for. This country is a great experiment, and we just need to keep working to make it better. Thank you for sharing these beautiful words.
Baseball has always been my passion. There's something poetic about the game. I always recall the famous Roger Angell line: "Since baseball time is measured only in outs, all you have to do is succeed utterly; keep hitting, keep the rally alive, and you have defeated time."
I used to keep it on my tv outside my darkroom while I worked in the summer because of its summery vibe. I don't follow it at all although a former business partner of mine was the photographer for the Cleveland Indians in the 1980s. But it has an aura.
Thank you Katie....a great post and lifted me up today.
Katie,
Happy 4th, America's birthday. We are in this together. No Kings. Peace.
Christopher and family in Upstate SC.
Right there with you!!
Beautiful. As a 50+ year Cubs fan in 2016, I too cried when they won. I thank you for being here - it's people like you who speak the truth emphatically who make this country great.
Totally, totally agree
As a 60+ year Red Sox fan, 2004 holds that special place for me. My father-in-law passed the year before, and my wife always thought that he had a chat with God about this "curse" thing. I'm so happy that I was able to bear witness to this.
You wouldn't last long in my ’hood in South Shore.
I’m married to a Chicagoland native, too and totally get it.
Oh, that was beautiful. I loved the songs. You're right, there are many things to be optimistic about. We can get over the hurdle.
Thank you so much. Plus Marvin and Whitney to start the day. Appreciate you!!
José Feliciano - The Star-Spangled Banner (1968 World Series)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-l-OKTYCvo
Oh this is amazing!!
💙 Wonderful. Goosebumps! Love Jose Feliciano. Thanks, Daniel.
"Feliciano's "Star-Spangled Banner"
On October 7, 1968, at the height of protests against the Vietnam War, Feliciano was invited by Detroit Tigers broadcaster Ernie Harwell to perform "The Star-Spangled Banner" at Tiger Stadium in Detroit during Game 5 pre-game ceremonies of the 1968 World Series between the Tigers and the St. Louis Cardinals.
His personalized, slow, Latin jazz performance[7] proved highly controversial and damaging to Feliciano's career in the months, even years, that followed. Some listeners thought he had "desecrated" and disrespected the national anthem but when asked about it, Feliciano explained that the reason he offered a non-traditional rendition of the anthem was to get people to pay attention to it.[13]
In a November 2017 NPR broadcast, he expressed pride at being the one to open the door for artists who could later interpret the nation's anthem.[14]
His World Series rendition, which features Feliciano accompanying himself on an acoustic guitar,[7] was released as a single that charted for 5 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 50; the first time the United States' anthem appeared on the American music charts. That recording of the national anthem is now on permanent exhibit in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Feliciano
A great version!!
Beautiful, thank you, Katie. America is not and never will be perfect. Nothing and nobody is perfect. But we have to keep striving for that perfection. My Dad used to say: shoot for the moon, the worst that can happen is you land amongst the stars.
Thanks Katie. You have reaffirmed why I love this wonderful country of ours.
My father, the son of a coal miner, went to West Point.
I was lucky enough to become just who I am today because I am an AMERICAN.
That is a blessing. No one will ever take from me.