How I Am Spending No Kings Day #2

I was excited to hear of a new March on October 18th. I definitely planned to attend! However, there is a hitch. I spent most of last summer in the hospital, and am now recovering. I am doing well.

When I told my wife, Nancy, my plans to attend the arch and rally, we had a fight. She did not want me to go; she was afraid that all my progress would be lost. To make a long story short, I finally got it through my thick head she was right. I would lose all the progress I had gained. I thought of the hours standing on my feet and marching. So I changed my mind.

Instead, I will be spending the day meditating and visualizing a safe, peaceful and non-violent protest. If I can find a church or meeting that will perform similar activities I will attend. I plan on visualizing a safe, effective March. I will visualize millions laughing and singing songs like America the Beautiful (see below) and We Shall Overcome. People dressed like clowns, imitating ICE and Trump.

Although I can’t attend due to physical limitations, I can always speak out and write. I also plan on volunteering for service projects like the one in our town in late November. I will not let physical limits stop me from performing my Constitutional duties and responsibilities. I will continue to exercise my Constitutional rights.

America the Beautiful

O beautiful for spacious skies, For amber waves of grain, For purple mountain majesties Above the fruited plain!

America! America! God shed His grace on thee, And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet Whose stern impassioned stress, A thoroughfare for freedom beat Across the wilderness!

America! America! God mend thine every flaw, Confirm thy soul in self-control, Thy liberty in law!

O beautiful for heroes proved In liberating strife, Who more than self their country love And mercy more than life!

America! America! May God thy gold refine. Till all success be nobleness, And every gain divine!

O beautiful for patriot dream That sees beyond the years, Thine alabaster cities gleam Undimmed by human tears!

America! America! God shed His grace on thee, And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea!

Oh beautiful for halcyon skies For amber waves of grain? For purple mountain majesties Above the enameled plain!

America! America! God shed His grace on thee, Till souls wax fair as earth and air And music-hearted sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet Whose stern impassioned stress, A thoroughfare for freedom beat Across the wilderness!

America! America! God shed His grace on thee, Till paths be wrought through wilds of thought By pilgrims foot and knee!

Oh beautiful for glory-tale. Of liberating strife, When once and twice for man’s avail Men lavished precious life!

America! America! God shed His grace on thee, Till selfish gain no longer strain The banner of the free!

O beautiful for patriot dream That sees beyond the years, Thine alabaster cities gleam Undimmed by human tears!

America! America! God shed His grace on thee, Till nobler men keep once again Thy whiter jubilee!

by Katherine Lee Bates; (1859-1929) Inspired by a trip to Pikes Peak in 1893, Katherine Lee Bates wrote the poem America the Beautiful. Her poem first appeared in print on July 4, 1895 in The Congregationalist, a weekly journal. Ms. Bates revised the lyrics in 1904 and again in 1913.