Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: ..Oh, WOW!.....This jaw dropping image from the Houston Galleria area protest.. [View all]DreamGypsy
(2,252 posts)28. The Torn Flag ... a poem by Pete Seeger...
...my favorite version is recited by John Trudell (below).
The Torn Flag
At midnight in a flaming angry town
I saw my countrys flag lying torn upon the ground.
I ran in and dodged among the crowd,
And scooped it up, and scampered out to safety.
And then I took this striped old piece of cloth
And tried my best to wash the garbage off.
But I found it had been used for wrapping lies.
It smelled and stank and attracted all the flies.
While I was feverishly at my task,
I heard a husky voice that seemed to ask:
Do you think you could change me just a bit?
Betsy Ross did her best, but she made a few mistakes.
My blue is good, the color of the sky.
The stars are good for ideals, oh, so high.
Seven stripes of red are strong to meet all danger;
But those white stripes: they, they need some changing.
I need also some stripes of deep, rich brown,
And some of tan and black, then all around
A border of Gods gracious green would look good there.
Maybe you should slant the stripes, then Id not be so square.
I woke and said, What a ridiculous story.
Dont let anybody say I suggested tampering with Old Glory.
But tonight its near midnight, and in another flaming town
Once again I hear my countrys flag lies torn upon the ground.
Words and Music by Pete Seeger (1969)
("Malcolm X once debated another black man as to whether they could call themselves Americans. Im not an American, said Malcolm, Why do you think you are? Im an American because I was born here, said the other. well, you could put a shoe in an oven and that wouldnt make it a biscuit, was Malcolms retort. Im afraid I have no such choice. My light-skinned ancestors participated fully in the decisions, good and bad, which formed this nation. Ive spent a lifetime fighting the blacklisters who tried to make me feel like an outcast in my own home. I had an uncle who wrote a poem with the lines: I have a rendezvous with death / At midnight in some flaming town. . . So I made some new verses. I dont have a regular tune for it yet I kind of chant it to an improvised modal melody. Pete Seeger)
Edit history
Please sign in to view edit histories.
40 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
RecommendedHighlight replies with 5 or more recommendations
..Oh, WOW!.....This jaw dropping image from the Houston Galleria area protest.. [View all]
dixiegrrrrl
Dec 2014
OP
Sometimes I don't even like to let myself think about that too deeply, Paper Roses.
calimary
Dec 2014
#13
Ralph Reed boasted that the Christian Coalition was going to take over the GOP, then
alfredo
Dec 2014
#33
Yes, and in the end it will be those damned churches (I say that as a Christian) that will be the
jwirr
Dec 2014
#39
Two books by Reza Aslan, "No God but God" and "Zealot" will give good background
alfredo
Dec 2014
#34