If you caught the Garrison Keillor and A Prairie Home Companion the other night you may have noticed that Meryl Streep was crying as she, the cast, crew and audience, sang America the Beautiful to end the show. Us Democrats, liberals, progressives, etc. can be as patriotic as anyone. We need to let people know that. I hope you have your flag out today.
Seeing Keillor on PBS reminded me of what he said when I saw him and APHC at Ocean Grove, NJ two years ago. It was soon after the news of Abu Ghraib broke. Keillors condemnation of this administration and where it is taking our nation was as biting and eloquent as any I heard. I have transcribed the appropriate section from his News from Lake Wobegon that night. His talk was centered on high school graduation and commencement speeches.
His News after the break
A Prairie Home Companion 6/12/04
The terrible things that righteous people can do. People without a shred of self-doubt. A person without any doubt is a monster. I'm horrified. I'm horrified that torture of prisoners is American policy. I'm just terribly horrified. Say I'm wrong. I hope to be wrong but I'd hate to see enlisted men and women being made scapegoats in order to protect policy makers. It's not who we are. America is a refuge for people who've suffered from torture and oppression. If we practice it ourselves then what plan does god have for us? Think about all these things as you look upon all the graduates at Lake Wobegon High School. How could you not be romantic? How could you not want to give them the sweet good country that was given to us? We have a long way to go.
http://prairiehome.publicradio.org/...