One Flag, One God – v3

So often, in this world, cluttered, confused

allegiance to consumption, to things,

Black Friday, Cyber Monday;

as if they are worthy;

not standing for anything.

Idols only, evil, keeping us from God;

but these words, “one nation under God”

different than the others, set apart;

a calling deep within our spirits

of a relationship with God

as a people, this prayer for our nation.

Not that we are special,

better than other nations,

not that God carries our battles;

but that we, as a people,

would live by His commandments.

Part of our dream, our prayer, in forming a nation

is that our nation would live under His reign

that our dreams, our aspirations, our policies,

that our laws, our daily lives

would be pleasing to God.

This is our prayer, this is our hope

especially on this day, these hallowed days,

remembering the words on the Declaration,

written on the page,

and the prayer within them

for this nation, one nation under God.

====

edited December 1, 2014

One Flag, One God – v3

(editing version 2)

edited June 14, 2014

One Flag, One God – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2014/06/one-flag-one-god-v2.html

Flag Day

edited June 14, 2014

That We Would Be – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2014/06/that-we-would-be-v2.html

Flag Day

June 27, 2010

That We Would Be

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2010/06/that-we-would-be.html

written for July 4^th celebration

Wesley United Methodist Church

www.concordwumc.org

Concord, NH

July 4, 2010

&

June 30, 2009

One Flag, One God

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2009/06/one-flag-one-god.html

written for July 4^th celebration

Wesley United Methodist Church

Concord, NH

July 4, 2009

All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 34,050+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

On the Fourth – v2

On the Fourth

and all year long

we must never forget

words on that parchment so long ago

Our prayer of that day

still true here and now

our nation to be true, all to be free

as our Creator intended

Free from oppression,

to pursue, happiness to find

within ourselves

and with our God

A vision worthy to uphold,

a hope to share with the world;

May we never forget

to hold these words in our hearts

---

edited July 2, 2014

On the Fourth – v2

July 4, 2008

On the Fourth

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2008/07/blog-post_05.html

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2008/07/july-4-2008-poems-at-wesley-united.html

Declaration of Independence

written for July 4^th celebration

Wesley United Methodist Church

www.concordwumc.org

Concord, NH

All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 30,890+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

One Flag, One God – v2

So often, in this world, cluttered, confused

allegiance to consumption, to things;

as if they are worthy;

not standing for anything.

Idols only, evil, keeping us from God;

but these words, “one nation under God”

different than the others, set apart;

a calling deep within our spirits

of the relationship with God

as a people, this prayer for our nation.

Not that we are special,

not that God carries our battles;

but that we, as a people,

would live by His commandments.

That our nation would live under His reign

that our dreams, our aspirations, our policies,

that our laws, our daily lives

would be pleasing to God

This is our prayer, this is our hope

especially on this day

remembering the words on the Declaration,

written on the page,

and the prayer within them

for this nation, one nation under God.

edited June 14, 2014

One Flag, One God – v2

edited June 14, 2014

That We Would Be – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2014/06/that-we-would-be-v2.html

Flag Day

June 27, 2010

That We Would Be

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2010/06/that-we-would-be.html

written for July 4^th celebration

Wesley United Methodist Church

www.concordwumc.org

Concord, NH

July 4, 2010

-------------------

One Flag, One God

So often, in this world, cluttered, confused

allegiance to consumption, to things;

as if they are worthy.

Idols only, evil, keeping us from God;

but these words, “one nation under God”

different than the others, set apart

a calling deep within our spirits

of the relationship with God

as a people, a prayer for our nation

Not that we are special,

not that God carries our battles;

but that we, as a people,

would live by His commands

That our nation would live under His reign

that our dreams, our aspirations, our policies,

that our laws, our daily lives

would be pleasing to God

This is our prayer, this is our hope

especially on this day

remembering the words on the Declaration

and the prayer within them

for this nation, one nation under God

June 30, 2009

One Flag, One God

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2009/06/one-flag-one-god.html

written for July 4^th celebration

Wesley United Methodist Church

Concord, NH

July 4, 2009

All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 30,430+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

That We Would Be – v2

In the words we share

trying to be what we profess

wishing the nobler aspects

of our creed, our hope,

would guide our steps,

the actions of our leaders,

our nation in the world.

That we would be

“one nation under God”,

aware of our responsibilities

to those poorer, weaker,

under oppression and tyranny

that we would project love

more than power,

that we would be that light

shining in the world.

This love guiding our steps

These eyes watching what we do

acting as God’s children

serving our neighbor

sharing His grace in the world

walking humbly with our God

that we would cleave to Him

that we would be worthy of His name.

These words that we share

important, to us, to the nations

understanding that while we

are a secular country;

We stand on the rock

the one God eternal

maker of heaven and earth.

edited June 14, 2014

That We Would Be – v2

Flag Day

June 27, 2010

That We Would Be

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2010/06/that-we-would-be.html

written for July 4^th celebration

Wesley United Methodist Church

www.concordwumc.org

Concord, NH

July 4, 2010

-------------------

One Flag, One God

So often, in this world, cluttered, confused

allegiance to consumption, to things;

as if they are worthy.

Idols only, evil, keeping us from God;

but these words, “one nation under God”

different than the others, set apart

a calling deep within our spirits

of the relationship with God

as a people, a prayer for our nation

Not that we are special,

not that God carries our battles;

but that we, as a people,

would live by His commands

That our nation would live under His reign

that our dreams, our aspirations, our policies,

that our laws, our daily lives

would be pleasing to God

This is our prayer, this is our hope

especially on this day

remembering the words on the Declaration

and the prayer within them

for this nation, one nation under God

June 30, 2009

written for July 4^th celebration

Wesley United Methodist Church

Concord, NH

July 4, 2009

All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 30,430+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

That We Would Be

In the words we share
trying to be what we profess
wishing the nobler aspects
of our creed, our hope
would guide our steps
the actions of our leaders
our nation in the world

That we would be
“one nation under God”,
aware of our responsibilities
to those poorer, weaker,
under oppression and tyranny
that we would project love
more than power
that we would be that light
shining in the world

This love guiding our steps
These eyes watching what we do
acting as his children
serving our neighbor
sharing his grace in the world
walking humbly with our God
that we would cleave to him
worthy of his name

These words that we share
important, to us, to the nations
understanding that while we
are a secular country
we stand on the rock
the one God eternal
maker of heaven and earth

June 27, 2010
written for July 4th celebration
Wesley United Methodist Church
Concord, NH
July 4, 2010

-------------------

One Flag, One God

So often, in this world, cluttered, confused
allegiance to consumption, to things;
as if they are worthy.

Idols only, evil, keeping us from God;
but these words, “one nation under God”
different than the others, set apart
a calling deep within our spirits
of the relationship with God
as a people, a prayer for our nation

Not that we are special,
not that God carries our battles;
but that we, as a people,
would live by His commands

That our nation would live under His reign
that our dreams, our aspirations, our policies,
that our laws, our daily lives
would be pleasing to God

This is our prayer, this is our hope
especially on this day
remembering the words on the Declaration
and the prayer within them
for this nation, one nation under God


June 30, 2009
written for July 4th celebration
Wesley United Methodist Church
Concord, NH
July 4, 2009

All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 19,220+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Without Freedom Still - edited

Our church family, our community
gathered, took time off,
pondered our freedom,
on the anniversary
our Declaration of Independence
when our forefathers dissolved the political bonds
when these colonies proclaimed, to the world,
what we as a people hoped for,
what we as a nation believed in
as a people, set apart,
that each one of us hold these truths to be self-evident,
that everyone is born equal, each one,
that the creator gave us unalienable rights,
life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

How wondrous are those words,
how much we as a country have achieved
casting off the chains that hold us back
how far together, we have to go; but
We here in this land are free, by most measures

How hard life must be
in the many places on the globe
where people are not yet free
where there are people still
in the grip of slavery, in bondage,
in fear for their lives,
for their children’s lives
for any kind of future
for religious persecution,
indiscriminant death

How blind we are as a people, as individuals,
to the realities around the world
How silent this nation is
to the evil that stalks this sphere
How much more America could do
if each of us took our freedoms more seriously
and invested in justice
to the four corners
of this troubled planet


Edited March 21, 2010
based on question from 8th grader about what word
I would use if I replaced “we” in the original version
July 4, 2007 20:36

------
Without Freedom Still

We gathered, took time off,
pondered our freedom,
on the anniversary
our Declaration of Independence
when we dissolved the political bonds
when we proclaimed, to the world,
what we hoped for, what we believed in
as a people, set apart,
that we hold these truths to be self-evident,
that we are born equal, each one,
that the creator gave us unalienable rights,
life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

How wondrous are those words,
how much we have achieved
casting off the chains that hold us back
how far we have to go; but
We are free, by most measures

How hard life must be
in the many places on the globe
where people are not yet free
where there are people still
in the grip of slavery, in bondage,
in fear for their lives,
for their children’s lives
for any kind of future
for religious persecution,
indiscriminant death

How blind we are,
to the realities around the world
How silent we are
to the evil that stalks this sphere
How much more we could do
if we took our freedoms more seriously
and invested in justice
to the four corners
of this troubled planet

July 4, 2007 20:36


Copyright by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
Contact me at Ray Foss
for usage.

Voting

Putting on my suit, my tie,
remembering the sacrifice, the will
the honor of those who penned the words
of our Declaration, our Constitution
of the blood, shed for our privilege

Our right to vote. A solemn responsibility
claiming that for which they fought,
that for which they died, on battlefields stained
innocent, righteous blood.

For them, for their honor, we vote
little pieces of liberty, of freedom
in each check, each ballot, each number,
counting our recognition, our duty
our nation, in the act of voting

March 10, 2009
Voting Day
Pembroke, NH

Understanding a moment

I feel humbled, by the power of the moment
the days we are in the midst of, something electric,
life changing in these moments of time

The coming together, the rising up,
the binding up of wounds too old to remember
to fresh to forget, of words that matter,
that hold us, our memory, our hearts

Something different, new, in the air
a hope, a chance, a responsibility
a burden too great to carry
a mantle being passed, a new generation

Oh that the times were but a little
just a little less trying, that this one
in this his time in the light
had an easier road than his forebears

So much at stake in these moments
in this turn of the hands of time
so much to pray for,
to bow our heads together

To you, oh Lord, we turn
and ask for your strength for our leaders
for this is a moment for vision
and a unity we have all but forgotten


January 17, 2009
on the juxtaposition of the
80th birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
and the inauguration of Barack Obama
as President of the United States of America
and the Presidential Oath, from the
US Constitution, Article I, Section 1, Clause 8,
repeated verbatim by the presidents. The only language in quotes
in the Constitution, unlike the general principles elsewhere.
"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully
execute the office of President of the United States,
and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend
the Constitution of the United States."

Letter from Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter, July 30, 2008 on waterboarding

July 30, 2008

Dear Mr. Foss:

Thank you for contacting my office and expressing your opposition to certain interrogation techniques, including waterboarding.

I share your belief that methods of torture, including waterboarding, hypothermia, and stress positions, are not an acceptable or humane method of obtaining information. I was proud to be an original cosponsor, with Chairman Jerrold Nadler of the Constitution Subcommittee of the Judiciary Committee, of the American Anti-Torture Act (H.R. 4114). This legislation would have extended the U.S. Army Field Manual prohibition on torture techniques like waterboarding to all U.S. government agencies. This language was included in the Intelligence Authorization Act (H.R. 2082) and would have prevented intelligence agencies from engaging in torture. The President objected to this language and subsequently vetoed the Intelligence Authorization Act.

To learn more about current legislation or about my voting record, I invite you to visit the Library of Congress legislative information website (www.thomas.gov). There, you can find the full text of a bill or a summary, who introduced it and when, who is cosponsoring it, and where it is in the legislative process. I also invite you to visit my website (http://shea-porter.house.gov) for more information about bills that I have introduced or cosponsored, and for issue updates, position statements, event announcements, or to sign up for my email newsletter.
Thank you again for contacting my office. It is a privilege to serve you in Washington.

Sincerely,

Carol Shea-Porter
Member of Congress

Letter from Congressman Carol Shea-Porter, May 28, 2008 on waterboarding

May 28, 2008

Dear Mr. Foss:

Thank you for contacting me about waterboarding. I strongly believe that methods of torture, such as waterboarding, hypothermia, and stress positions, are not an acceptable or humane method of obtaining information.

I was proud to introduce as an original cosponsor, with Chairman Jerrold Nadler of the Constitution Subcommittee of the Judiciary, the American Anti-Torture Act (H.R. 4114). H.R. 4114 would have extended the U.S. Army Field Manual prohibition on torture techniques like waterboarding to all U.S. government agencies. This language was included in the Intelligence Authorization Act (H.R. 2082) and would have prevented intelligence agencies from engaging in torture. The President objected to this language and subsequently vetoed the Intelligence Authorization Act.

I was also proud to cosponsor the Justice for Victims of Torture and Terrorism Act (H.R. 5167), which prohibits the President from granting immunity to Iraqi officials that participate in inhumane acts. H.R. 5167 has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee. As an advocate for human rights, I am closely monitoring the status of this legislation and look forward to supporting it, should it come to the House floor.

To learn more about current legislation or about my voting record, I invite you to visit the Library of Congress legislative information website (www.thomas.gov). There, you can find the full text of a bill or a summary, who introduced it and when, who is cosponsoring it, and where it is in the legislative process. I also invite you to visit my website (http://shea-porter.house.gov) for more information about bills that I have introduced or cosponsored, and for issue updates, position statements, event announcements, or to sign up for my email newsletter.

Thank you for contacting my office. It is a privilege to serve you in Washington.

Sincerely,

Carol Shea-Porter
Member of Congress

United Methodists Do Not Torture - Follow up - 3/7/08

Email on 3/7/08

The United Methodist General Board of Church and Society

Your continued support is needed on this critical issue!

Our numbers continue to grow but we still need your help! President Bush may veto the Intelligence Authorization Conference Report. Today we sent a letter to President Bush with all the signatures of our petition.

We would like you to send a letter too. Please continue to forward this email to your friends, family and colleagues and encourage them to join this important campaign.

Don't forget to call President Bush at 202-456-1111 and urge him not to veto the Intelligence Authorization Conference Report.


Public Witness Against Torture - March 10th

There will be an important "Public Witness Against Torture" rally at noon on Monday, March 10, at Upper Senate Park (Delaware and Constitution Ave., NE), in D.C.
This will be a spiritually-rooted ceremony and rally that will include brief speeches and powerful music and a call to Congress for action. Following this rally and witness, participants will be encouraged to visit the offices of their senators and representatives to urge an end to torture. Please join us for this important witness!

Torture Awareness Month - June 2008

We encourage you and your congregation to join the National Religious Campaign Against Torture in a public witness against torture by displaying a banner outside your place of worship during Torture Awareness Month (June 2008).
Go to http://www.nrcat.org/ to purchase the banner.

Are you on Facebook? Join our facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=6896929945

There is more to do! Go to www.umc-gbcs.org/UMsDoNotTorture to access anti-torture resources.

In Christ,

Bill Mefford
Director of Civil and Human Rights
The General Board of Church and Society
100 Maryland Avenue, NE
Washington, DC 20002

Costs not Expenses

A fine line in the sand
of import
to find balance of equities
costs yes, expenses no
parsing subtleties of word and meaning
A claim to need
“unambiguous” language
with clear notice
when the words are there, already
just under the surface,
the letter of the law
breathed with life
by the words they wrote
that weren’t given weight
gravitas
by the new court, new believers
seeing a piece of stare decisis
where feeling for the burden
of the defenders of the rights
the purpose of the law
is lost in parsed words

June 28, 2006 19:36
Arlington Central School Dist. Bd. of Ed. v. Murphy,
548 U.S. ___ (June 26, 2006)
(http://www.supremecourtus.gov/opinions/05pdf/05-18.pdf )

I fear Justice Breyer has it dead right, in the conclusion of his dissent –

"Nothing in the Constitution forbids us from giving significant weight to legislative history. By disregarding a clear statement in a legislative report adopted without opposition in both Houses of Congress, the majority has reached a result no Member of Congress expected or overtly desired. It has adopted an interpretation that undercuts, rather than furthers, the statute's purpose, a "free" and "appropriate" public education for "all" children with disabilities. See Circuit City Stores, Inc. v. Adams, 532 U. S. 105, 133 (2001) (Stevens, J., joined by Souter, Ginsburg, and Breyer, JJ., dissenting) ("A method of statutory interpretation that is deliberately uninformed, and hence unconstrained, may produce a result that is consistent with a court's own views of how things should be, but it may also defeat the very purpose for which a provision was enacted"). And it has adopted an approach that, I fear, divorces law from life. See Duncan, supra, at 193 (Breyer, J., joined by Ginsburg, J., dissenting)."

This decision bars the recovery of fees for experts in IDEA cases. It will have huge effects on advocates, educational consultants, evaluators, and other individuals who assist parents during special education due process hearings.


All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 18,760+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.