SOME MUSINGS, POST JULY 4:

Positive thoughts:

• A pleasure to watch the wonderful James Cagney movie YANKEE DOODLE DANDY.  Lots of wonderful  pro-American sentiment.

• … and a moving picture in the Washington Post of immigrants from around the world becoming American citizens just before Independence Day.

But there are negative thoughts as well.

• My Jewish racquetball buddies tell me that at their local synagogue, the Rabbi begins each service by reminding people where the exits are – just in case of trouble.  My buddies advise that there is a retired policeman/armed guard on duty at their Temple 24 hours a day.

• The church where I play the organ likes “Gathering Music” each Sunday before the prelude.  For the Sunday before Independence Day, I selected the wonderful old Fred Waring arrangement of the famous Emma Lazarus poem – with the words “give me your tired, your poor….”.  I wondered if anyone in the congregation would protest any positive mention of “huddled masses” or “wretched refuse.”  Thankfully, no such protest at my wonderful church.

For what it’s worth, here is the entire Lazarus poem –