We Can Still Celebrate America

Andrew Sullivan has posted a number of different pieces today titled Things We Love About America. It's a collection that is worth savoring.

Among them is this from Walt Whitman:

I hear America singing, the varied carols I hear;

Those of mechanics—each one singing his, as it should be, blithe and strong;

The carpenter singing his, as he measures his plank or beam,

The mason singing his, as he makes ready for work, or leaves off work;

The boatman singing what belongs to him in his boat—the deckhand singing on the steamboat deck;

The shoemaker singing as he sits on his bench—the hatter singing as he stands;

The wood-cutter’s song—the ploughboy’s, on his way in the morning, or at the noon intermission, or at sundown;

The delicious singing of the mother — or of the young wife at work — or of the girl sewing or washing—Each singing what belongs to her, and to none else;

The day what belongs to the day—At night, the party of young fellows, robust, friendly,

Singing, with open mouths, their strong melodious songs.

Additional favorites are Marvin Gaye singing the National Anthem and Penn & Teller celebrating America with our flag.

Oh yes, and NPR offered its powerful reading of the Declaration of Independence this morning.