I had a waking dream last night in which Newt Gingrich was lobbying to have the word "United" in the "United States Of America" formally removed once and for all. As a result, we would all live in a country called simply "The States Of America" -- and eventually just "The States" in order too appeal to a younger demographic since "The States" sounds a little bit more like "The Hills."
Most of us can recall that beautiful New Testament passage that Abraham Lincoln's famously quoted about how "a house divided against itself cannot stand." Yet here we are growing increasingly comfortable with our toxic level of American disunity and division, one that seems to reflect an embarrassing appetite for mutually assured self-destruction.
At a time when America faces more actual problems than any other time in my life, we never seem to miss a chance to miss a chance to be fair and balanced, for real. Instead, of focusing on all the issues and outright problems that unite us, we seem committed to fighting about things that arguably don't really matter to most of us, including on precisely what block it's okay to build a religious community center in Lower Manhattan. To me, this notably tense moment in American history reminds me of these words by Will Rogers: "I bet after seeing us, George Washington would sue us for calling him `father.'"
Come on, America, let's get it together and face the music as one. Here's my playlist meant to help us all sing as one.
AMERICAN TUNE - Paul Simon
UNITED WE STAND - Brotherhood Of Man
LET'S STAY TOGETHER - Al Green
WHY CAN'T WE LIVE TOGETHER? - Steve Winwood
SAVE THE COUNTRY - Laura Nyro
MISS AMERICA - David Byrne
AMERICA - Prince
TOGETHER AGAIN - Buck Owens
LET'S STICK TOGETHER - Bryan Ferry
THE CHAIN - Fleetwood Mac
GET TOGETHER - Madonna
LET US BREAK BREAD TOGETHER - The Blind Boys Of Alabama
AMERICAN SATURDAY NIGHT - Brad Paisley
THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND - Woody Guthrie
UNITY - Bunny Wailer
JESUS CHILDREN OF AMERICA - Stevie Wonder
EVERYDAY AMERICA - Sugarland
EVERYBODY'S HURTING - Jakob Dylan
GOD BLESS AMERICA - James McMurtry
AMERICA - Bree Sharp
AMERICAN WAY - John Stewart
AMERICAN IDIOT - Green Day
WILD AMERICA - Iggy Pop
AMERICA - Neil Diamond
AMERICA - Simon & Garfunkel
GET TOGETHER - The Youngbloods
U.N.I.T.Y. - Queen Latifah
ONLY IN AMERICA - Brooks & Dunn
UNITED STATES - Smashing Pumpkins
WHY CAN'T WE BE FRIENDS? - War
UNITED STATE - Daryl Hall & John Oates
AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL - Neil Young
SOMEDAY WE'LL BE TOGETHER - Diana Ross & The Supremes
ONE - U2
Now let's see the democratic process in action - please share your America tunes for today below.