I can't ever think of the right thing to say . . .

. . . but G. K. Chesterton sure does.

"O God of earth and altar, bow down and hear our cry,

Our earthly rulers falter, our people drift and die;

The walls of gold entomb us, the swords of scorn divide;

Take not Thy thunder from us, but take away our pride.

From all that terror teaches, from lies of tongue and pen,

From all the easy speeches that comfort cruel men;

From sale and profonation of honor and the sword;

From sleep and from damnation, deliver us, good Lord!

Tie in a living tether the prince and priest and thrall;

Bind all our lives together, smite us and save us all;

In ire and exultation, aflame with faith, and free,

Lift up a living nation, a single sword, to Thee."

"O God of Earth and Altar," 1906, by George Keith Chesterton

(set to "Kings Lynn" traditional English melody, arr. Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1906)

These words fill me both with fierce patriotism and with sorrow.

I wish, with thousands of other Americans, it could truly be this way.

And a thank-you to Chesterton:

though I don't really appreciate all your words against John Calvin,

I am quite sure you have since discovered what is true.