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“Remember America,” “Born in America,” and “Freedom Bird Fly” How did these great songs for freedom / America come about? By Neil Brian Goldberg I would like to write something to
explain my feelings about America, and how these songs for freedom and the
real America came about. When I think back about my parents who were both factory workers in the
garment district in Philadelphia, my heart is filled with love and appreciation
when I think about how hard they struggled to give their children every
chance they could. They helped me fulfill my dreams to learn how to sing and to
play the guitar by paying for my voice and guitar lessons. So that their children could live in a
better area, my parents commuted two hours every day to work and back. Even so, my dad always found time to drive
me to my voice lessons and waited patiently to drive me back home. I was one of the best dressed kids in school, but only because my
parents, who were so talented, made my clothes—which were as sharp as the
best money could buy. They always supported and encouraged me. These songs for America and freedom were also born out of my deepest
gratitude and devotion to the country that raised me up, educated me,
protected me, and allowed a poor kid from hard working, struggling parents,
to come up through the music industry and make a real contribution to this
society and to the world—and to make a good living while doing it. Where else but in our wonderful, free America could these dreams be
realized. I thank God that I was “Born In America.” Be sure to “Remember America,” and most of
all, let the "Freedom Bird Fly!” Born in America When I was protesting against the
Vietnam War, I became somewhat confused between being against the war and
being against my country. I never felt against America, but in the passion of
“The Movement,” I had subtle confusion. My favorite person in the world,
along with my mother, was my Jewish grandmother, my Bubby, a very religious
and wise woman. One day when I was
visiting, she was lying on the sofa, not feeling very well, and called me to
her side. Bubby did not say, “Don’t protest,” etc, but instead, she told me
this story of when she was a girl in Russia. “I had a beautiful brother,” she
said, “and the Communists beat him to death on the street in front of me,
because he was a Jew. That’s when I
knew I had to leave Russia.” She told
me how she crawled under a barbed wire fence when the Communist guard was
looking the other way, and how America took her in when she had no where in the world to go. One of the last things she said to
me as she was dying was that she wanted me to remember her. I remember you Bubby, and I remember what
you told me in “Thank God I was ‘Born In America.’” Remember America Not long after that, I traveled
with my wife to many other countries for the first time. The trip became very
hard, very troublesome, and nowhere did I find the Spirit of Freedom or the
Spirit of America. When I finally arrived back to the
gates of America, bedraggled and bleary eyed, looking like something the cat
may not have wanted to drag in, from all I had been through, the good old
American customs agent said, “Welcome Home!” I truly wanted to get down on my hands and
knees and kiss the ground of my beloved, wonderful America, except that I
thought it would embarrass my wife, so I willfully restrained myself. After all that I saw abroad of the tyranny
of the powerful few over all others, it was obvious to me that the same greed
and lust for power would surely attempt to re-define America into what I saw
and despised overseas. So came “Remember
America,” which is meant to be a warning, the sounding of an alarm way before
it’s time, and now (except for the Divine intervention which will occur) it
is already too late. Freedom Bird Fly I resumed my good and free life in
America, but now realizing and fully appreciating what I had. I could not help but write down what was
already written on my heart (as were the other America songs) “Freedom Bird
Fly.” Excerpts from Neil’s book “Fight For The Dream” © 1992/2002 There is a treasure of goodness in
America. There are ideals and values
which though tarnished by neglect are still as rare and precious as
ever. These are the ideals of fairness
and the right of the pursuit of happiness.
The ideals that all people should have the same chance to try their
best at whatever they want to do. The
ideal that the government is the servant of the people, not the
oppressor. The American ways of rooting
for the underdog and despising all forms of tyranny. Americans love fair play and good
competition. Hard work and overcoming
adversity are American traits, as is having a good time. An entire book could be written on
all of the different ideas and ways to improve our country. Instead, let's just apply the same
principles to this subject as we did to the other subjects in this book. First of all, what do we have
here? What is its value? America is the real thing. It is the land where a man or woman can
feel free, and where a person still has rights -- and the right to fight,
argue and petition -- for more rights.
It is where even the wealthy and powerful can be defeated by a single
little citizen, if the truth is on his side. There are imitations everywhere
these days. There is tin which looks
like gold and glass which looks like diamonds. Don't throw America away. Don't take something new and shiny in its
place. Look at it. What is its value? "We hold these truths to be
self-evident, the rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of
happiness." Where will you ever
find another one? It is one of a kind
and it is as precious and beautiful as ever.
It just needs to be cleaned, polished, and handled with reverence. Bring out all of the best wherever
you see it. Find the best leaders and
bring them forward, the ones with the great hearts as well as the great
abilities. Remember, Americans, that the
reason we have been so blessed for all of these years with such amazing
harvests is because the American farmers prayed hard for God's blessing on
their harvests. When they celebrated
Thanksgiving, they were really thankful because they could see first-hand God
giving them the harvest. They knew
what it would have meant had the harvest not come through. If the American family farmers disappear so
will their prayers for the harvests.
"The watchman waketh in vain, unless
God keepeth the city" and the corporate conglomerates plow in vain
unless God blesses the weather and the crops. America is the symbol of freedom and hope
and abundance to the struggling people of this troubled world. Do not throw away your country. Treasure her and all that is good about
her. Make her shine again by letting
her true brilliance show. That is the
light of liberty and the gems of freedom . . . the true worth of
America. Do not be fooled and don't trade
her for an imitation which is described by the same words but does not have
the real thing -- the glow of freedom.
There is no substitute. There is only one. Guard it and treasure it as a most prized
possession. Never sell her -- you
would lose everything. Never trade her
-- not even for the promise of peace and prosperity. You wouldn't be happy with the trade and
you could only get the bad end of the deal. If you want to stand up for
America do so after a prayer on your knees, then stand up for true liberty
and for true justice -- the ingredients for freedom. Stand up for America where God is thanked
and honored publicly. Stand up for
purity, excellence, and for goodness, wherever you see them. Resist that which hurts others in
various ways and only for its own selfish interest. Resist that which takes unfair advantage
and those who abuse power, especially power granted by the voters. Recycle America and "Let
righteousness flow like mighty waters."
Resist that which is unclean, vulgar, perverted, brutal, heartless,
and selfishly arrogant. All of these
impurities must first be overcome within ourselves and then whenever possible
as we encounter them along our way. Contribute in some way, no matter
how small, but contribute in some way to the removal of that which is
tyrannical and therefore anti-American.
Support in some way that which you
see as being positive, idealistic, strong, generous, brave, and as having
wisdom. These things are true American
traits. Precious and irreplaceable, one of
a kind, given into your hands. Pull
her out now and handle her with care.
Things of true value can always shine again . . . America is your blessing. We are at war
and the battle is now . . . Fight my friend, whether you are Christian, or
Muslim, or Jew, and whether you are this race or that. If you love
what America is supposed to be, if you still believe in the land of the free,
with liberty and justice for all, and if you care about the continuation of
the greatest, freest, most inspiring national heritage in history – fight -
because the battle is now -- for all that is good, decent, and truly
American. Fight the
economic tyrants who are stealing your nation. Think war.
Your efforts; the letters you write – the emails you send – the
conversations you have – and where you spend and give your money – and how
you vote, for the cause of freedom are your bullets, missiles, and
bombs. Fire away. Use these non-violent weapons well and you
won't be forced someday to use real ones in your own streets. Fight now! Should my book “Fight For The Dream” become
published with copies lying around many years from now, I have just one
question for the reader, now and for as long as this Earth turns: “…OH SAY DOES THAT STAR SPANGLED BANNER YET WAVE
– O’ER THE LAND OF THE FREE, AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE’ FIGHT FOR THE
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