Could You Be A Born Again American?

Before you answer that question, read on. Then watch the video and come back and tell us what you think.

I hadn't heard about this until last Saturday when a friend sent me an email with a link to the website where you'll find the video: "Born Again American", a project of Norman Lear and Declare Yourself. Sounded interesting, but also a bit off-putting. Of course, I had to check it out.

"Born again"" are two highly charged words in our culture. They carry a certain religious connotation that for some describes their experience of renewal and for others is a turn-off. Few of us are neutral on this subject.

Add the word "American"to the mix, and you get "Born Again American". Really? Born Again American? I resisted the urge to scoff because I do feel a renewed sense of pride and love for my country. I'm very proud that we elected Obama as our new president, but "born again"? I really didn't think I could swallow this as my brand of patriotism, even though I've always loved Norman Lear and what he's stood for. (OK, I'm a liberal's liberal in case you haven't guessed).

Then I watched the video. As I listened to the lyrics and took in the messages, "shift happened" and I came away with a different perspective. Open to the possibility of being a Born Again American, although, true be told, I'm still a bit squeamish about using the term.

However, I found the video inspiring and more importantly, I see the movement as one possibility among many for expanding the new activism created by Obama's candidacy and election. And I also see a connection with the theme we've been following here on the Hero's Journey. More on that in a bit.

What is the Born Again American movement?

From Michael Westmoreland-White over at Levellers:

In this latest project, Norman Lear has teamed up with singer/songwriter Keith Carradine and Director Mark Johnson to create a song, video, and website that promotes a "liberal patriotism" that encourages people to put the common good before narrow self interest, to become involved in community and national service, and to hold government officials responsible for working for the common good. (see lyrics here.)

The song espouses economic populism (chastising both big business and government for the destruction of the working class and middle class) and a spirit of unity across religious and racial lines. The website connects people with opportunities to serve and to get involved in holding government officials accountable.

Here's a link to the video. If you haven't already seen it, I encourage you to watch it all the way through (a little over 6 minutes) and pay special attention to the lyrics. The singers and musicians are all non-professionals, chosen not for their strength as performers, although they're great, but for the authentic stories they're singing. They're singing their hero's journey stories.

I've now watched the video 4-5 times. A note to readers about the lyrics:

There's one part of the song that blends religion with a kind of civic morality that may leave some a bit uneasy. The phrase, "My Bible and the Bill of Rights" struck me as slightly odd for a project like this. While honoring both the Bible and the Bill of Rights, I'm not totally comfortable using them in the same sentence. However, looking past that, I can still fully embrace the overall message and the spirit in which it is delivered. I'm curious to hear what you think.

Born Again Remix Challenge

An ancillary website: Remix America invites viewers to submit their own lyrics to the music, telling their own stories and become part of this larger song about the re-awakening of the American spirit.

Here's where we rejoin the Hero's Journey theme. In an earlier post: Restoring America's Soul: The Hero's Journey of Barack Obama found here, I suggested that Obama's Hero's Journey is an outward manifestation, symbolic of our collective yearning for unity and wholeness.

After the last eight years, we long to feel united as a country again. Putting aside partisan politics, we desperately want to believe in the vision President Obama has articulated. Democrat or Republican, we all agree on the need to restore our country's standing with the rest of the world and most of us really want to bridge the partisan gap and learn to care about each other again. We've lost something important to the soul of America and that is our connection to one another.

Yet there are cynics among us who will scoff at such optimism and hope this form of "liberal patriotism" fails. President Obama, mindful of old style of attack politics, warned in his inaugural address: "What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them, that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long, no longer apply."

With all the "bad" news we're confronting, here's some "good" news.....

"Shift" Has Happened!

Those of us who have stood for transformation, lo these many decades, are getting to see the fruits of our labors. Carl Jung predicted the 21st century would be known as The Age of Transformation and we are beginning to see it becoming the prevailing paradigm of our time. We may not be totally there yet, but a critical mass of conscious, awakened human beings is closer than we think.

What if our collective Hero's Journey task is to bring our individual voices to the choir and sing a new song about America and what it stands for? The Born Again American project is an effort to do just that. To bring together all the voices in the choir, the many textured, rainbow colored, patch-work quilt that is America and provide a vehicle to literally sing our stories together, like strands in the quilt.

There are many ways to sing your song, tell your story, and add your voice to this choir. This is but one. If this one doesn't suit you, find another. Somehow, someway, somewhere, sometime before you die, your voice needs to be heard. Most of all; by you.

Consider that your Hero's Journey is about discovering your voice and singing the song you came to the planet to sing. Maybe your song is about being the best parent you can be, or the best teacher, lover, listener, friend, sister, brother, neighbor. Consider that your unique gift is like music and no one can play your music but you. The orchestra and choir are warming up. Are you ready to join in? There's a place that has your name on it.

Thanks to Norman Lear for bringing us this creative opportunity to sing our stories and open a new path for the journey to continue.

Could you be a Born Again American?

I love to receive your thoughts, reactions, and comments to these posts, and endeavor to respond to most of them. So please visit the Post A Comment section below and stop back later if you care to read my response. Also, consider subscribing to the RSS feed so you won't miss any future posts.

Thanks so much for being a part of this reader community.

***

For personal contact (to which I also respond) I can be reached at [e-mail].

Comments

[athenasword]

"born again" doesn't sit well with me. I like the project and the intention, but those words just don't sing and I if I give it some thought today, I'm sure there is a phrase that would be better at expressing this new surge of pride and excitement.

Now, I agree that a word is just a word. And it can be re-cast. If it has been twisted or demonized then it can possibly be reclaimed or restored. But think about words like Hag, Crone or Swastika. None are bad - in fact all are sacred or words of honor - but after all the years of bad press it is kind of hard to start using them in public.

And, I too had a bit of a cringe putting the Bible and the Bill of Rights in a sentence together. I can love my country - even without a bible.

More to share later on the Hero's Journey. Judith, what a wonderful discussion you are weaving!

[Dr. Judith Rich - Huffpost Blogger]

You give us food for thought, athenasword.

Is it possible to recast this charged language? Can we own it as our own? Do we want to? Can we make room in the choir for those who do AND for those who don't? Can we make music together even if we sing different lyrics? Questions for further investigation. Stay tuned.

Yes, we've much more to come on the Hero's Journey, please come back and be part of that weaving. It's all coming together, even if it isn't yet evident. This conversation is leading us to see the quilt we're creating. We're just bringing in some new threads to add texture and color.

Bless you!
Judith

[Romeover]

"My bible and the bill of rights, my creed's equality".

It seems that this line should read: "My bible IS the bill of rights, my creed's equality."

It scans better, makes more sense, and isn't obviously bigoted.

But you can't sell that in America.

Anyway, the video is beautiful and powerful. I cried.

[Kari Henley - Huffpost Blogger]

Thank you, Judith, for bringing this issue and this site to the forefront for so many of us who would not have found it otherwise.
And, thank you, Normal Lear, for responding in such an eloquent way.

What is in a name, but the chance to rethink it and re-cast it in a new light.

So many of us feel like newborn Americans; vulnerable, afraid, craving comfort and filled with hope at the same time. With time and encouragement, we will find our feet and walk towards a new future as one nation.
Fantastic work
Kari

[Dr. Judith Rich - Huffpost Blogger]

Kari,

You are so right! I couldn't have said it better. Call it whatever we want, so many of us do feel like "newborns" again. It's so amazing to see how language shapes our reality. We could say "new born" and feel comforted as you suggest, but "born again" just has so much of a historical charge to it, many cannot see beyond it.

It's just like Barack Hussein Obama's name. Some people want to "make something" of his middle name. We're even afraid to speak it for fear of evoking some negative response. We need to get past this. His middle name, Hussein, is a fact. It's a word. We can make of it whatever we want.

Thanks for your encouraging and empowering insights!

And I love your blog today also! I hope my readers will check you out, just down the block here on the Living page.

Much love,
Judith

[Amplexis]

Those involved in this project seem well-intentioned, and for the most part I relate to the sentiment, but...

Nationalistic ballads scare me, ESPECIALLY if you have to sing about your bible (don't you have one?) in conjunction with your nation. Yeesh. Heebie-jeebies.

"This Land is Your Land" sung at the Inauguration with Pete Seeger made this old-school patriot cry like like a baby, and I do feel renewed pride for and engagement with the US these days, but I can't be "born again" because I never "died"!

The United States of America is not a religion, and "Born Again American" gets way too close to that line for my full support. Thank you, however, for the call to civic engagement and personal responsibility.

Here's hoping the founders of the project make a re-write of their "first draft".

[Dr. Judith Rich - Huffpost Blogger]

Dear Amplexis,

We must make sure we don't confuse "nationalism" with "patriotism". They're two totally different things. I think Lear's project definitely falls under the category of patriotism.

Nationalism is "my country right or wrong" and don't ask questions, don't allow dissent. We've been there for the past 8 years and we saw how that worked out.

"Patriotism", according to Mark Twain, is "being loyal to my country all the time, but being loyal to my government when it deserves it". President Obama quoted this in his speech on patriotism during the campaign.

The soldier who blew the whistle on Abu Ghuraib was a patriot. Patriots are the guardians of the vision the founding fathers articulated for our country and they're willing to hold the government accountable for staying on course with that vision and to call them out when they don't.

Choosing to be a patriot carries with it the responsibilities of holding ourselves accountable and that includes our elected leaders. This is what I think Norman Lear's project is calling us to. But it's interesting to see how much the language shapes our perceptions. Can you align with the spirit of it even if you don't agree with every word?

Thanks for your comment,
Judith

[somsoc]

Yes, what you name it matters, the "born again" term is such a negative connotation that it, in my world, can never be used in a positive manner. It immediately connotes b!gotry, h@tred, sexism, and so much more, all of it negative.

[Dr. Judith Rich - Huffpost Blogger]

Hello somsoc and the readers here,

Our conversation here has elicited a response from none other than Norman Lear himself. Please read his blog, posted today: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/norman-lear/born-again-american-how-t_b_162180.html.

Thank YOU Norman, you really are tuned into what's happening here at the grassroots level. I love your analogy of the "dryness", down here at the roots and to hear directly from you how the "born again" idea came about as a way to bring new "juice" to us all.

For readers here who are focused on what may irritate you about the language used in the video, I think the point of the project is to have us look beyond what separates us and come together based on what binds us, our common American heritage.

Can we bring new meaning to the very oldest of ideas, that to be "born again" into love of country, also means we carry responsibility (not as a burden, but as a privilege) to insure our country live up to its ideals? Can we be the stewards of those ideals and not only connect across our differences, but celebrate them?

Let's redefine what it means to be "born again"..... think of it as renewal. To "make new again" our commitment to uphold the vision of our founding fathers and hold our government accountable for staying on track with those ideals.

Thanks to those who've taken the time to weigh in here.

Many blessings,
Judith

[Dr. Judith Rich - Huffpost Blogger]

A quote from Lear's blog today on why he started the Born Again American movement:

"What we are all looking for is an urgent reawakening to the highest purposes and deepest obligations of our citizenship."

He is attempting to, as Obama has said often on the campaign trail, "Call us up to the better angels of our nature".

If we're going to truly come together and reawaken to those ideals, isn't it time we let go of the bitterness of the past and instead, turn our focus to what's possible now? It seems like a perfect opportunity for us to walk the talk. How are we going to heal old wounds if we won't let go of ?

Yes, those words, "born again" have been used to divide people. Norman Lear has always nudged us to not only see our prejudices, but to look beyond them. What can we have it mean now? We have turned a page in history and are in a time of possibility.

Can we look with new eyes or will we be consumed by our cynicism, based on the past? I think that's one of the biggest challenges facing us now, for both "right" and "left".

Let's keep this discussion going,
Judith

[AngieColbert]

This call to service, call to re-birth, call to fall in love again with the foundation of our own patriotic roots has me think back to the previous blog on the solstice and coming of spring. The spring of our future is coming! Despite the cold darkness of winter, life has begun to rise up, blossoming in new possibility!

[FabulousAt52]

I was also put off by the bible reference and the terminology "born again". Unfortunately for the rest of us, very conservative Christians will 'hijack" those references to mean we are a "Christian nation...." and that our very foundation is "Christian based" and by golly, this wonderful song proves it!

Honestly, I was never this cynical and jaded towards *any* religious belief system -- before the last 8 years. I am from a large Catholic family, but I made difference spiritual choices more than 30 years ago.
It never caused issues with my family or my relationship with them. But the Christian Right has been so incredibly intrusive into our society and collective mindset, that I am hyper-sensitive to their agenda for the Christianizing of America. It needs to stop. That agenda does nothing but divide us, and support racism and bigotry on several levels.

I resent the term "Non believers" as well. Just because I am not Christian, doesn't mean I don't believe in ANYTHING, (or anything 'worthy' of consideration).
Even atheists have their "beliefs". the label Non-believers is offensive.

Sorry to seem so bitter... but damage has been done to us ALL because of religious exclusivity
and extremism. I'm tired so very of it oozing into every fiber of our lives...

[Dr. Judith Rich - Huffpost Blogger]

Dear Fabulous@52,

I'm sure you are! (fabulous, that is!)

I really hear the hesitation, anger and pain from old wounds in your speaking. All the years of "us vs. them" have taken a toll on all of us and we struggle to find common ground with our own people again.

I do think its time for us to get bigger than our fears and reach beyond the conversations of the past. I know there's a healing needed in order for us to do that, and it's time to begin. If we hold the intention to come together as Americans, not conservative right wingers vs. liberals, but as people with a common bond and much at stake together, we'll find a way.

People like Rush Limbaugh, who've stood for right Vs. left, are being called to task. I think we won't stand for that brand of divisiveness any more. I pray not. Let's find a language we can share that works for everyone, and not get stuck in needing to be right or making others wrong.

There's a bigger game to play now and it's called moving forward together, honoring our past and creating a future that allows everyone to win. What's the alternative?

Thanks for your contribution here, and stay fabulous!

Blessings,
Judith

[tgig]

I LOVE THIS!

thanks
Jason

[Norge]

I am curious about how the American Indian would think and feel about this idea and the new type of nationalism and patriotism. They of course are the group who has suffered the most in that area of the world in relationship to the land, their people and lose, lose, lose.

I hope for them Obama will also be an inspiration as also the original indiginious people of Hawaii who lost their kingdom and the overthrow of their queen.

Terrible injustices have been done through the many decades and Obama with his back ground and history and historical earth shaking election will now be able to change some of those awful wrongs.

Congratulations America on your wise choice for president and I am glad for the American people that they have traveled so far within themselves to actually put a non white in the whitemans' house.

Though born again is from my perspective dangerous connections as people become vulnerable to being manipulated by others and can have those good values twisted and turned on and against them.

[Dr. Judith Rich - Huffpost Blogger]

Dear Norge,

I share your concerns and curiosity about our indigenous people. Let's give them a voice.

We need to reconcile the injustices of the past by acknowledging them and taking responsibility, however that looks.

I, too, am proud that we've come this far. Thanks for seeing that in us. We have farther to go, obviously. But the work has begun. American has always played a big role on the world stage. We now get to share that stage with all the nations and make room for everyone to play big.

Thanks, dear Norge, for sharing your thoughts here.

All the best your way,
Judith

[Norge]

Thank you Doctor for your generous response and using some of your time to do such.
Such does not often occur.

Norge

[Eli Davidson - Huffpost Blogger]

Dearest Judith,
What a rousing call to action! Yes, I am proud to call myself Born Again for the very first time of my life. I have never been more proud to call myself an American. I am still reeling at the concept.

What a thrill that we are taking patriotism back.

Thank you for taking us by the hand and inviting us to join one another in reclaiming our nation.

Bless You!
Eli Davidson

[Dr. Judith Rich - Huffpost Blogger]

Hello Eli,

Yes, can you believe it?

The night of the inauguration, I attended a ball in Marin. It was totally packed and everyone was SO jubilant! It was crazy! I looked around at the crowd, and mind you, this was a fairly sophisticated group of people. They/we were giddy, like children almost. No one could believe that we'd actually done it, that "shift had happened". I had the thought, "transformation has entered the mainstream".

I know there's a lot more work to do, but I never thought I'd live long enough to see even this much evidence. It's enough to make one Born Again, huh?

Thanks to you for bringing such a vibrant voice to this choir!

Many blessings to you,
Judith

[frepstein]

Judith,

I totally love this whole concept. I AM a BORN AGAIN AMERICAN. I love having a new connotation for the term 'Born Again' which has been such a put off for so long for so many of us. Not that I haven't always been a patriot but I certainly have been ashamed of most of what has been happening these last 8 years. Particularly embarrassing to travel outside this country and to see through others eyes, unable to defend it.

I feel a renewed pride and excitement that I haven't in even more than 8 years. I agree that this transition has shifted us into the paradigm of transformation many of us have been working towards.

[Dr. Judith Rich - Huffpost Blogger]

Dear frepstein,

I love your comment and couldn't agree more! I too, have spent extensive time outside the country and felt it best to be very low key about my origins, even in countries very friendly to the U.S.

It's so wonderful to feel a renewed sense of pride in this country again. We have a lot of work to do to repair our relationships with the rest of the world, but I trust and believe that Obama will lead us down the right path.

Let's pray that he does and that we all can be born again with a renewed sense of pride in country.

Much love,
Judith

[jmk2]

I agree with the others that this is a beautiful and very moving song.

I also do not care for the words "My bible and the bill of rights." They do not fit with rest of the chorus which talks about liberty and equality. However, I looked around at the website for the Born Again American project and came across the bio of Keith Carradine who wrote the lyrics for "Born Again American." He stated that he was inspired by the founding fathers and the constitution and that for him "my bible is the bill of rights." Those words fit with the rest of the chorus.

More than likely this phrase was in the song initially but then "is" changed to "and" so that some people would not be offended. I think that the reference to the bill of rights should remain, but the words "my bible and" should be replaced by something much more fitting.

Overall beautiful and inspiring song. I hope it gets a large viewership.

[Dr. Judith Rich - Huffpost Blogger]

Me too, jmk2. You can help expand the viewership by forward this link to others.

Thanks for the extra insight you got from snooping around the website. I always love it readers bring new information to the conversation!

Notice that one reader commented just the opposite as Carradine: "The Bill of Rights is my Bible". You know what? There's room in the choir for both verses of this song. That's what's so great about our country.

I very much appreciate your comment.

Many blessings to you,
Judith

[Bertball]

I wish they had not mentioned the bible. I am tired of feeling that people will express freedom to worship whatever they want but not freedom from god. We will have a female, gay, and Hispanic president before we ever have an admitted true Atheist.

[Dr. Judith Rich - Huffpost Blogger]

Bertball,

A LOT of people agree with your sentiment. And yet, there are those who recoil at the thought of an atheistic country. We'll never settle on just one way to be, and that's the beauty of this country. But I can see how you must feel that religion gets shoved down our throats whether we like it or not.

I'm sure you've learned how not to swallow! It's a handy skill to have........

All the best,
Judith

[AZAcct]

If you were a member of a church that received a pastor who embarrased you, caused doubt, stole your money, tortured people...how much would you believe after 8 years? You'd probably stop going to that church...or be seriously questioning your faith.

If one's church is America and their pastor the president...then this month there was an awakening.

I am a reborn American. The past 8 years have caused me to feel shame, horror and fear...I questioned this country's direction on a daily basis. I am filled with hope now.

(oh...and Sarah Palin was like the snake in the garden of eden...I'm glad America didn't eat the apple).

[Dr. Cara Barker - Huffpost Blogger]

O.K., I've just got to say it: reading your blog could not be more timely. On a personal note, there's nothing like considering 'born again' on your birthday!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!! While I've been most uncomfortable with the term over the past years, in that it so often connotes a 'better than', that frankly, I believe would leave Jesus appauled, today, January 28th, I find inviting. Since today is my birthday, I've found it to be very useful over the years to use the day for reflection: a self-audit, if you will. Today, I got the bonus of your words, your insight, (always compelling), and the references.

Thank you, Judith. I was not familiar with the retake on this movement. While I sense the Biblical reference part is off-putting to many, there is something refreshing here. I vote for a deepening of our inclusion, that all people, of all faiths and ethnicities, be equally valued, praised, for not only the similiarities, but the unique differences in our gifts, our strengths. This makes the distillation so rich.
Love and blessings,
Cara
P.S. Once again, our blogs are interwoven. Ah, Carl Jung would smile!

[RTN]

I, a lifelong conservati­ve/liberta­rian echo Cara's thoughts. Although not a christian, the bible lines don't bother me any more than would the words of Rumi. We need to expand our inclusiveness of all faiths and all walks of life. The last eight years haven't been the greatest I've ever seen and I am hopeful, with good deal of skepticism, for the next four and I am a Born Again American. Love to both Cara and Judith. Tom Nelson

[Dr. Judith Rich - Huffpost Blogger]

Hi Tom,

Thanks for adding your voice to the choir and so nice to see you here! I think your point of view, "hopeful, with a good deal of skepticism" sounds like a good place to be for someone who calls himself a lifelong conservati­ve/liberta­rian.

I hope all of us can look beyond ideologies and see our commonalities, not only differences. There is more that joins us than separates us.

Many blessings to you Tom,
Judith

[Dr. Judith Rich - Huffpost Blogger]

Indeed! Happy Birthday, dear friend!

Love,
Judith

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

Oh Dear Dear Ruth-- Deb and I are Born Again Americans--

There are tears of joy on our cheeks after seeing this exquisite video. Our hearts are open and we feel gratitude.

May all people be happy,

Big Love, Big Hugs,

Ed

[Dr. Judith Rich - Huffpost Blogger]

Hi Ed,

Ruth, Cara, I'll answer to any and all names, but my real name is Judith!

I can feel the spirit of your gratitude and open heart all the way from Hawaii!

Gratefully,
Judith

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

Whoops again! Judith--It was the tears of joy in my eyes.

What's in a name? I do know who you are and I will keep that close.

Judith, Ruth, Cara = love,

Ed