"Born Again American": How the Idea Came About

In the Living section of the Huffington Post, Dr. Judith Rich expresses her complex reaction to the title, "Could You Be A Born Again American?," a song sung in a music video by Americans across the country who are actually living the real life stories in the verses they are singing.

I won't do Dr. Rich's lovely piece the disservice of trying to retell her experience as she wrestled with the discomfort the title induced in her initially, except to say I'm happy with the way she resolved the issue and that I love her, too. But I would like to answer the question that I've been asked in emails all day as to how the song came about.

Perhaps a year ago I was asked to address a Campaign for America's Future conference in DC and was telling my friend and frequent contributor to HuffPost, Marty Kaplan, that I intended to say that these difficult times required a generation of young people who felt themselves born again as Americans. "Born Again Americans," Marty repeated, and several days later he called me to suggest that there was a great country song inherent in that title. Some days later, it was New Years Eve to be exact, I found myself in the company of the actor/singer/composer Keith Carradine and his guitar and told him what I've just written here. Two weeks later Keith called me to ask if he could sing me the song he'd just written. Within a month, a camera crew and director Mark Johnson began to crisscross the country to find and film the vocalists.

Today, as I write this, some 700,000 people have seen and heard the song on our BornAgainAmerican.org site. Thousands have taken a pledge to keep themselves informed and involved in the political life of their country. It is clear to me that the grass has been very dry in the grassroots for a long, long time and that Americans everywhere will respond to any spark that ignites and appeals to their deepest love of country. What we are all looking for is an urgent reawakening to the highest purposes and deepest obligations of our citizenship. That is why there was joy in Mudville a week ago Tuesday and hope is once again alive in the land.

Comments

[Berettasskeeter]

Norman, the people you preach to would no more understand your service than they would the service of our fine young men and women of today. They have been fed the poison milk of hatred by their parents, their friends, their schools, the news, and by you. They hate America, though they have no idea what America is or is meant to be. Again, the blame lies on the above sources. They have been so soured on military service, though many deny it, that they could never submit themselves to the discipline to which you, and later I, submitted, regardless of need or reason. They've been taught that the military folks, and the source of those young people, is tainted. Again, the fault lies with the above. The folks which you, and they, disdain, have always been the true Americans, though they have been misled from time to time. But they love the America which you have come to despise, and which you, and the above, have taught them to despise.
When America needs them, they won't be there!
Semper fi

[jubalandersonearly]

What were all you people before you were "Born Again?" Russians? The posts on here are pathetic. You should thank God everyday you live in greatest country in the history of the world, warts and all. If you find a better place to live, let me know and I'll buy the plane tickets. For both of us.

[ohioan73]

The song and the video was nice. :D I love that the true nature of American citizenship and responsibility is being realized and embraced by so many people. I can hardly believe its true. Its a community organizer's dream. People have been so crippled by fear for so long, they have forgotten their power. Now that we've lost everything, we have nothing to fear and nothing to lose anymore. The truth is self evident that this is a government for, by, and of the people and it will be a truth from now on rather than empty words on a 200 year old document.

[propitiousmoment]

As to "born again American", I will say that I feel not so much born again, but a profound sense of relief to see that our ideals are once again trumping our more dishonorable side. I hadn't realized exactly how deeply disillusioned I was, although I did feel, for the first time, truly ashamed of America's behavior when we invaded Iraq. We'll see how long this lasts. I am coming to realize that America represents not only the ideals that we were (at least I was) taught: the melting pot, the sense of immigrants coming to a land of infinite promise, the joyful productivity and warmheartedness of Americans. It also represents our darker side: our exploitation of the natives who pre-dated us and of the imported Africans, the imperialism that cynically sets up and takes down leaders of other countries and tramples their people's prosperity when it suits our purpose, the nasty racism that wants to put up a wall on our southern border but profits from the labor of those they despise. I guess it's like a relationship with another person - you have to take the good with the bad.

Just *please* don't try to cram religion down my throat; I can love my country without it.

[propitiousmoment]

Can't stand country music. Have no desire to see patriotism too closely entwined with the whole god/bible/­christiani­ty thing. In fact, as a former fundie, I would have to say that to be truly christian is to be above patriotism, as for a christian one's first allegiance is to the kingdom of god, and where one's duty as a christian conflicts with one's duty as an american, christian duty wins. Therefore, a true christian is only secondarily a patriotic american christian. Those who try to promote the two as inextricably intertwined are perverting both.

[Dukedraven]

I haven't heard Carradine sing since his "I'm Easy" days. I always dug the Carradine brothers, especially David of "Kung Fu" fame, which out with an album (my first Buddhist exposure) that I bought. Mr. Lear, I greatly respect your work and enjoy certain country singers very much, but I'm not really connecting to that song. I hope, though, Americans all come together and unite in our global family. Peace always

[northstar11]

it was ok till it got to the bible thumping part then it became same old same old

[cougar gal06]

The Borgen Project (www.borgenproject.org) has some interesting facts concerning global poverty. It would cost $30 billion to eliminate global poverty, a small fraction of the $522 billion that was spent on the defense budget last year. Every night there are 800 million people that go to sleep hungry, 300 million are children.

[Berettasskeeter]

$30 billion to bring 5 billion out of poverty!? $6 per person would do it huh? Then why does Obama need more than that for education alone? And, would each person be restricted as to how the $6 would be spent?
Semper fi

[Kari Henley - Huffpost Blogger]

Thank you for posting your comments to Dr. Rich's column.
Using a visual platform to personify our nation's divides is a clever and effective medium. 700,000 people- impressive.

Once we can stop arguing about the semantics, we can get to work implementing it. (Kind of like politics, no?)

Frankly, country music, bibles and born again stuff is the farthest thing from my identity. But recasting a new identity as an American- got it.
Thanks again
Kari

[workmatw]

I'll stick with The Internationale.

[PoliticalAnimal]

Born Again? How about Born Free, Norm?

Because the one thing I am not is born again! George Bush was born again, as was Karl Rove, Cheney and all the rest of the bible thumping extremists who ruined things these past eight years.

So if you're looking for a new way to turn people off America, wrap the flag tighter in the Bible and you've miraculously just succeeded.

[serendipityschild]

I am a veteran. Served my country with honor. Yet I do not blind myself to this country's history and faults. I am the descendent of slaves and Native Americans, two groups who had and have been ill-served by those who came to establish this country. In this time and place, equality and freedom are within the grasp of all who are willing to view everyone here as human beings, not ethnicities or religious groups or political parties. To be a Born Again American is to share this world view, to free your mind of labels and boundaries that keep us from truly knowing each other. Yes, I am proud and happy that President Obama is in office, I am saddened by the lack of responsibility shown by previous Administrations and the American people, including myself, which has brought us to this place of instability. Now that we are here, in order to do new business and make things better, there has to be a dying away of the old and easily used ways. JulieSA, I can understand how you feel, and I share your concerns, but let's do away with the labeling and appreciate the new vision that brings people to feel the way they do.

[OpalSky42]

I went to the blogsite and was moved to tears. The song is wonderful, although not being Christian, I found myself singing "with our flag and the Bill of Rights" instead. Mr. Lear, the "People for the American Way" newsletters were a comfort during the Bush years (both Bushes) and I'm glad to be able to finally say "I'm an American and proud to be one!" again. No more torture, no more greed for its own sake and a beginning at helping the people of this country get back on our feet. Thank you!

[deeppeace]

I was enthusiastic about the sentiment until I read the lyrics and listened to the first 3 or 4 bars of the song. The lyrics - IMO - are the perfect blend of blame and victimhood. They oversimplify and play into the 'big, bad corporation' mythology. I'm not saying all big business is good, but it's not all bad, either.

And I just despise and detest the nasal twangy whine of what passes for 'country' music today.

As for being a born-again American, I'm actually going out this weekend to buy a flag to put on the outside of my house. That's something I haven't wanted to do for a very, VERY long time.

[rucognizant]

"And I just despise and detest the nasal twangy whine of what passes for 'country' music today."
ME TOO!
I reserve the RIGHT and FREEDOM as an American to listen to the more refined classical music.
Country music is, way too simplistic, and same ole', same ole' same ole rythem with out variation......... lacking the subtlety, and nuance we NEED to learn, to move forward.
And why do we listen to "country" music when more than 1/2 the population lives in the urban centers?
I DO think we need to change the Star Spangled Banner however..with it's rockets red glare and bombs bursting in air.....SENDS a very bad message!

[deeppeace]

Uhhh--gee, I hadn't given it quite that much thought, but... uhhhh...

The good news is that in most places there are radio stations that satisfy a variety of tastes (not where I live, but what the heck).

[Puzzles]

Already have a song the brings me to tears--America the beautiful.

[long333]

Sunshine Patriots will be exposed quickly and already are being exposed.