Right Here In America - Larry Norman

There are Christians in Russia, they meet underground,
In China they're killed when they're found.
And in Cuba the Christians live up in the hills
Because it's not safe in the towns.

And to think it might happen right here in America,
I know you think it's not true,
But it's happening to Christians right here in America,
Wait 'til it happens to you.

The Christians in Berkeley are passing out Bibles
And food to the hungry
They're hoping to help out the people this way.
But there are threats on the lives
Of their leaders and wives,
They're not welcome to stay.

And to think it might happen right here in America,
Maybe you think it's not true,
That it's not happening to Christians right here in America,
Wait 'til it happens to you.

There's an underground church and it's following Jesus
And hoping to meet people's needs
But we don't have the time to build nice little churches,
Besides we don't need to -
We're holding our church in the streets.

And we are passing out leaflets and underground pamphlets
From Buffalo to Monterey
And we're talkin' 'bout Jesus and all of a sudden
We're arrested and taken away.

So I ask you, America, where do you stand?
Your people are starving, they're beaten and they're raped
And they're dying in jail cells, so what are your plans?
I'm not talking to congress or you politicians
Or Panthers or Muslims or Nixon or Birch,
I'm addressing this song to the church.

'Cause I've been in your churches and sat in your pews
And heard sermons on just how much money you'll need for the year.
And I've heard you make reference to Mexicans, Chinamen,
Niggers and Jews
And I gather you wish we would all disappear.

And you call yourselves Christians, when really you're not,
You're living your life as you please.
If you're really a Christian, then put down yourself
And follow wherever God leads.

I'm not talkin' religion, I'm talkin' 'bout Jesus,
Put all your plans on the shelf,
Let's stop marching for peace, and start marching for Jesus
And peace will take care of itself.

Well, I pray that we Christians will get off our sofas
And stand up for what we believe
The time is too short, and Christ is returning
We'd better get ready to leave.

We who are Christians should turn on the light,
So the truth will shine bright as the day
Jesus will come like a thief in the night,
And he'll steal all who love him away.

There are Christians in Russia, they meet underground,
In China they're killed when they're found.
And in Cuba the Christians live up in the hills
Because it's not safe in the towns.

And to think it might happen right here in America,
I see you shaking your heads and I hear you saying
It just can't be true.
But it's happened to me right here in America,
Wait 'til it happens to you.

-Larry Norman

Norman's lyrics that applied so well once are not far from applying so well again.

The Republican Brickettes In The Wall

The foolish economic ideology of the Republican party is what has brought this nation down and the party itself has been out of step with the will of the American people for far too long. Look at where the people stand on so many issues and you see the always sycophant servile to the rich Republicans taking exactly the opposite opinion as they stand, or make that cower, in the way of help for the nation. In polls covering issues such as health care, worker safety and the environment you see poll numbers from the people at about 70 percent for these issues while the Republicans will be far out of step at 80 or 90 percent against them and it is that the people question the size of the bailout not the particulars that the Republicans would make hay about.
With a nation so desperate for economic stimulus not prescribed by Republican policy the Republican party already at the bottom of the toilet with nothing left to lose has decided to dig holls in the basement for the rest of the country by rejecting the presidents stimulus bill and rejecting it based largely on opposing the issues above that the American people favor by clear majority.
Why do the Republicans do this? Because they care more for the issues of the rich and powerful and in knowing this economy will only worsen before it gets better, believe they will be in line for favor from the people at the next election if they will only oppose the Democrats stimulus bill now. For all the Republicans past talk of love of country they have rejected that patriotism purely for the sake of politics. They know that based on most expert economic projections this economy will be even worse in the coming years up to the next election almost regardless of what we do now so they, the Republicans, think it's a win win situation for them by opposing legislation to help this country because they know it will not work in the short term and they are looking toward the next elections to be able to feed off the peoples inevitable discontent and say, "see, the economy is still in a shambles, Obama's legislation did not work, we were right to vote against it. Vote for us this time." The Republican party has become a sorry incompetent lot that screwed up this country and would now try to benefit from it being screwed up. Would it be too much to ask to have them replaced by another political party with at least a little honor and integrity.
And it is one thing to be out of step with the Democratic party but quite another to be so far out of step with the American people. Look at the polls on those few issues the Republicans oppose in the stimulus bill and you will find the people in general have long favored those issues. The Republicans strain at a knat in opposing a Democratic bill but swallow a camel for the wealthy. They would have you believe they are standing strong but the Republicans are really just 'snivelling up to the rich' spineless brickettes in the wall against the peoples programs. Call it what you want but it is time for a new political party that is no longer such an intransigent obstable to the will of the people and to desperately needed help for the nation. Time to flush the toilet.