July 4th

This morning in church we sung America the Beautiful (719 in the Episcopal hymnal) and I was struck by the second verse:

O beautiful for heroes proved in liberating strife,
who more than self their country loved, and mercy more than life!
America, America, God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control, thy liberty in law.

I wish the people in power would take in that idea of loving mercy more than life (not to mention self-control and liberty in law).