My Country Tis Of Thee

My country is not the United States of America
My country has no Constitution
My country has no House of Representatives
My country has no Senate
My country has no Supreme Court
My country has no bureaucrats
My country has no police force nor army
My country has no Social Security
My country has no man-made laws
My country has no public property
My country has no public libraries
My country has no federal lands
My country has no Imminent Domain
My country has no coercion
My country has no non-profit organizations
My country existed before all these man-made conventions.

My country ranges from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific,
--- from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico,
--- from the Columbia River to the Rio Grande.
My country is Sam the shoemaker who puts new soles on my feet,
My country is Bernice the dry cleaner lady who makes my clothes look new again,
My country is Noemi my maid who freshens up my home,
My country is Rodney the service station attendant who sells me gasoline,
My country is Ronald the salesman who sells me new clothes,

My country is Susie the waitress who serves me at my favorite restaurant,
My country is Mike the barber who trims my hair,
My country is Manual who delivers my daily newspaper,
My country is Guntis my neighbor who lends a hand when I need help,

My country is Jim who shampoos and trims my dog,
My country is my friends all around the world on the Internet.
My country is my children and the pride and joy they bring to me,
My country is my grandchildren and great-grandchildren who teach me to look at the world as a child once more.
My country is my wife and my friends who remind me of all the things I've still to learn.

My country is all these . . .

OF THEE I SING!