(Above: a Hindu juggernaut in the Ojai, CA, 4th of July parade this year - it has a big American flag on the back. Watching it, hearing the Hare Krishnas chanting "hare hare" around it, made me proud to be an American...and an Ojaian.)
In Our Small Town - words by Jim Burklo
In our small town we’re proud to wave
To cherish freedom, and the brave
We raise the rainbow colors, too.
‘Cause folks who live in our small town
Love what makes us each unique;
When times are tough we rally ‘round
The good of all is what we seek.
Burmese curry, hot pad thai –
Steak burritos, Chinese beer
Give our food downtown a try!
Folks from ‘round the world are here.
We welcome migrants who endured
Trials, privations, hunger, fear
To reach our town and rest assured
That we’ll defend their presence here.
To spread the love and chill the hate
Here Hindus chant and Christians pray
We keep apart the church and state
So you can worship your own way.
Try banning books in our small town!
Where we defend the right to read:
What some folks like makes others frown
But that’s our price of liberty!
Try telling teachers ‘round this town
To censor history in their class!
They teach the truth of what went down -
And trust our kids with gnarly facts.
In our small town we’re proud to wave
Our stars and stripes – red, white and blue
To cherish freedom, and the brave
We raise the rainbow colors, too....