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Perspective: The Marching Barbs, The Wall, And A Lesson In Patriotism

The DeKalb High School Marching Barbs prepared a field show this year, even with COVID-19 restrictions. Their show, “The Wall,” allows for social distanced marching and playing. Last week, the Barbs performed the entire show live to a small audience.

Elsa Glover

The show begins with Ronald Reagan’s voice saying, “Let us ask ourselves, 'What kind of people do we think we are?' And let us answer, 'Free people, worthy of freedom and determined not only to remain so but to help others gain their freedom as well.'” Reagan’s words to the 1982 British Parliament seem timely. Americans value our own freedom as well as our neighbor’s.

Later in the show, Barack Obama’s voice extends Reagan’s statement: “We, the People, recognize that we have responsibilities as well as rights; that our destinies are bound together; that a freedom which only asks what's in it for me, a freedom without a commitment to others, a freedom without love or charity or duty or patriotism, is unworthy of our founding ideals, and those who died in their defense.” Americans value a collective responsibility to each other.

With our election approaching, we must look to our American roots to consider who we really are.  Our choices over these next weeks as each of us marks our ballots, must come from our conscience -- our collective American conscience.

Thank you, Marching Barbs, for performing a thoughtful, patriotic performance during a time filled with tension. Extra credit if you’re listening!

I’m Elsa Gloverand that’s my perspective.

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