Victor Lundberg - An Open Letter To My Teenage Son lyrics

rate me

Dear son<br />

You ask my reaction to long hair or beards on young people.<br />

Some great men have worn long hair and beards... George Washington<br />

And Abraham Lincoln. If to you long hair or a beard is a symbol of<br />

Independence, if you believe in your heart that the principles<br />

Of this country, our heritage, is worthy of this display of pride, <br />

That all men shall remain free, that free men at all times will not<br />

Inflict their personal limitations of achievement on others, that<br />

Demands your own rights as well as the rights of others, and be<br />

Willing to fight for this right, you have my blessing.<br />

You ask that I not judge you merely as a teenager, to judge<br />

You on your own personal habits, abilities and goals. This is a<br />

Fair request and I promise that I will not judge any person only as<br />

A teenager if you will constantly remind yourself that some of my<br />

Generation judge people by their race, their belief or the color<br />

Of their skin and that this is no more right than saying all<br />

Teenagers are drunken dope addicts or glue sniffers. If you will<br />

Judge every human being on his own individual potential, I will<br />

Do the same.<br />

You ask me if God is dead. This is a question each individual<br />

Must answer within himself. But a warm summer day with all it's<br />

Brightness, all it's sound, all it's exhilarating breathiness<br />

Just happened? God is love. Remember that God is a guide and not<br />

A storm trooper. Realize that many of the past and present<br />

Generation because of a well intended but unjustifiable<br />

Misconception, have attempted to legislate morality. This created<br />

Part of the basis for your generations need to rebel against<br />

Our society. With this knowledge perhaps your children will never ask Is<br />

God dead?. I sometimes think much of mankind is attempting to work Him to<br />

Death.<br />

You ask my opinion of draft card burners. I would answer this way. All<br />

Past wars have been dirty, unfair, immoral, bloody and second-guessed.<br />

However, history has shown most of them necessary. If you doubt that our<br />

Free enterprise system in the United States is worth protecting, if you<br />

Doubt the principles upon which this country was founded, that we remain<br />

Free to choose our religion, our individual endeavors, our method of<br />

Government, if you doubt that each free individual in this great country<br />

Should reap rewards commensurate only with his own efforts, than it is<br />

Doubtful you belong here. If you doubt that people who govern us should be<br />

Selected by their desire to allow us to strive for any goal we feel<br />

Capable of obtaining than it's doubtful you should participate in their<br />

Selection. If you are not grateful to a country that gave your father the<br />

Opportunity to work for his family to give you the things you have and you<br />

Do not feel pride enough to fight for your right to continue in this<br />

Manner than I assume the blame for your failure to recognize the true<br />

Value of our birthright. And I will remind you that your mother will love<br />

You no matter what you do, because she is a woman. And I love you too, <br />

Son. But I also love our country and the principles for which we stand.<br />

And if you decide to burn your draft card, then burn your birth<br />

Certificate at the same time.<br />

From that moment on, I have no son!