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Are You a Dead American?
“Breathes there the man, with soul so dead…”
Sir Walter Scott (1771–1832) was a Scottish novelist, poet, and playwright. He is considered one of the most influential literary figures of the early 19th century.
My first introduction to Scott was reading his classic novel Ivanhoe for a middle school assignment several decades ago. Great book! And I also remember being impressed in high school when a classmate quoted from one of Scott’s famous poems:
Breathes there the man, with soul so dead,
Who never to himself hath said,
This is my own, my native land!
That’s the very beginning of Scott’s poem Lay of the Last Minstrel, Canto VI, [My Native Land]. You can read the rest here.
Scott’s work played a significant role in popularizing Scottish folklore and reviving interest in Scottish heritage. He loved Scotland. It was his home. And he was grateful for it.
I feel the same way about the United States of America.
Do you?
Now, if you don’t live in the United States, that’s understandable. But, if you do live in the United States (and assuming that you do so by choice), do you love your country?
