Land of hope and glory

Land of hope and glory

Posted on May 9th, 2011 by Jeff McDonald

In less than a month, we will observe the birthday of Sir Edward William Elgar, 1st Baronet, OM, GCVO and Master of the King’s Musick, who was born June 2, 1857. I rather like how it happens that his birthday coincides with that time of year when one of his works, Pomp and Circumstance March #1 (“Land of Hope and Glory”) has been heard so much, in so many places.

It is that time of year when we are living in a land of hope and glory, as we turn out in enthusiastic droves to honor young people (of ALL ages) as they cross the stage, accept their diploma and handshake, shift the tassle of their mortarboard from one side to the other, and take the next big step in their life.

I know, I know … some of you will find this just another occasion for still another rant about what a terrible state we’re in. You’ll find some data somewhere about some aspect of society at-large … something that places a moment such as school commencement in your preferred context. And you’ll find someone – the President or the Congress, the liberals or the conservatives, the comet people from the outer nebulae, whatever – to blame for the sorry state of affairs that defines your world.

To me, all of that seems to follow Screwtape‘s formula for re-defining our reality by attacking our intellect and emotions, advising Wormwood to direct his client’s perceptions, so the client will accept “the sight of human entrails as a revelation of Reality and his emotion at the sight of happy children or fair weather as mere Sentiment.”

Me? I remain a sentimental fool, I guess. For me, it IS a time, and we ARE a nation of hope and glory. I’m not saying I can be totally objective here … I am, after all, a staffer at a community college in West Texas. And while those kids that will be crossing the stage at Friday’s commencement ARE other people’s kids … they are also, at least in a sense, mine as well. I feel pride in their achievement, and I’m thrilled to have played a part – albeit, a VERY SMALL part – in that achievement.

I have hope!

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Jeff McDonald

There's a saying around here, something like, "I wasn't born in Texas, but I got here as fast as I could!" That's me. I'm a 'dang Yankee from back-east' who settled in the Lone Star State after some extended stays in the eastern U.S., and New Mexico. I worked as an archaeologist for a few years before dusting off my second major in English, and embarking on a 25-year career in journalism. Since then, I've embraced the dark side of the force, and now work in PR for a community college in Midland, Texas.