Six strings on a wooden box don't always ring in harmony. I have to admit that the hours I have spent picking, strumming, playing, and slapping that guitar did not always make good music. Sometimes the process is ugly. Did you know there are only 48 notes on a typical guitar and on some days none of them sound right?

Kind of reminds me of America and our history, our politics, our egos, and our voices. Sometimes our process is ugly. We are critical even in the best of times and down right defensive in the worst of times...seldom are we harmonious.

It's that unstable beat that continues to move our nations song to someplace new, different, and perhaps a space in time where we as individuals enjoy momentary satisfaction. A period in time when all the notes are played with a purpose that unites. When skilled musicians and politicians are able to bend the note to a sweet spot without it being broken. Pushing us to our limits to enjoy the accomplishments of how far one can go or to look back with a smile on how far we came.

I am presently working on a new song "Make a Man Out of You"...about all the things that push and pull a man during his lifetime. As it slowly comes together I began to realize (again) that though I may feel many of the same forces as you the effects on us may be quite different. Although we may share these same concerns and questions to life, our roles, our society, we are not in harmony with the answers. We will identify differently with what is a "good" man and what were the driving forces that made him.

You'll hear my take on it soon enough but in the meantime let's all respect our differences and appreciate ALL the notes to our nations song...even the silence between the notes. It does not have to be exact or in harmony but it does have to be played. Play on, everyone play on...not louder, not softer...just play.