Short but worthwhile parable from Mary Gordon at Huffington Post. Two books by Garry Wills are relevant as well: this one is perhaps a better book than this one, but both are very fine.
Don’t worry, this will return to being mostly a music blog soon…
James Primosch, composer 
I really enjoyed reading Mary Gordon’s parable. I also found it to be a good explanation for why I would never wish to be an expatriate. I wouldn’t willingly allow the U.S. to turn into Glennbeckistan.