America the Beautiful

Living in a nation currently/perpetually on a war-footing (with a warhorse national anthem) it feels quaint to think back to times -- the early 90's, the late 70's, the early 60's -- when various Americans proposed that we replace The Star Spangled Banner with America the Beautiful as our national anthem.

Keb' Mo's inspired version (iTunes link) has me meditating on the tune as we enter our national weekend.

Here's the third verse, each line worthy of reflection:

O beautiful for heroes
proved in liberating strife,
Who more than self their country loved,
and mercy more than life.

America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness,
And every gain divine.