Singing America's praises

Singing America's praises
Charter Oak-Ute NEWSpaper — Schleswig Leader, Thursday, February 1, 2007 – Page 3

This week I am proud to bring you yet another exclusive interview. This time with the international singing and song writing sensation, Ellen Laura Mallory (age 5) about her new patriotic song. Her parents are both History majors, but I'm not sure how well they've taught herabout America's history so far. Her father has a reputation as a progressive, at least as progressive as a Missouri Synod Lutheran in Western Iowa gets, but I think you'll see that Miss Mallory is pretty typical of the religious right. What's a parent to do?

TM: What is America?
ELM: A Planet

TM: What does it mean to be an American?
ELM: Well, I am an American and... America is a state of America of the Crawford County and I really love having a great time there.

TM: Where do you live?
ELM: I live in Charter Oak Avenue

TM: Can you tell me who is the President of the United States?
ELM: President Bush

TM: What is the President's job?
ELM: To be a money maker, well, he gives money out with a picture of him on it.

TM: What does the American flag look like?
ELM: Well, it's white with red stripes and a white thing with blue stars

TM: How did America begin?
ELM: Well, America started a long time ago.

TM: Who was America's FIRST President?
ELM: Is it President Bush?

TM: What is the symbol of America?
ELM: A Eagle, America eagle. It's white with brown eyes and yellow feet with brown wings and a white tummy. His name is America.

TM: Do you know what Congress is?
ELM: Um, no

TM: Do you know who Benjamin Franklin was?
ELM: I don't know

TM: Do you know who George Washington was?
ELM: He was a president Loo---ong time ago

TM: Who was Abraham Lincoln?
ELM: He was a king, he was the king of London.

TM: Who was Teddy Roosevelt?
ELM: I can't remember

TM: Do you know who President Bush's father was?
ELM: Uh uh

TM: Do you know who the last President was?
ELM: Nope

TM: Do you know what a Democrat or a Republican is?
ELM: Nope

TM: Do you think that President Bush is doing a good job?
ELM: Yes, because he is a president of the United States

TM: What is Iowa?
ELM: Iowa is a name for Charter Oak

TM: Do you know who Chet Culver is?
ELM: Nope

TM: Do you know who the Governor of Iowa is?
ELM: Yeah, Emily Paustch's, no- Emily Steffen's Dad.

TM: And how did he become Governor?
ELM: Well, first he was a firefighter. He gave up that job and became the Governor of Charter Oak.

TM: What do we do on the Fourth of July?
ELM: We celebrate Jesus, I think.

TM: Why would we do that on the Fourth of July?
ELM: Because he is our king. He's the king of the WORLD!!!

TM: Can you sing your song for us? (read the following to the tune of "America the Beautiful")
ELM: Hey everybody, America, America, where God sent us
America, America, where God sent us to be
I know that I love you, I know you
I love America, so you can be it too, wooo
America, America where God sent Grace to be
America, America where Grace shed shares to be
I know when I'm awake, I know when he is sleeping
So you better watch out... (this second stanza was to the tune of "Santa Claus is coming to town")
And...
That's it

TM: Wow, did you write that yourself?
ELM: Yep

TM: So, how long have you been a songwriter?
ELM: For about 30 years

TM: And when did you start?
ELM: When I was two

TM: What type of music do you usually write?
ELM: The international rock star pop star rock and roll and country

TM: Is there anything else that you'd like to tell readers about America?
ELM: Well... not really