Do They Know What They're Singing?

James Wimberley offers up a fine history of "Jihadism through song in the Christian tradition," (link) with particular reference to the Battle Hymn of the Republic--we all remember those immortal words:

I have read a fiery gospel writ in burnished rows of steel:
"As ye deal with my contemners, so with you my grace shall deal;
Let the Hero, born of woman, crush the serpent with His heel,
Since God is marching on."

Wimberley wonders about all those Southern Republicans belting out the lyrics every four years at their national convention--do they really know what those words mean? Answer: sure, why not? It's history, the stuff of legend. Reminds me of the guy in Birmingham who said the way to put their past behind them would be to take the site of the church bombing and build a museum about it. As our great national heroine said, fiddle de dee! Tomorrow is another day!