Mist in the Eye

The hottest-selling record in the U.S. last week was one that didn't swing or sing. It has music, of a sort. But the heart and soul of Day of Decision is a spoken oration on American patriotism.

As a drum rolls and a guitar plunks, a voice intones: "Old Glory has never fallen so close to the earth . . . we stare at our shoelaces when they play the national anthem . . . patriotism has been condemned . . . new-car, prettier-girl, bigger-house sort of pride in country--somewhere along the way we've lost it . . ." While the guitar switches to something sinister and Oriental, the voice continues: "Our enemies . . . they've been putting steel wedges in the cracks in our wall of solidarity. The new idea is don't attack America, wear it down gradually . . . and did you know? It's working." Finally, over a chorus of Onward, Christian Soldiers and America, the narrator proclaims fervently: "Democracy is held together by Fourth-of-July flag-waving patriotism ... if you feel a little mist in your eye, then thank God for you, Mister. You're still an American."

The speech was the idea of Allen Peltier, a Nashville newscaster, who got indignant at draft-card burners a few months ago. Now Warner Bros, has recorded it with a country-and-Western singer named Johnny Sea in the speaking part. Released on May 13, the record sold more than 250,000 copies in two weeks.

In Nashville, Peltier explains its success as "due to the concern of the people over the God-Is-Dead talk, and a general disrespect for authority."

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