My wife, Selma, and I recently returned from a vacation in Costa Rica. One of the events on our tour included a visit to an elementary school where we were entertained by the students. A popular national song they sang entitled, "My Country" that begins with the words, "I am happy, I have freedomÉI can make friends easily" brought to mind our popular national song, "America the Beautiful" that begins with the words "O beautiful for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain." (I have included the full text of the song, "My Country," at the end of this message.)

The sense of pride and joy with which they sang their song expressed the power of happiness and friendliness that imbues the consciousness of Costa Ricans. The sense of pride and joy we feel when we sing our song expresses the power of unlimited potential that imbues the consciousness of Americans.

Their consciousness of happiness and friendliness has inspired the creation of a literacy rate of 97%, a large (60%) middle class, and a constitutional provision that forbids the establishment of an army. Our consciousness of unlimited potential has inspired the creation of technologies that put a man on the moon, computers, televisions and cell phones in most homes, and industries that have provided huge material wealth.

With over a quarter of a million Americans visiting Costa Rica yearly, I pictured the interaction of our two national consciousnesses inspiring a world of unlimited creative expression in support of a happy, friendly and peaceful society.

MY COUNTRY

I'm happy, I have freedom.

When I get out of my country
Everything looks different
I enjoy what I find there
And I can make friends easily.
Suddenly, they ask me
So please, would you explain to me
Why you're always so happy?
It's because I'm from Costa Rica.

Because my country is special
Its natural beauties;
There's no place like that
And people are so kind.
I can be near the President
As an informal friend.
And it's because my country is so special
Its natural beauties;
There's no place like that
And people are so kind.
Everybody says to you:
Pura Vida! (Pure Life) in a really enthusiastic way.

The ticos are as brothers
We enjoy of the same peace
There are no weapons not even soldiers
We speak, all of us, with freedom.
The beauties I search out there
Maybe, they're in my country
We must take care of them so they don't die
So we can share them with others.

It's because my country is so special
Its natural beauties;
There is no place like that
And people are so kind.
I can be near the President
As an informal friend.
And it's because my country is so special
Its natural beauties;
There's no place like that
And people are so kind.
Everybody says to you
Pura Vida! in a really enthusiastic way.

I'm happy, I have freedom.