America

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The purpose of this poem is not to emphasize one political side over another. I wrote it because I am fearful of what I am seeing on both sides of the political divide. I love my country so much, I would be willing to sacrifice my life to help her find her heart and soul again. My only goal for this poem is to help people to think about where we are and what we are doing to ourselves.

Oh land of the free
And home of the brave, where are you?
Where is the torch that hearkens
The tired, the poor, the huddled masses yearning to be free?
When did freedom of religion
Become acceptance of
Only one religion?
When did freedom of speech only exist
When the listener and speaker agreed?
Why are we intolerant of extremists abroad, 
But blindly follow extremists we call left or right?

When did news become fake news when it
Stated things that the listener did not like?
When did peaceful protests get vilified 
And intimidation get glorified?
When did public servants 
Stop serving the public?
When will equal justice truly be equal 
despite race, culture, religion, and gender?
Is America, the beautiful
Truly beautiful
When we close our minds
And close our hearts?
Can we be proud to be American
And hate anyone unlike ourselves?

We argue over building
Physical walls,
But ignore
The spiritual walls and
The emotional walls
That we build
To silences differences.
My country, tis of thee,
My sweet land of liberty,
Of thee I plead.
Love your neighbor as yourself,
Forgive others as you were forgiven,
Clothe yourself in compassion, kindness, and humility,
For that is what will make America 
Great again.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2018



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Date: 7/6/2021 7:13:00 PM
I enjoyed the write Rachel, thank you
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Date: 7/6/2021 7:07:00 PM
Difference and discussion is the root essence of Democracy, the essence of not having the same ideas, to discuss without hatred, and agree or disagree without anger."Love thy Neighbour", for if you can obey that commandment, then surely the rest will follow naturally. But even in this forum, one member has to make a political statement, live and let live, is not universal
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Date: 4/12/2021 2:18:00 AM
Love your neighbor as yourself- yes; I think so; that's the roots of democracy
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Date: 4/11/2021 5:18:00 PM
Hi Rachel, I saw this as one of the featured poems this week, and just wanted to say the message here is so pure, and true, and needed, even if it was posted over two years ago, we are no closer to being accepting and united, we all need to remember the tenants on which this country was founded~
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Date: 7/18/2018 5:54:00 AM
Very strong and full of passion for truth. You reach hearts and minds. I love this and the sentiments within mean alot to me. I am from the UK but care about what goes on in the world and some of it really hurts and I ask not only when but why? Thank you Rachel for this favourite read.
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Date: 6/30/2018 1:36:00 PM
This poem pricks the conscience for sure-
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Date: 6/17/2018 11:53:00 AM
Well said! If Sessions grandchildren were imprisoned in France, and did not speak the language nor understand the cuisine, Sessions would probably declare war over the mistreatment and trauma the grandchildren suffered, but, like Trump, Sessions thinks nothing of destroying the lives and relationships of others.
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