We are citizens who are stuck
In a nation full of violence.
We say to fight for what’s right
And to not rest in silence.
Anything is possible;
We’re a land of opportunity.
We’re a nation of freedom;
We’re safe in our communities.
The claim “America is great”
Gets bigger and bigger,
But those saying we are free
Have their fingers on the trigger.
Our police are police,
But they feel more like military.
The number of teens shot dead by them
Is undeniably scary.
Assault rifles in the street
Are our God-given right,
But don’t even think about it
If you’re anything but white.
Freedom of religion
Doesn’t count if you’re Muslim.
Refugees hoping for help
Should know the US won’t trust them.
What happened to that freedom
That we always talk about?
We leave our poor to starve
And claim they’re getting hand-outs.
We have abandoned all
Of our founding principles.
Our presidential candidates
Are more hurtful than political.
Our country needs to take
A long hard look in the mirror.
Maybe then our people
Will see our problems clearer.
We can still improve
But we need to really try.
If we can work to fix our issues,
We’ll be able to take pride
In the fact that we live
In a nation that’s always improving,
But we need to work on our problems,
And work on reducing
All of the injustice
Inherent in the system.
People are fighting for goodness;
We just need to listen.
Equality is possible,
But we need to say we’re wrong.
Unless we admit our faults
We will never move along.
Things will get better.
I know justice will win.
But people are hurting now.
And how long has it been
Since someone in power was willing
To fight for what is right?
We need to someone who
Will address our problems outright.
Is our country the best?
Well, it’s far from the worst.
But we could be even better
If we admit our problems first.
Stand with pride against injustice.
If you see someone being hurtful
Show them you’re disgusted.
Prove to those around you
That you won’t stand for inequality.
If you change the people’s mindsets
You’re changing the social policy.
Every little bit counts -
Go out and change minds.
When people are treated equally,
I’ll be proud to call this country mine.
The American Illusion
By: Sarah
Trindell