A Nation's Struggle

Try to imagine what life would be
if folks of goodwill could finally agree
on the value and worth of all humankind,
and the sadness of those who are left behind.
This is a time when passions burn,
and citizens live with a deep concern
about law and justice that are set aside
in favor of power and shameless pride.

We will not survive distortion and hate.
We cannot endure nor claim to be great
if we disregard the tenets of truth
and destroy the hope of our nation's youth.
The future is set by what we do now.
The choices we make will determine just how
the planet survives and how we create
a climate of trust as divisions abate.

I never dreamed I'd live the day
when this great nation lost its way,
succumbed to petty tyrant threats,
was forced to look with deep regret
at how we've lost all self respect,
compounded by our sad neglect
of principle and honor's role
to guard and keep the nation's soul.