What Have We Become?

A poem questioning the state of our nation.

By Stasie O. from Oak Park High School - Oakland Writing Project in Michigan


The United States of America

It is the beacon of opportunity

But I feel it is falling under bigotry and tyranny

I ask myself every day:

What Have We Become?

But I can't help but mentally shut down and run

Because to ask myself this question confronts American history

Which to people like me, has caused generation of misery


I love my nation

I love it to pieces

But it treats some of its people like they are common cretans

I wonder how we can change

I know it's possible

The real question; is how?

How when we're at the point where hearing about violence is just the norm

How when people of differing opinions can't have a civilized conversation

How?

I. Don’t. Know.


What I do know is

If we changed before

Into what we are now

We can change once more

To become a more beautiful country than ever before.

Oak Park High School - Oakland Writing Project

Haun - 4th Hour

Honors Class

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Writing Our Future: American Creed is part of the National Writing Project’s family of youth publishing projects, all gathered under the Writing Our Future initiative.

Writing Our Future projects are designed by educators for educators and the young people they work with. Intended for use in schools, libraries, and other educational settings. All projects are COPPA compliant and educator-managed. NWP is committed to supporting young people’s writing and civic participation by providing a safe and supportive environment for youth writing, media creation, sharing, and publishing.