This Is America

This is America.

The land of the free

home of the brave.

But is it truly?

This is America

A country with the largest amount of mass shootings.

A country that exploits immigrants and then deports them.

A country where a 50k single parent salary is

Too rich to qualify for free/reduced lunch for their kids

This is America.

A country built by immigrants for immigrants

Has turned into a cesspool for hate and discrimination

Since the creation of this nation

This is America

A country that used to stand for defending itself and becoming united.

A country, a nation now divided.

A country divided by political views, race, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation and beliefs.

Ironic, isn’t it?

The land of opportunity

The land of the free

Land that was safe haven turned into prison and we are trapped.

We are trapped in this mindset of fighting instead of debating

Defending instead of understanding

Competing instead of coming together.

We fight over everything that doesn’t need fighting.

We fight over things we can’t change about other people.

We fight over fundamental human rights.

We fight over everything we shouldn’t be fighting over.

Who we are as individuals are subject to change.

But by our own volition, no one else’s.

You can’t change someone who doesn’t want to change.

Because it’s their choice.

Who are you to decide?

They are not you and you are not them.

Fighting is what Americans do.

Even if we aren’t technically involved in something.

But there is only one thing that remains.

If you do not fall into a minority group,

You should have no opinion on their rights.

You don’t know what they experience

You don’t know their life

You don’t know them.

So how could you have an opinion on something you know nothing about?

How can you disregard an entire community for the sins one has committed?

How can you base an opinion of someone on the color of their skin?

How can you flip a switch and go

From being warm and accepting to ice old because of a sheet of paper?

This is America.

Where anyone can say anything

And they are protected under the first amendment

That's cool and all but it gives free reign to those who wish to use words to harm others

Gives free reign for people to spout toxins into the river of society

Gives free reign for those who wish to poison us all

And kill the good in society.

You see, we as Americans, have practically perfected the art of avoidance

We have become so desensitized

That whenever we see a new headline,

We only talk about it for a day and then let it fade away into nothingness

As if none of it truly mattered.

We talk about shootings as if taking the lives of countless people is debatable

Where instead of trying to find a solution for the availability of guns

We war over whether or not it is infringing our second amendment right.

Where the lives lost during:

Columbine 13

Sandy Hook 26

Ft. Lauderdale 5

Charleston 9

San Bernardino 14

Pulse 49

Vegas 51

Parkland 16

Become a “controversial issue”

Rather than mourning the loss

Of people, of children

This is America.

I Pledge Allegiance to the Flag

Of the United States of America

And To the Republic for Which It Stands

One Nation, Under God

Indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for All

These are the words to our Pledge of Allegiance

All of which are untrue

I believe in these words

But how can I say them every single day

When I know there are people out there

Blatantly ignoring these words.

This is my true American Creed.

This Is America.

And this is an America that was never intended.