"Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled
masses yearning to breathe free..."
The America I learned about in grade school was a kind place where compassion and freedom and safety, for ALL people, was honored and regularly exercised. And I believed in this even though it's foundation is stained with the blood of our indigenous people. I carried with me, a vision of our country which is symbolized in our statue of liberty holding up a Light for all who are in need of a safe haven....our safe haven. I was so proud.
Then I grew up and started learning other things about America - things that painted the opposite picture. But I held onto my vision because everything has faults - everything has a dark side - and there is always room to grow and learn and evolve into something better.
But now I am being forced to face the depths of the dark side of America, as our President Trump magnifies it into a reality that can't be ignored. And a part of me is crying out, "This is NOT America! Its just the dark parts being brought into the Light." The HEART of America is not the violent bully who invades and steals from other countries, in order to feed things like the selfishness and greed and lust for dominance in our leaders and their wealthy supporters... Its not a violent killer who falsely labels it's resisting victims as "terrorists." Its not a vengeful bully who attacks people who disagree. Its not a prejudice entity that closes its doors to people in need, just because they are too poor or too colored or believe in a different religion. It does not slap the face of other people and countries with an arrogant "I am the best" type of attitude. And it does not divide itself with hate filled political wars...etc. These things are not the HEART of America - they are just the mistakes of our past trying to rise up and dominate, and in the wake of the chaos is a call for fast and massive positive change...
A Light has been shone into America's closets and the stark reality of its dark parts are being magnified and shown to the world today. And now is the time to face and reject that darkness; to let it go and focus on healing from the destruction it has caused. Now is the time to not only bring back the HEART of America, but to help it grow into even more than it has ever been...
The HEART of America is not what is being portrayed in our leadership today, under the false mask of "peace" and "greatness." The HEART of America knows that real and lasting peace can only be gained through genuine kindness and consideration for all other countries and all people. The HEART of America is a TRUE beacon for freedom, liberty and justice for all people, and it will soon rise again and grow. It will.
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