American Tear
On 9–11–2001,
tragedy marred our lives.
Those opposed to the American way
struck blows,
killed thousands,
and laid us out flat.
Around the world
people mourned
the fall of the Twin Towers
and other crashes.
We mourned the lives lost in hate and anger.
Only the most radical,
or uneducated,
celebrated.
“Terrorists” we labeled them,
people willing to die for their cause,
and take us out with them.
What outrage demanded such a price?
What drove them to make such loud points?
What had we done so terribly wrong?
Few bothered to ask how we affronted.
Fewer still tried to understand or make peace.
Instead, the government proclaimed,
“We must protect our freedom,”
and we cheered them on.
In blind moronic anger,
we hit them back
and called it, “Shock and Awe.”
Never mind that some of those we bombed
were not of those who attacked us.
As the mass medias and politicians fed our fears,
our leaders promised “safety and security,”
then promptly took away as many human rights
as they could get away with.
We took it in stride.
“God bless America,”
we all said
as we proudly formed security lines.
Tragedy marred our lives.
In pain we began a crusade,
to stomp out all terrorists,
and anyone else who would not,
or could not,
conform.
The country of my birth is dead,
killed not by terrorists,
but by our own fears.
We gave up our freedom
as the 21st Century Inquisitions began.
By Michael A. Crane, Jr.
Original Version:
Version 8:
macjr.com
