Who I am -- really am, was always more than me:
For Mom, Dad, relatives, friends,
and most of the people in my community
were who I am -- really am,
while a clumsy kid was me.
Who I am -- really am, was the tangible things I'd see:
the rising sun, the setting sun, and other things of consistent reliability
like knowing the number 1 will stay less than the number 2
will stay less than the number 3
and Sunday will follow Saturday for all eternity
and knowing stars will shine in the heavens
and always these will be
my security blanket, (my dependable blanket)
friendly, reassuring, and comfy
and who I am -- really am,
while a clumsy kid was me.
But who I am -- really am, most importantly,
was an American in the United States of America
-- the greatest democracy,
with its goal of complete pluralism for those
"yearning to breathe free.1"
as it practices its allegiance -- "…with liberty and justice for all"
-- while embracing diversity
and strengthen its ideals of classical liberalism
while promoting love, respect, and civility
fostering togetherness for all of us
if not now eventually
as "The shining city on the hill"
we would desperately strive to be
these were who I am -- really am,
while a clumsy kid was me.
Then from our big-government factories
with their bellowing smoke stacks
managed by big business contractors -- the greediest of the greedy,
blew their thick, big, black smoke that descended on everything
and has made it impossible to see:
the rising sun, the setting sun,
the stars so reassuring and comfy,
the goals of pluralism, and
the ideals of our democracy. Their
run-offs poisoned everything important to this country:
our homes, our lands, our way of life, our ideals, ourselves -- physically
and mentally
so what once seemed like a sure path to a nation of greatness adhering to the fundamental premises of Christianity
has become an unsure path of manipulative practices en route to a nation of ideological deformities.
I can't see the future of the United States of America
in the twenty-first century, nor
our dream of becoming the "city on the hill,"
"…one nation under God…" -- eventually,
which makes who I am -- really am most impossible to see.
I feel so disconnected from who I am
-- that all that remains is me:
A clumsy kid with tears in his eyes
praying to God
-- hopefully!
by First Sergeant James A. Porter
