What America Was Meant to Be
We often hear what they said back then,
no crown should rule over women or men,
no single hand should hold that key,
to bend the lives of you or me.
No whim of power, no passing decree,
should decide who lives in dignity,
no voice alone should make it right,
to dim someone else’s hard earned light.
That was the promise, plain and clear,
not perfect land, but something near;
a line drawn firm, a stand, a plea,
no rule by one, but liberty.
But time moves on, and we forget
what cost was paid, what debt was set,
and slowly words begin to drift
from lived conviction into myth.
And maybe now we stand and see
how fragile memory can be,
how easy it is to recite
but harder to defend the right.
So here’s the question, sharp and plain:
do we believe it once again?
Can we rekindle the democratic flame?
And with it our honor and pride reclaim.
Mike Johansson lives in Napier, New Zealand, where he serves as Director of Communications & Engagement for the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council. Born and raised in Napier, he spent more than 30 years living and working in Upstate New York before returning home five years ago.
Good plain question, Mike, with strong hope for “yes” as the answer. Especially like your imagistic call for “no dimming of someone else’s hard-earned light.”
Is it really appropriate for a contest judge to be commenting on potential contest entries?