An American's Thoughts on July 4th

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

   It was such a bold, optimistic, ambitious statement the signers of the Declaration of Independence made 240 years ago. These words set off a chain of events and inspired other countries to pursue more representative governments. In the intervening two and a half centuries we have struggled to learn--and are still learning--what it means to be a country founded on a belief in these truths. 

    We are not perfect, we never have been. We have made mistakes, and, too often have been comfortable living in opposition to our stated beliefs. At times we have let our differences fracture us and our fears override our freedoms. We are still learning, still striving and straining, to live up to our birthright. Often we take steps backward in between our steps forward. 

   But the dream is still worth pursuing. Countless before us have sacrificed for these truths: soldiers both at home and on foreign shores, suffragettes, abolitionists, freedom riders and integrationists. Millions of immigrants have come here seeking these ideals and contributed greatly to improving our country. 

   The self-evident truths that encouraged and emboldened so many over the past 240 years are our legacy. May we be encouraged by the bravery of those who came before us and not give in to fear or contention. As Lincoln said at Gettysburg, "it is for the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far nobly advanced..."

who is without sin II

And You,

Kneeling,

Drawing in the dirt,

Running Your fingers through that dusty canvas,

Reminding me

I was not made for destruction

But for creation.

Self Portrait of the Artist

I scratch primitive lines in the dirt.

I’m a painter of cave paintings.

I yell into the canyon and listen for the echo.

I throw color on canvas and shapes appear.

I compose symphonies in multitude. 

I am Da Vinci and Van Gogh,

Opening my soul to reveal the starry night inside. 

I am Shakespeare and Austen,

My words timeless, immortal.

I thrust myself into the universe

And hope that,

In the end,

It means something.

who is without sin

Just think
of all
the bridges, temples, towers, cities,
entire civilizations, really,
I could have built
with the stones
that I cast first.

The Things I Never Knew

I wish I could fill a bucket, drop by drop, of the things I never knew. I’d put inside all the things I was allowed to grow up without understanding, all the comfortable innocence I was afforded. 

That some are willing to spend so much energy on hate. 

That my journey was easier, by far, because of my skin color, where I was born, and how much money my parents made. 

That, even today, things I didn’t earn, things I consider rights, you have to fight for. 

That my gain has often been at your expense.

That your skin, your language, your religion, or who you love makes you a target for vicious words from politicians or fists or rocks or bullets. 

That this anger and fear, directed at you, doesn’t surprise you as it does me, because you’ve known it was there all along.

That the masses of people cheering to “Make America Great Again” sounds threatening to you, reminiscent of a time when your oppression was more blatant.

That not knowing has made me complicit. 

I wish I could fill a bucket, drop by drop, of the things I never knew.

I’d clean it, purify it. I’d wash away the guilt and turn it into something else, something usable. Let it wash over me, baptize me. 

And then, maybe, your daughter and my daughter can fill their buckets with something beautiful instead.