Note: This blog post was begun in July 2020. Things have changed now that it’s August 2021. But not how I felt then and not much how I feel now.
Let America be the dream the dreamers dreamed—
Let it be that great strong land of love
Where never kings connive nor tyrants scheme
That any man be crushed by one above.
-- Langston Hughes, 1902 - 1967
That’s the second verse of my newest discovery in the wild world of poetry. It makes a catch in my throat. It makes me want to cry out, “Hell yeah!” It almost makes me sob with the recognition of this feeling in my heart, for it mirrors the despair I have felt for my country.
I used to be the star-spangled kind of girl who got teary-eyed when the National Anthem played at baseball games. Not for me the holier-than-thou, the U.S. has made mistakes, no allegiance to any country attitude. I knew in my heart that to make our country better was a high duty; that to speak out and march were patriotic acts, that to swear fealty to what was such a glorious place — home to the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence and George Washington.
I was so lucky to live near the District of Columbia and be able to experience so much and see so much of history. And when 9/11 happened I knew my country would take a measured revenge as justice for the 3,000 who perished.
And then that patriotic feeling started to fade. The Patriot Act was passed. The Bush Administration manipulated intelligence sources and, aided and abetted by the New York Times, cooked up the second war in Iraq tarnishing the reputation of Colin Powell and sullying every righteous reason for going to war. Body bags and grievously wounded service members started coming home and I remembered the sixties and seventies and Viet Nam. Edward Snowden revealed the truth about the overreaching surveillance of EVERYONE. The Patriot Act was renewed. Military camouflage became a fashion statement. Surplus military gear began to be a part of every police department. The patriotic displays honoring service members became pageants at almost all sporting events and these were paid for by the military branches as a recruitment tool. Suicide in the population of former and current service members became an epidemic. And if you didn’t stand for the National Anthem you were condemned. Every politician ended every speech with some form of “and God bless the United States of America.” The last straw was the constant standing for and singing of “God Bless America.”
Now it’s true that I am an atheist, but I’m quite willing for people who need to say or sing “God Bless America” to go ahead and do it. But it’s NOT, I repeat, NOT the National Anthem. It’s my right not to stand and sing it. As a matter of fact, it’s my right not to stand and sing the National Anthem.
Suddenly, it seemed everyone FORGOT what the dream of America is. Who are these people I started to wonder? Didn’t you ever read the Constitution? Didn’t you ever read the Bill of Rights? Don’t you know you’re an immigrant too? Don’t you know there’s more than the 2nd Amendment? The Tea Party acted like the election of Barack Obama made their country unrecognizable. They were certain all freedoms were being repealed. Their rally on the National Mall was poorly attended. The Rally to Restore Sanity in 2010 held by Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert was HUGE. More than 200,000 people attended. I was there, I saw. I’ve never, ever been in a crowd like that. But finally those strange, scared, angry people found a way to show me what they meant, what they wanted, what would make them feel good again.
They elected Donald Trump to be president of the country that I loved. And nothing will ever be the same. And now my country is unrecognizable. And that pride in a place that would always try to do right is gone. Because my country is doing wrong. Every single day in every way possible and I find nothing to be proud of.
But…this poem, “Let America Be America Again” — this might help me find my way back.
First, of all, let me tell you that poetry is not the pretty, fluffy art form you think it is. It’s subversive. It’s bloody. It’s dangerous. It waits slyly there on the page and just when you least expect it, it will cut you to the bone. It will tear your heart out. It will make you laugh, weep, cry out, shout epithets, or cause cold sweat to drip down your spine. And if you’ve never read a poem that made you feel any of that, you just haven’t read the right poem yet.
… poetry is not a fancy way of giving you information; it’s an incantation. It is actually a magic spell. It changes things; it changes you. And that’s been the thing I’ve experienced with great poetry ever since.
Philip Pullman, The New Yorker
Now I will tell you, this poem is not an easy one to read. It’s long. It tells hard truths. But it’s true in a way that anyone can understand. And it has meaning and truth for everyone of every color, creed, belief, and even political persuasion. Because deep down in your heart you will know it’s true.
O, let my land be a land where Liberty Is crowned with no false patriotic wreath, But opportunity is real, and life is free, Equality is in the air we breathe.
So read this poem. Re-read it. And do better.
July 2020
Forced Perspective 