A Country I'm Proud Of(A Poem)

Welcome back to Mid-Monthly. Last month, Sam brought thoughts on fictional America in it’s last moments. We encourage you to take some time and reflect on Jacia’s poem, based on the reality of our country, and the hope that remains.

Jacia

I want to live in a country I’m proud of. 

Where hate does not belong. 

Where skin tones are all seen as equal 

Where gender is equal

Where people are equal. Where we are one; strong, united. 

Together.

I want to live in a country

Where money isn’t a burden. 

Where it doesn’t anchor and weigh on your shoulders

Where it isn’t a struggle to simply provide for your family.

I want a place where your political party doesn’t define you.

Where your beliefs or opinions don’t define you. 

Being human does.

We are all different, yet we are the same- we are all human. 

We all make mistakes.

We are not perfect.

Your neighbor is human. 

Your boss is human. 

YOU are human.

And that is okay.

What do I want? 

I want to feel safe.

From a very young age 

We are taught 

What to do if someone comes into the school

Large tote bag

No mercy 

A gun in their hands

Anger

The intention to kill 

We are taught the unthinkable

No one would think it would happen

Yet it does

The unthinkable happens. 

Everyday.

No child should have to wonder if today is their last

No teen should ever have to text their parents 

That they love them 

Because they don’t know if they’ll make it out of those doors

No student, no teacher, no person

Should have to worry

To wonder if they are next

To think about what they would do 

If the unthinkable

The “impossible”

Becomes possible

People shouldn’t have to be afraid 

Of just walking alone 

In the light of day 

Or in the dark of night

Eyes constantly on alert

Don’t talk to strangers. 

Say no.

Don’t get in their car.

Fight back.

Scream.

Run. 

Children are taught this for their safety

Because not everyone 

Is kind 

Not everyone has good intentions

There are people out there

Who are cruel

Hungry 

Merciless

With intentions to hurt

To use you

To kill 

Every 40 seconds

A child goes missing

Some come back 

Safe

But some don’t.

No parent should have to worry

If their children 

will come home 

Or if they won’t. 

They shouldn’t worry if their children are safe at school.

They should be.

Something needs to change.

We cannot be a country of division any longer

A country of hate

Of fear

But maybe that isn’t possible

You can’t escape hate 

No matter where you go 

It hums and hisses in the breeze

It thrums in people’s veins

It’s everywhere.

But you’d think 

After all this time

That we’d learn from history  

And be who we said we’d be. 

But I should’ve known 

I should’ve known.

That it’s too good to be true 

That the big, bold text is all unicorns and rainbows 

But the tiny subtext tells the truth 

The realities. 

The side effects. 

But no one reads that.

Maybe my expectations are too high

There may be no such thing as the American dream. 

Maybe it’s not just America who’s broken

Maybe we all are. 

Maybe this is something 

that glue can’t fix 

I want to live in a country that I’m proud of.

That is worth fighting for.

A country, a place

Where we’re all in this together.

"that's a wrap for now—we'll see you in two weeks."