by Ken Sehested
We are not so much brave as desperate;
to hear a Word above the noise;
a Song beyond the clatter;
a Hope beyond the cheeriness;
a Faith beyond the infamy.
Our body politic is under assault from those possessed of fear gone feral;
whose rage has erupted, threatening carnage;
whose lies have become dogma;
whose hearts have been wrapped in concertina wire.
The verity of virtuous life is scorned;
the moralists embrace lewd vainglory;
empathy, consigned to the gallows;
mercy, judged as weakness.
Liberty has become a warrant for licentiousness;
freedom, a cover for insolence and ethical harlotry;
privilege, practiced as impunity and arrogance.
These things are on display as rarely before in public life.
These are the gaping tears in our national fabric.
Two things are abundantly clear:
We are, as a nation, in deep doo-doo; and
what a great time to be alive!
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