I place my hand on my heart and my arm on my back

and I begin to sing then I begin to reflect

on all the people who gave their lives so I could live

So I could come to this event where all these people

are also singing. Yet only some are singing like

me. Even fewer are reflecting, and even less

are thinking of those who paid the ultimate price. So,

now this event is full of standers, singers, thinkers,

and of course kneelers. All of us here love this country.

Some of us hate it at times but say it’s all the time.

I was born into a scary time, a lot is changing.

Technology is a constant reminder of what

can be done when we work together.

The news is a constant reminder of what is done

to us when we work against each other. There are no

lives that matter more but some are in more danger than

others. Officers being slaughtered, black citizens

being taunted, by those that serve them. Why are police

departments being investigated by justice

departments? That Ferguson officer? Innocent.

But not his department. Now don’t go around screaming

like those dudes with attitude because it’s our fault that

the police don’t have what they need. To protect and serve

our needs. They need more yet we give them less money and

more protest. But I digress. This country looks a mess.

But I refuse to stress because this generation

that is almost grown, is one of the best. They know how

messed up the world can be but they’re young enough to not

care. Because they’ve also seen what we can do when we

work together. We can make dreams a reality.

We can free those who are oppressed. We can deliver

rights to those that are owed them. The current state of the

country is good, but not great. That is one of the things

Donald and myself agree upon. But we have the

potential to become great. And we will become great.

Why? Because We the People, in order to form a

more perfect union, established the United States.

So when I put that hand on my heart, my arm across

my back, those words leave my mouth, and those thoughts

cross my mind I realize. Soldiers and officers are

heroes. But they aren’t the only people that died

so I could live.