2016 was a year of patriotism

Fifteen years since 9/11

Over one hundred Olympic medals

And the election of President 45 that is changing many American lives

 

But if our country is so great to begin with

Why do we need to conquer this myth?

There is no such thing as a perfect country

So we must agree

That America is and has not always been pretty

 

Like the “American Dream”

What does it mean?

Everyone should be able to rise socially and economically

Yet everyone does not have this opportunity

 

People are still extremely rich

While the poor are told they should’ve done more

If the “American Dream” was fair

We’d all be billionaires

 

America is known as the “land of the free”

But does just living on this land mean freedom for you and me?

Many Americans have not been granted

Their constitutional and human rights

And because of this, many injustices were served

 

Native Americans were denied their rightfully owned land

They suffered loss of culture and genocide

Women were finally allowed to vote after they tried and tried

African Americans were treated badly and died

 

“Freedom of speech” has become a play on words

Because if someone’s opinion doesn’t line up with the public’s

Their voice isn’t heard

Religions are discriminated against, and protests are seen as problematic

Even a poem like this can be seen as unpatriotic

 

It is obvious that there is not liberty and justice for all

For America to truly be “great”, we mustn’t start by building a wall

This country needs to do better and treat everyone with respect

Nothing is wrong with being patriotic,

But our country’s flaws we must recognize and correct