Time To Look In The Mirror

‘The entire world already knows
That we water- boarded the prisoners’
The entire world also knows that
Our police shot the unarmed man
With raised hand
And policeman was not indicted
The whole world knows
Police kept a man in chokehold
Even after listening that he can’t breathe
The whole world knows that
Our citizens are getting paranoid
Can’t see the difference between
An adult and child’s playground activities
The world knows that
Our government spies on
Its own citizens with out permission
The list goes on and on and on
Stirs the conscience even from a distance
May be it’s a time for some soul searching
To remember and stand by the great principles
That define us as a nation
To aspire and hold ourselves together
In forward march for life, liberty
And justice for all
It is time to look in the mirror
And point to that ugly serpent
Of lies and deceit drunk with power
Raising its head steadily
To corrupt that loving image of Democracy
Loved and admired by the entire world
No matter how much we boast about
Being a great nation
Setting high standard of values
For others to follow
We are still humans and fallible
With room for improvement
How long can we hide behind
The words like enhanced interrogation
Or collateral damage or self defense
The flowery language of sophisticated intellect
Invented and renewed every day
To hide and shrink from responsibility
Nothing can set us free from the painful truth
Burning in our national consciousness
But to accept our wrong doings
Examine and correct our mistakes
And walk on the path of virtue
With a heart fearless and confident
And recognize with humility
That we are not the sole guardian of values
That arrogance simply tarnishes
Even the most cherished virtues.

The quote is from Senator John McCain’s speech on congress floor defending the release of ‘Torture Report’ on 12.9.2014.
The poem came as a reaction of some recent and old events that have challenged the core values of American life.