Time Can Reduce It All

These are the days when human souls are severely challenged
when the crossroads provide different paths
here in the States we knocked down a door
in 2008 added some color to the White House
But the ethnic diversity hasn't been accompanied
by a diversity of thought

The concentration of wealth has further eroded bonds
haves failing to see their prosperity tied to those without
while those dealing with economic insecurity
distrust the wealthy and organizations that benefit them
ignorant or uncaring to that universal truth
that what happens to the least of us happens to all

Making a dollar and to hell with the consequences
all kinds of criticism of the UN
but what can a general secretary do when
the biggest countries with the biggest toys
share the toys with war mongers
when they should be looking at
non-violent conflict resolution

When Monsanto and Archer Daniels Midland feed at the public trough
politicians turn a cheek to the artificial sweeteners that fatten up the babies
and disavow any truth in labeling GMOs
fast and nutrition poor foods sold
halos promoted by sponsoring what once was public television
and we discard physical education and the arts
holding to misguided notions of what high test scores constitute

But true justice has a way of reaching past
barriers and blockages, stimulated by
action hundred miles away
say "some of the people can be fooled
some of the time"  but none of the people can be fooled forever
for as the best president the USA never had said;

"Each time a person stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others,
or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope,
and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy
and daring those ripples build a current which can
sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”