the making of greatness

considering the two and a half centuries
of unrepented genocides,
the unabashed racist structuring
of our entire social fabric,
the nonstop production and export
of a culture of violence
rippling with contempt for living things,
the adamant foreign policies
wrought entirely out of disdain
for the Democracies of other peoples,
and the rivers of denial that are
haunting America's negative column
like a never ending night of the
unliving, unthinking dead,
i expect it would take
a couple generations
of ceaseless decency
and heartfelt soul searching
to even make America so-so.
but we could try.
i believe the first step
can best be achieved by
disconnecting from the media,
since they so excel at
deflecting reflection.
if we could follow this up with
creative, helpful apologies
a collective, healing sigh
would waft round the earth,
and trust could finally flower.