Happy Birthday America

[mbsmum]

I wish all PTers in USA happy Birthday

[phesina]

Thank you, Prathima! 246 years now, I think..

Cheers!
- Pat

Purrrs!
- Sparkler and Tinker

[Karen]

I am suddenly tired of
"Red state" "Blue state" headlines
For in every state
Are there not Americans of
Every different political stripe
And are we all not
The UNITED States of America?

So many want to divide us
Into Black and White
Immigrant and Native born
Into Queer and Straight
Vacc'ed and Unvacc'd
Into Us and Them
On any number of fronts
Using any metric as a wedge.

Or are pundits and
Politicians
Hype machines and
Influencers and
Warmongers
Trying to dis-unite us further every day
For the sake of
"Likes" and "retweets"
And "viral" status?

Do they not remember
(Or not care)
That we are all one -
We are all human beings
In all our perfect imperfection
And ain't a one of us actually
White or Black
But a million beautiful hues
From palest pink and beige
Golden and to deepest ebony?

Yes, we have differences
But is that not what makes us
Fascinating, thought-prompting
Complex and amazing?

We are one country
One people
With grand and terrible
History
But we are
Not "Red" or "blue"
But a purple plaid patchwork of
Intersecting
Colors, ideas, goals and dreams?

I have hope
I really do
And believe
We can be different
And yet the same
And still be one country
Stronger for surviving
All the storms
For grieving together
Working together
And building
A better future