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 of 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.