An ominous foreboding

I have tried mightily to ignore the political nonsense barraging us on a daily basis;

an unceasing stream of news bites and barbs.

It's been going on for months

and will only escalate as we get closer to Election Day.

The level of dishonesty, incivility,  bullying and baiting 

which seem to be hallmarks of every candidate 

is not only morally reprehensible

but terrifying in what it reveals about our 'national character'.

Am I the only one who remembers when our 'leaders' inspired us 

to be our better selves,
whose words gave us hope?

when their speeches addressed our commonalities 

instead of preyed on our differences?

when you were proud to have them represent us - 

knowing they had a vision for the future

and an actual plan for how to get us there?

Now, I cringe every time one of the candidates open their mouths.

I'm ashamed to think that people in other countries, 

with no experience of our society, 

will believe these misguided souls represent 

what all Americans think. 

And I wonder how in the world we got here.

What happened to reporters who actually did background and fact checking missions 

before interviews? 

Where are the reporters who held people accountable, 

who called people out on their lies? 

What happened to exposes and investigative reporting? 

For that matter, what happened to critical thinking?

Given that backdrop,

it's no wonder this poem spoke to my heart when I saw it recently.

Pity the nation whose people are sheep

and whose shepherds mislead them

Pity the nation whose leaders are liars

whose sages are silenced

And whose bigots haunt the airwaves

Pity the nation that raises not its voice

Except to  praise conquerors

And acclaim the bully as hero

And aims to rule the world

By force and by torture

Pity the nation that knows

No other language but its own

And no other culture but its own

Pity the nation whose breath is money

And sleeps the sleep of the too well fed

Pity the nation oh pity the people

Who allow their rights to erode

Who allow their freedoms to be washed away

My country, tears for thee

Sweet land of liberty!

Lawrence Ferlinghetti

Pity the nation indeed.