If America Had Never Been
I wonder what today would be like,
if America had never been.
There would not be... "We The People",
protection under the Bill of Rights,
the precious freedoms from religion to dissent,
the symbolic Statue of Liberty from a friendly France,
the wondrous historical monuments like Mount Rushmore,
celebrating independence won on the Fourth of July,
the red, white, and blue waving proudly high,
the singing of the reaffirming Star Spangled Banner,
and pledging our allegiance with hand over heart or in salute.
And think of the great ones that would never be...
George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Marshall,
Abraham Lincoln, Booker T. Washington, Teddy Roosevelt
Susan B. Anthony, Franklin Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy,
Martin Luther King, Ronald Reagan, and so many more.
Then remember the other noble ones that would be lost...
Benjamin Franklin flying that one kite,
Alexander Bell pursuing voice communication when apart,
Thomas Edison capturing light in glass,
George Bancroft writing the first history books about the USA,
Orville and Wilbur Wright attaining flight at Kitty Hawk,
Dr. Jonas Salk developing the polio vaccine,
George Washington Carver impacting agriculture production,
Bill Gates and Steve Jobs fostering the personal computer age,
Stephanie Kwolek inventing bullet-resistant Kevlar,
Neil Armstrong stepping on the moon for mankind,
and even the Oscar, Emmy, Tony, and Grammy winning stars
along with the brave war and gifted sport heroes...
as they and all Americans came to be with ancestors' roots
from countries in Europe, Africa, Asia, and elsewhere.
Nor would there be the cost
of treasure, noble effort, and blood
when...
our brave troops came to aid in World War I and II,
providing food and more during the Berlin airlift,
being resolute in winning the cold war,
reaching out to others when natural and health disasters strike,
doing whatever it takes after the terrorists' attacks on 9/11/2001.
I wonder if America had never been,
how many more would not be free,
living under anarchy and tyranny
while wishing what could be...
that America now offers for all to see.
David G. Bancroft
Copyright 2003
All Rights Reserved