Freedom Comes Slowly

America was founded on the idea of freedom,

Though our history is littered with terrible violations of this idea,

And those who started our country had such limiting worldviews that

They did not extend this freedom to everyone

 

They were born into a very stratified society where even people of the same race and gender

Were categorized into classes,

And you might work as hard as you can and as long as you can,

But no matter what you did,

You would never be noble,

And all power in that society came from birth,

They believed

In the “divine right of kings”

And the idea that God chose some to be “vessels of honor”

Ennobled, and given all the power

While others were “vessels of clay”

And they were literally born to be less than

 

They overthrew that yoke and oppression,

Coming to a new land and carving out opportunities away from the stratification of European society,

Where even your accent belied your low birth

And no matter what your education level, work ethic, or desire was,

You could never be blessed by God,

You could never change your class

Because “God didn’t want you to”

 

They built a country that was better,

Though definitely not perfect,

They got rid of the idea that some people are born to nobility

While others are born to peasantry,

They taught us that we can educate ourselves and work hard and make our lives better,

They got rid of classism!

It was a step…

 

They did not complete the task,

They did not extend those freedoms to people of other colors, to women, to those born in other lands,

They did not extend those freedoms to everyone,

And so the idea of liberty and justice for all

Has been on hold,

Has been waiting,

Waiting for centuries,

For our limiting mindsets

Of racism, sexism, religion, nationalism, ignorance, and fear

To go away,

For humanity to outgrow them

 

Even so,

Step by step freedom has come,

From the abolition of slavery

To granting women the right to vote,

To ending the Jim Crow laws,

The Civil Rights Movement,

Feminism,

And becoming a post-religious society,

Freedom has been growing

 

Is now the time?

Is today the day?

 

Can we finally say we are a land

Of liberty and justice for all?

 

Freedom comes slowly, piece by piece,

But it is coming as we overthrow the yokes of oppression and limitation that have ensnared us

And realize that everyone has the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,

And realize that we can see and honor the multifaceted divine expression

In each human being

 

Freedom comes slowly, but it is coming,

It is coming to America,

Land of the free!