I’ve Stopped Believing in America

Hello, my name is, wait a minute, does it matter? 
I guess not, since I am just your average American. 
I walk by you, maybe we notice each other, maybe not.  But I guess it really does not matter anymore.
Why? 
Because I’ve Stopped Believing in America.

I think there was a time I believed, but then again maybe I am fooling myself.
Am I a Democrat?  I don’t think so. 
Am I a Republican? No, not that either.
Am I part of the Green Movement? No, but I have seen a lot more trees being cut down.
Am I a Libertarian? I don’t even know what it means, so probably not.
Well I guess it really doesn’t matter anymore.
Why?
Because I’ve Stopped Believing in America.

I decided to watch some television today.
I heard “F” this and “F” that.
I observed a drunken mother hit her daughter.
I observed a husband cheat on his wife and a wife cheat on her husband.
I watched the news, wars were everywhere, people killing people.
I decided to turn the television off.
Why?
Because I’ve Stopped Believing in America.

I went for a drive this evening, thought I would watch the sunset from the beach.
I saw teenagers sitting at picnic tables smoking joints and passing a bottle of liquer around.
I watched old men sitting in their cars drinking from a brown bag.
I saw a fist fight between two teenagers in the parking lot with spectators cheering them on.
I shook my head, got in my car, and drove home.
Why?
Because I’ve Stopped Believing in America.

I woke up this morning and listened to the news.
I listened to a debate that happened the night before.
Our soldiers need to come home.
Our soldiers need to stay the course.
I listened to one person call the other a far left liberal.
I listened to the other person yell out far right conservative.
There might have been a time when I would have chosen a side, but not anymore.
Why?
Because I’ve Stopped Believing in America.


I turned off the radio and decided to go for a walk.
I walked by a clinic where people were yelling at each other.
You have no right to kill an unborn child, a voice rang out.
It is my right to do what I want with my body, another voice shouted.
The yelling stopped when I walked by and they asked me what I thought.
I said, it does not matter anymore, and walked away.
Why?
Because I’ve Stopped Believing in America.

I thought I would take a peaceful walk through the park.
A woman was crying on a park bench.
I look at her and say nothing.
I work for a small company, she says.
I still say nothing.
I was the VP of this company.
Big business has stolen our plans and ideas.
Only silence from me.
They have expensive lawyers, we are small, and cannot afford to fight them.
Tearfully she sat looking at me for a response.
I opened my mouth, welcome to America I said, then walked away.
Why?
Because I’ve Stopped Believing in America.

I left the park and decided to have lunch.
I went to a small café across the street from the park.
I ordered a plate of fries and waited.
Could you please change this garbage someone asked?
I turned and stared at the TV screen.
No, don’t change it; I like this show, another person said.
On the TV some woman was receiving an award and was saying something about Jesus.
It must have been bad because the television went silent.
I asked for my fries to go.
You don’t want to sit and eat your fries here?
No, I want them to go.
Why?
I stared at the television screen at the woman receiving the award and pointed.
Because I’ve Stopped Believing in America.

I walked slowly down the sidewalk with my head hung low.
What has happened to us?
Why have we strayed?
How did we get to this point of so much hate and despair?
Did not someone say to love one another as I have loved you?
Did not someone also say to love your neighbor, not kill them?
A single tear rolled down my cheek as I looked toward the sky.
What does God think I wondered?
But it does not matter anymore, because He Has Stopped Believing in America.