by William Aarnes
What’s troubling shouldn’t trouble us. Whatever the news,
only the seditious believe the caging of refugee children
will go on too long. Maybe, in some subversives’ imaginations,
addicts will keep overdosing. Maybe storms will devastate
the islands where we vacation. Maybe dictators will stay
in power in some foreign countries, countries where the rich
can count on the police but the poor can’t. Maybe
in the once murky past hard-working laborers couldn’t pay
their rent—but never in this land of promise, never
in the comfort of our time. We’re blessed we can focus
on the inspiring resolve of those families rebuilding
their burned-out homes. We’re lucky we can relish
hearing a decorated veteran belt out our national anthem
as if she’s cured of her PTSD, the athletes singing along,
all of them with hands on their hearts. And aren’t we charmed
by the fourth-grade teacher who’s earned a raise
by bringing a gun to school? Why give a moment’s thought
to hardships suffered by people who deserve them?
Didn’t our parents say, “Look on the bright side”?
Only those who belong elsewhere would deny that life
in our beloved country is the epitome of the bright side.
Why should we put up with any doubt? Everyone’s happy
that what’s happening can never happen to us.
William Aarnes lives in South Carolina.
from the 2019 Independence Day speech
What’s troubling shouldn’t trouble us. Whatever the news,
only the seditious believe the caging of refugee children
will go on too long. Maybe, in some subversives’ imaginations,
addicts will keep overdosing. Maybe storms will devastate
the islands where we vacation. Maybe dictators will stay
in power in some foreign countries, countries where the rich
can count on the police but the poor can’t. Maybe
in the once murky past hard-working laborers couldn’t pay
their rent—but never in this land of promise, never
in the comfort of our time. We’re blessed we can focus
on the inspiring resolve of those families rebuilding
their burned-out homes. We’re lucky we can relish
hearing a decorated veteran belt out our national anthem
as if she’s cured of her PTSD, the athletes singing along,
all of them with hands on their hearts. And aren’t we charmed
by the fourth-grade teacher who’s earned a raise
by bringing a gun to school? Why give a moment’s thought
to hardships suffered by people who deserve them?
Didn’t our parents say, “Look on the bright side”?
Only those who belong elsewhere would deny that life
in our beloved country is the epitome of the bright side.
Why should we put up with any doubt? Everyone’s happy
that what’s happening can never happen to us.
William Aarnes lives in South Carolina.
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