America Can't Breathe: The Death of Democracy

As I, like so many Americans, sat in front of my television in awe of what we call "The land of the Free," my heart plummeted to my stomach at President Trump's response or lack thereof to the televised death of fellow American, George Floyd. Even more, the president's unnecessary use of military force to silence peaceful protest in order to pose for a picture in front of a burned and boarded, St. John's Episcopal church with a bible, further exacerbated the pain and outrage I experienced. Fighting back tears of anguish and utter disgust, I fear the worst... that this country as the democracy we once knew, affectionately and patriotically called, the "Sweet Land of Liberty," is dying. As overt and callous as the death of Mr. Floyd, the death of our once "United States", now screams in agony, as division takes center stage through the tyrannical leadership of President Trump. Having its origin in ancient Greece, the word democracy, comes from two words, "Demos", meaning Common People and "Kratos," which means strength (www.marketing91.com). Two concepts that are a far cry from what we now see playing on the screen of the world in which we live. Once resting on the cornerstones of freedom, assembly and speech, inclusiveness and equality, membership, consent, voting, right to life and minority rights, we now witness the horrific display of these defining foundations brutally ripped away from the metaphorical arms of our once united, now divided, nation-- like that of a crying child torn from the safety and security of his loving mother. While our current governmental leadership poses a striking resemblance many times to a tyranny, defined by Dictionary.com, as arbitrary or unrestrained exercise of power, and despotic abuse of authority. Sadly, in the fight of our lives amidst the global pandemic caused by Covid19, our nation cries out to a leader that refuses to hear its pleas of brokenness, with a heart that detests compassion and perpetually engenders division. Where is our democracy? Where is our equality? Where is our liberty and justice? Is it still justice for all or just for some? Where 'oh Where is democracy now? Though painful to consider, this dialogue is warranted and of grave concern to many Americans of all races, creeds, and colors. As the words of Francis Bellamy's 1892 (Wikipedia.org), version of the Pledge of Allegiance rings ever-so-loudly beneath a bleeding star spangled banner crying, "One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all," in its' final plea, for unity, freedom, and just treatment of all mankind. On June 2, 2020, the democracy of the promised land breathed its last breath...and tyranny inhaled and breathed its first breath on U.S. soil.