The United States of America Looks in the Mirror

The reign of the regime of President Donald J. Trump has given wake to both illegality, criminality and brutality that has shocked the nation and the world, writ large. Under Trump’s leadership, the United States has reinstated racial profiling; extorted, threatened, and attacked its previous allies; destabilized both the national and global economies; imprisoned innocents in concentration camps; engaged in piracy on the open seas; openly supported genocide; and murdered civilians of and tourists to the United States and foreign nationals. The country’s reputation – mask fully removed – has been decimated. The United States conducts itself, nakedly, as a rogue nation. A common and apparently traumatic response by United States citizens has been, “This isn’t who we are.” Regardless of this errant refrain, history tells us otherwise. And in that spirit, I was inspired to write the following.

This Is Who You Are

Written by Colston Rutledge, Jr.
Penned on 2026/01/10

You still commit horrors untold
With a mind possessed
And a heart that’s cold
In ignorance, you remain bold
Believing the good will ever fold
You lust for power
You worship gold
And all the while, you lose your soul
Cruel and bigoted, from days of old
Spreading misery, your only goal
Anger is all your heart will hold
Your self-hatred will take its toll

You stalk the nights
You stalk the days
And yet, the weak
Your only prey
“Superior” is what you say
Yet, without the badge, you hide away
Equality, you seek to slay
Because you fear the coming day
You curse
You murder
You cry
You pray
And yet, this future will not be stayed
In history, your sins be laid
And in karma, your debts be paid