When is liberty

and justice

for all?

The story

and dream

of America

is a chimera,

but still

a worthy

intention.

The tension

between

rights

of different

types

has always

caused strain

and dissension.

More importantly,

it has caused

reinvention

of what was

to what could

be.

With liberty

and justice

for all:

we saw

and see

the reality

of necessity

and difficulty

of application

with humanity

and humility

and equality.

Each generation

thinks

they are

smarter;

above

and beyond

the harder

times

that preceded.

They won’t

be defeated

this time.

Times

change;

but do 

humans?

The same

needs

and wants

feeds

and taunts

people

throughout

the ages.

Hubris

is

perhaps

the one

that keeps

us 

repeating

mistakes.

Like 

the addict

who is

convinced

of being

invincible

or just

not caring

enough,

we think

this time

we’ll

do it

and it

will be

better

because

we are

more 

clever.

It’s sad

to think

that we

already

peaked

as a generation,

or nation,

or world

order.

The need

for recognition

and even

retribution

in the guise

of contribution

to something

better

is worse

when we 

lose sight

of the reality

of humanity

always

needing

attention

and to

break

convention,

forgetting

the contention

that liberty

and justice

for all

continues.