Sacred Rights

 RANDOM JACK POETRY HOUR: AMERICAN DEMOCRACY

Sacred Rights 

 

There is no right to yell fire

in a crowded theater

Yet there is a right to carry

weapons of war on the

streets of protest

 

There is no right to slander officials

for vile offensive acts

Yet there is a right to spew

vile abusive language on social

media or in the town square

 

The right to gather in protest

has long been under siege

undermined by both parties

as if they both agreed

to compromise our basic rights

in the interest of public image

or political expedience

 

We have stood by while too

many of our sacred rights

have been compromised or wished

away by overzealous officials

 

The right to vote

The right to speak out

The right to public protest

The right to impartial news

The right to free and fair elections

 

It is time to stand against the onslaught

It is time to stand for freedom

A freedom that is in balance

With democracy and civil rights