Land of The Not-So-Free

The bell rings each morning at 8:35, exactly.
At 8:37, thousands of students stand up in unison,
Placing their hands over their hearts, reciting a pledge
A pledge that claims, 'liberty and justice for all'.

But as I stand there, each day, staring at the fabric,
I find myself believing less and less in the words I'm saying.
They become meaningless, just words that I have to recite.
I feel nothing, no pride and no hope, no love, even.

How am I supposed to love where I live,
When I'm watching people like me die everyday
Because of their race, their gender, or their sexuality.
Or the things they chose to believe in, or rather, not to?

I watch people get killed because they like to kiss boys.
Or they like to kiss girls. Or they like to kiss both.
And sometimes, because they don't like to kiss anyone at all.
I watch people get killed because of who they like to kiss.

I watch people get killed because they're female.
Or they're transgender. Or they're feminine.
And sometimes, because they're neither gender at all.
I watch people get killed because of who they identify as.

I watch people get killed because they're black.
Or they're Asian. Or they're Latina.
And sometimes, just because they're not white.
I watch people get killed because of what color their skin is.

I watch people get killed because they're strong.
Or because they stand up for what they believe in.
And sometimes, because they're weak and don't stand.
I watch people get killed because of their personality traits.

I watch people get killed because they've been raped.
Or they've been assaulted. Or they're just being themselves.
And sometimes, because someone didn't like their reasonings.
I watch people get killed because of experiencing traumatizing things.

I watch people get killed because they're autistic.
Or they're schizophrenic. Or they're depressed.
And sometimes, because they don't fit the 'mental health' of someone else.
I watch people get killed because of the way their minds work.

And the people that do the killing are the worst of all.
Because they're the ones standing there,
Explaining to me that these people asked for it
That it's their fault, and they could have avoided it.

I stand there, staring at that piece of fabric hanging from the wall
Wondering how there's 'liberty and justice' for all
When the country is run by people who believe in liberty and justice
Only for those who believe and think and act the way they do.

The thing is, I don't act, or think, or believe the things they do.
So, I say the pledge, fearing that if I don't,
I won't be seeing people get killed anymore,
Because I'll be the one dead.

This poem is about: 
My country
Poetry Terms Demonstrated: 

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