One Person at a Time

If all lives

Meant as much to us as some lives,

If all races, faces, accents, religions, persuasions,

Meant as much to us as our own,

Perhaps this world would be a happier, more peaceful, more spiritual

Place to be. But, it is not

That kind of world.

It is a world where we look out

For our own, those like us,

Those who think and act like we do.

We see it as a waste of time, energy and resources,

To worry about those who don’t concern us,

Those in whom we are not invested.

“Why should I care?” we say to ourselves, to each other, to those who

Keep us accountable.

“It’s not my job!”

“They are trash!”

“They are criminals!”

“They have no respect!”

“They don’t appreciate what they have!”

“I don’t have to go out of my way to help them!”

There has got to be a solution.

There has to be a way

For us all to get along,

To have love and respect for each other,

To live together in peace.

We can do it, one person at a time.