By Rhys Allison, TWR Youth Action Fellow ‘20
Can we do better
What is democracy
A dream
A fleeting memory
Is it something real or just something we feel
Do we have to sit here and believe
Believe
Do we move forward
Is it still here
Do we have to believe in it for it to be there
Do we still believe
Do we act
Keep the system in place
Do we survive
Or do we evolve
Fight to make something better
Where we don't rely on compliance
On people believing in the system
On people staying
On people accepting what happened
Now that people don't believe
Where do we go from here
Does the system persevere
Do we find something new
What is democracy
A dream
A fleeting memory
Do we still believe
Or do we make something better
Something that protects
Something where we are heard
Something where the marginalized are no longer in the margins
Can we make discrimination
A dream
A fleeting memory
If this is where democracy dies
Can we make something better
Something where this never happens again
With a system that protects
And does not allow for a fascist coup
How can we save ourselves
Evolve
Dream
Remember
And make something better
What is democracy
And can we do better
Rhys Allison, they/them pronouns, is a YAN Fellow and a senior in Philosophy at George Mason University. They enjoy writing, art, and their cat. They plan on going to grad school in Philosophy and Social Policy.
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