One of Our Own

"For Lowell There are things which, said and true, are of this generation's past; of fighting freedom's battles and of taking off the mask- stories of the actions taken, to blot out the blights of sin, how heroes and the valorous fought their enemies within, Would we be traitors to our bugle, which beckons with its call? - They won freedom for their people but in fine print said: be damned."

"To that man who said, of ham, they'd "rob old Tony, Doll, and Sam" the hypocrisy was notable, and took some years to fight - those critics of the sheep-stealer, who in man-stealers delight - Until those people stole away, and set fire to freedom's light. - Those things ripple and echo, blaring loudly on repeat that which would better a re- public: from sea to shining sea."

"Those things ripple and echo, blaring loudly on repeat that which would better a re- public: from sea to shining sea. As the great believer cautioned, treachery says up when down; it "scatters whole families" without second thought or sound. "New occasions teach new duties"; again we've found this to be true, and the only question lingering is what are we to do."

Generational memory records fights for freedom, recounting actions taken to remove injustice and how valorous figures confronted internal enemies. A rallying bugle questions loyalty to those ideals. Victories contained betrayals in fine print, with explicit calls to be damned and corrupt practices epitomized by rob old Tony, Doll, and Sam. Hypocrisy required years of struggle; critics and thieves undermined freedom and at times set fire to its light. Those events ripple across the republic, echoing from sea to shining sea. Treachery scatters whole families, and "New occasions teach new duties," leaving the unresolved question of what to do next.

Read at The Atlantic