My American Lie

Dear Asian Youth,

I was born and raised in America

Taught the language, taught the laws

I was raised to believe in the ideals of this nation.

Liberty, and justice for all.

I was taught the history and the stories

Columbus, our founding fathers, and all

We fought against dictatorships and tyranny

And made the world a better place

Our nation was the gleaming light for a better world-- a better life.

We welcomed immigrants at our shore, gave them jobs, and helped the poor.

We built grand monuments of men like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson,

But somewhere along the line, what I believed to be true was full of lies.

The American veil was pulled away from my eyes.