SOCIAL SYMPTOMS ARE PLAYED OUT IN YOUNG LIVES

I was outraged as I read Cal Thomas' column that referred to a school in Salt Lake City that omitted any song at graduation with references to "Lord" or "God."

This prompted me to dig up a poem I wrote 10 years ago :

Oh, beautiful America! What have we done to thee? That which is conceived in liberty is dying a painful death.This nation under God has forsaken his good name. Do we deserve thee? We weep for values lost.We have lost the vision of the forefathers that government of the people, but the people has become a government chained to the people, a taking a selfish people.We love thee. Why do we persecute thee? The shoulder of strength has cowered. Your cries for help have not been heard. When will we see what we have done?We have weakened you. A few provide for all. We have shamed the work ethic and have produced a dependent and thankless people.Oh, beautiful America! What have we done to thee?When in the course of human events human life is sacred not, the most sacred gifts of thee must give way to freedom choice.The moral and ethical strength we have set to destroy. Soon we will see the end as we knew you. The end cometh when the good let go.What can but one man do? That which is most painful: the belief in truth and justice, the belief that we must not let go.Contemplate the abuse rendered. A twisted society. A groping mass. Do we not see the symptoms?Oh, beautiful America! What have we done to thee? Forsake thee not, for a people's hope you live.

With the recent celebration of Flag Day and the upcoming celebration of our country's independence, this is an appropriate time to ponder from where we came and in what direction we are traveling.

I feel that no other nation could conquer this country and do as much damage as we are doing to ourselves or allowing to be done to us.As a classroom teacher in a public school system, I have witenessed societys symptoms played out in the lives of our youth. Our youth can only model behavior that we, as adults and leaders, give them to model.Cathy Brown resides in Bertrand.