“You Live In the South”
“You Live in the South”
by Jeff Mosier 2011
You live in the South
You love it and always will
The parts that you don’t love can change
It’s not uniquely like this all over the country
You’re surrounded by some things that make you feel uncomfortable
Yet surrounded by the beauty that makes it your home
Never forget though, you live in the South
It can make you bitter
Let it make you better
You CAN’T face intolerance with intolerance
Try to live love and let that be your example
You’ll try hard to love, yet fail many times
You’ll try hard to love, yet fail many times
You’ll try hard to love, yet fail many times
Keep going…
There has been great progress made already
Things have changed for the good
They’re changing as we speak
You live in the South
Perfection is an illusion
There’s ignorance everywhere, not just here
There’s conflict everywhere, not just here
There’s hatred everywhere, not just here
Things will get better everywhere, including here
Conflict and debate are good and will help bring forth change
You have a voice, use it
Love it, by helping to change it
You’re not only your country
You’re not only your heritage
You’re not only your religion
You’re not only where you grew up
You’re not ANY of these things given to you before you even knew your own name
You ARE a person first, a human being, part of the natural world
You’re a unique human being
Identified by a symbol called “your name”
Start there and always question the rest
Live your unique life to the fullest
Get above your raisin”
Go beyond the group think
Go beyond the tribe
Be an individual
Think for yourself
Action not reaction
Yearn for progress around the ENTIRE world
Don’t stop thinking.
Grow
Question
Learn
You’ll get discouraged
Don’t stay discouraged
Enjoy and cherish your gifts
Mind
Body
Family
Friends
Community
and Planet
“We the people” includes ALL the people
We have it in OUR hands
Never forget
Be proud and grateful
You live in the South!