How do you make a nation great?
By telling lies and preaching hate?
Inciting to assassinate?
That’s not the kind of great I rate.
When all your words are meant to shock,
intimidate, demean and mock,
they’re not the best words, not at all.
They’re words that damage, maul, appall.
If all you do is rant and roar,
call women dog, fat pig and whore,
if that’s the great you’re standing for,
that is a great that I deplore.
In your world we’d all be racist,
Humans at their very basest.
Erect a wall, create a schism,
There is no great in narcissism.
Judged by religion, creed or race,
That isn’t great, that’s a disgrace.
Intolerance is all you tout,
If that is great then count me out.
Stop. Reset.
How do you make a nation great?
By seeking to collaborate,
by finding ways to mediate,
illuminate and educate.
Choose only words that serve to heal,
unite, encourage and appeal,
they are the best words by a mile.
They’re words that make this life worthwhile.
Protect the planet from our greed.
Distribute wealth, help those in need.
Above all else seek to inspire.
Create a nation to admire.
Equality should be routine.
It’s humanKIND not humanMEAN.
We still have time, it’s not too late
to quell the fears and stem the hate.
Cooperate, create, elate,
Together we can elevate
a nation and decide its fate.
Now that’s a great to celebrate.
– Ailsa Prideaux-Mooney
Where's my backpack? 
Instead of the usual weekly photo theme, here is a challenge for the days, weeks, months and years ahead.
Do something great. What that involves is entirely up to you. Create something beautiful and share it with the world. Write something true from the depths of your humanity and share it with the world. Do something kind for someone in need. Embrace a different culture. Volunteer. Plant a tree. Tell someone how much they mean to you. Reach out to someone in your community you’ve never even noticed before. Try to understand someone else’s point of view. Learn something new. Teach your kids something new. Stand up to bullies. Protect those being victimized. Be brave. Be gentle. Be vulnerable. Nurture. Encourage. Forgive. Love. Shine.
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If you would like to create a post about your version of "Great", I would love to hear your story, and I know many others would too, so include a link to this page in your post, or add the link to your post in the comments section below.
Beautiful, Ailsa. It’s been a difficult 24 hrs, not just for those of us in the US. Thank you for sharing your poem and creating the challenge. We will all need to work together and stand strong.
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I’m with you. No, seriously, I’m with you. Please, take me with you and care for me.
Awww, giving you a great big virtual hug. Don’t worry, I’ve got your back. 🙂 ❤
Go Ailsa!
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Ailsa, I responded to your GREAT prompt today. https://soundslikewish.wordpress.com/2016/11/15/great/
Well said. 💕
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Ardys, I just read your post, so life-affirming, thank you for sharing it. ❤
DOESN’T MATTER WHICH CANDIDATE DOES IT? I’M PROUD OF YOU FOR HITTING THE RESET BUTTON! 🙂
I think the whole planet needs a reset, Jonathan.
Inspiring! I think your challenge is just what we need. Count me in.
❤
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Ailsa, this is beautifully said. I accept your challenge. The world has gone mad. A tide of goodness, tolerance and kindness is needed now.
Oh Patsy, it’s bonkers right now, isn’t it? Hope you’re keeping well in your little patch of planet. ❤
Brilliant! Thanks for sharing your poem that expresses beautifully what so many of us have been feeling and struggling with since the infamous outcome on 11/09.
I think we’re going to be struggling with this for some time to come, Angela. Hang in there. ❤
yes, alisa )
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Oh my word, that is a brilliant poem, and the perfect message. Well done, and thank you.
Thanks Dan. xxx
I’m not American,I didn’t get to vote but I do feel the pain and anguish here in Australia. There was shock in my workplace and disbelief. It’s so wonderful to read your thoughts and know that there are many Amercians who are looking at making the US great in all the right ways. May the reset rule!
Under the circumstances, Lindy, it seems pretty unfair that the rest of the world has to sit by and watch this travesty which clearly has global ramifications.
This is wonderful! Thanks.
Beth
Love your comments, Ailsa. This is a wonderful take on the situation!
Love this! If every single american could read this, and live this, we might survive the next 4 years.
Love your poem and ideas!
Those reasons may be exactly why the Republicans in place did not support Trump-who knows, they didn’t tell us why they didn’t support him. I have a feeling he will come around a bit more toward being less divisive once in office, since he will not able to run this ship from an island.
Thanks for this, Ailsa. It’s wonderful. Everyone at SDC was in tears yesterday.
My big news is that I’m retiring at the end of the year. Plan on sleeping late and following my nose for awhile…then we’ll see. I’m thinking of fulfilling Jimmy Stewart’s dream in It’s A Wonderful Life, and “joining the National Geographic and seeing the world!”
All the very best to you. Miss you, but always enjoy seeing your posts!
John
Sent from my iPad
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Oh wow, John, how exciting, I love the idea of joining the National Geographic (of course I would) and let me just get in early and say if you need anyone to carry your bags on your round-the-world trip…. just saying! Haha. 😉 Oh and by the way, if you have a chance can you send me your contact details so we can stay in touch in the offline world too – the contact page here https://wheresmybackpack.com/contact/ will reach my email, so if you send me your email / phone / address I will email you back with my info too. Keep safe in these strange new times. ❤
Brilliant! And true. Time to reset the world and get rid of ALL the dictators.
Spot on Ailsa!
Thank you
Wonderful, Ailsa, and just what the world needs more of right now. I’m with you, totally. Let’s all go out and spread some light and love in this world. ❤️
Excellent write, Ailsa….the world most definitely needs less division and hatred
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Oh, thank you! And thank you to Ardys for having shown the way
I just read Ardy’s story, just the kind of antidote for these hate-filled times. xxx
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It is a poem for the time, Ailsa, fantastic!
It has been amazing to read how people are responding to the Trump election. So many wise, inclusive and tolerant words. I have tried to bring some of them together (including yours 🙂 ) in my post https://annelawson.wordpress.com/2016/11/12/trump/
I love your poem. It’s perfect. I wish you could find a way to share it with the world – or at least the US! I’ll be thinking about your Great challenge, trying to figure out how to respond to it. Maybe that will get me out of this depression!
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Hi Ailsa, Thanks for this challenge. Here is my response:https://naomibaltuck.wordpress.com/2016/11/15/resistance-is-not-futile/
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Beautifully said. And another reason why I’m continuing in the fight. We’ve gone from “A Thousand Points of Light” to “The Abyss” – but YOU are one of the candles in the dark. Thank you for that.
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The problem with many of our politicians – who claim to fight the evil – they do it not for our sake – but wants to have the opportunity to take over the role as the evil one…
Our lives, our world is too important to us to let those was in charge without control – we should all take more/the responsibility instead, in common interest in relation to OUR world.
Powerful commentary. Excellent assessment.