LAWRENCE F

This transcription is a reflection on the state of a nation. The nation is pitied for having people who are easily influenced and led astray. The leaders are accused of being dishonest, while the wise are silenced and prejudice is prevalent in the media. The nation is criticized for only speaking positively about those in power and seeking to dominate through force and torture. The nation is also criticized for being ignorant of other languages and cultures. The focus is on money and materialism, leading to a lack of empathy for those in need. The people are blamed for allowing their rights and freedom to be taken away. The speaker expresses sadness for their country, the land of liberty. Pity the nation whose people are sheep, and whose shepherds mislead them. Pity the nation whose leaders are liars, whose sages are silenced, and whose bigots haunt the airwaves. Pity the nation that raises not its voice except to praise conquerors, and acclaim the bully as hero, and aims to rule the world by force and by torture. Pity the nation that knows no other language but its own, and no other culture but its own. Pity the nation whose breath is money, and sleeps of the sleep of the too well fed. Pity the nation, O pity the people, who allow their rights to erode, and their freedom to be washed away, my country, tears of thee, sweet land of liberty.