2001 The Hyphen
By John Wayne
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fuzLTrwVbc
The Hyphen, Webster’s Dictionary defines, is a symbol used to divide a compound word or a single word. So it seems to me when a man calls himself an Afro-American, Mexican-American, Italian-American, Irish-American, Jewish-American, what he is saying is, ‘I’m a divided American’. Well, we all came from other places, every creed, different races, to form a nation, to become as one, yet look at the harm a line has done. A simple little line and yet as divisive as a line can get.
A crooked cross the Nazis flew and the Russian hammer and sickle too. Time bombs in the lives of men, but none of these could ever fan the flames of hatred faster than — the Hyphen. The Russian hammer built a wall that locks men’s hearts from freedom’s call. The crooked cross flew overhead of twenty million tragic dead. Among them men from this great nation who died for freedom’s preservation.
A Hyphen is a line that’s small. It can be a bridge or it can be a wall. A bridge can save you lots of time. A wall you always have to climb. The road to liberty lies true. The Hyphen’s use is up to you. Used as a bridge you can span all the differences of man. Being free in mind and soul should be our most important goal. If you use a Hyphen as a wall, you make your life mean and small.
An American is a special breed whose people came to her in need. They came to her that they might find a world where they would have peace of mind. Where men are equal and something more stand taller than they stood before. So you be wise in your decision and that little line won’t cause division. Let’s join hands with one another for in this land each man is your brother. United we stand. Divided we fall. We’re Americans and that says it all.
