How Fragile

How fragile our identities are.

Because a minority self-identifies as something other than us, we question who we are.
Because others hold different faiths, we feel ours is threatened.
How fragile we are.

We don’t really care about each other, we care about the flag.
About its colours. Its symbols. Its anthem.
We walk past our own homeless, day after day.
But only ask “What about them?” when someone else gets help.

We don’t care about “our own” until there’s an other to compare them to.
When there are no others, we forget them.
We ignore them.
We don’t help them.
“Get a job!” We tell them.

But when someone else is helped, suddenly, identity matters.
Suddenly, injustice matters.
Not because we care.
But because we’re jealous.

That’s not patriotism.
That’s fear disguised as pride.
And it’s tearing us apart.
How fragile.