The Hyphen

The hyphen,Webster's Dictionary defines
Is a symbol used to divide a compound word or single phrase
So it seems to me that when a man calls himself
An "Afro-American," a "Mexican- American," "Italian-American,"
An "Irish-American,""Jewish-American,
What he's sayin' is "I'm a divided American."


Well, we all came from other places,
Different creeds and 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 Nazi flew,
And the Russian hammer and sickle too---
Time bombs in the lives of Man
But none of these could ever fan
The flames of hatred faster the
The Hyphen.

The Russian hammer built a wall
That locks men's hearts from freedom's call
A crooked cross flew overhead
Above 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 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.


John Wayne, 1977 -- A REAL American!