We stand today on blood soaked land we have inherited
From a centuries long heritage of violence
Which was born in the genocide of the indigenous
And whose industry was built by the forced labor of slaves.
Our forbearers took the northern half of Mexico
At the end of a bayonet and rifle

And we have often indulged ourselves with
The trite phrase that America was built with
God, guns, and guts when we have always known
It was mostly guns.

The violence that today continues this unbroken chain
No longer has even the apologetic of
Taking land or forcing labor.
Now it is just violence that is random, senseless,
and incomprehensible.

We will not ask forgiveness again
since this is a sin that is within our power to stop.
We ask only for the courage to try again,
To work harder,
To be more successful
In changing who we have been into
The nation we long to be.

Amen

Visit Rev. Roger L. Ray’s website The Emerging Church