A Citizen's Creed

[hastings1066]

Something that came out of an email conversation between my brother an myself.

A Citizen's Creed:

I am one person, facing the world, with a nation at my back.
If my neighbor attacks my nation, I may die, but the nation will stand,
    unwilling to bend as the waves attempt to tear it down.
If I can be more than one, I am not more important, I am just more
    *effective* at being a citizen.
If my neighbor needs help, I can help as one person, and my example
    can be followed by others until we as a nation help.
If my neighbor wants to talk, I speak as friends, not as enemies,
    even if we have fought in the past.
If my other neighbors join the conversation, the force of ideals for common good
    will wear down the force of blind hatred and avarice.
When all of my neighbors come to one table, the dialog of adversity
    turns to discussion of ideas bigger than the whole;
    not fanciful dreams, but projects, plans, and reality - a Path.
This is how I become greater than one, not with a fist or a tool, but with friends.
I become the nation as the nation becomes me.
As we all come to this table, we all represent our world, our nation,
    and especially ourselves, lest we forget we are one.