The following poem was written by Brian McLaughlin, and more of his work can be found at his website -- Beej's Poetry Corner.
The Breaking Down of the Wall
The wall had been built strong and sturdy it was it kept the state from dictating religion It's purpose to insure that all men, women too could believe, or not worship, or not in short to have their own faith and that all may be treated as equals It was built to stop the witch burnings to end the persecution of the baptists to bestow upon all men, women too the freedom to have their own faith The differences were many folks seemed to get stupid thinking “There's only one way and that's mine” “Laws should be made to give me advantage” “After all can't you see God is mine” They picked up the sledge started hammering away at the wall attempting to mold it, shape it, yes change it and with all this pounding it started to fall They were claiming the first and yes they've that right what they forgot was the first was for all they had picked the wrong fight Then the fourteenth was born to bolster the wall build it back up to insure to all their rights be protected but that wasn't enough the hammering continued and the state said “ENOUGH” “All have these rights and you've no right to deny them” You claim you're non-profit you've been given the freedom to worship and believe as you wish and in your church build your kingdom But if you're licensed as business I know this sounds hollow but you've really no choice it's the laws of the land you must follow You've been given protection and what did you do started tearing it down tell me Who's encroached upon who?The wall had been built strong and sturdy it was it kept the state from dictating religion It's purpose to insure that all men, women too could believe, or not worship, or not in short to have their own faith and that all may be treated as equals It was built to stop the witch burnings to end the persecution of the baptists to bestow upon all men, women too the freedom to have their own faith The differences were many folks seemed to get stupid thinking “There's only one way and that's mine” “Laws should be made to give me advantage” “After all can't you see God is mine” They picked up the sledge started hammering away at the wall attempting to mold it, shape it, yes change it and with all this pounding it started to fall They were claiming the first and yes they've that right what they forgot was the first was for all they had picked the wrong fight Then the fourteenth was born to bolster the wall build it back up to insure to all their rights be protected but that wasn't enough the hammering continued and the state said “ENOUGH” “All have these rights and you've no right to deny them” You claim you're non-profit you've been given the freedom to worship and believe as you wish and in your church build your kingdom But if you're licensed as business I know this sounds hollow but you've really no choice it's the laws of the land you must follow You've been given protection and what did you do started tearing it down tell me Who's encroached upon who?
