So when we used to ask, how could we possibly win over disaster? Now we emphasize How is it possible that disaster can control us? We will not return to the past, but move towards what will happen. A nation wounded yet whole, kind yet brave, fierce and free We will not turn back or be interrupted by intimidation because we know our inaction and inertia will be the legacy of the next generation. Our mistakes become their burden. But one thing is certain: If we combine mercy with strength, and strength with truth, then love becomes our inheritance and changes our lives. children's human rights So let us leave a better country than the one we lived in before. In pairs or small groups, depending on what is possible with social distancing, have students discuss the questions below. Then have groups share their ideas in a class discussion, focusing on the call to action in the final question. What "disaster" might Gorman be referring to in this section of the poem? How has one or more of these disasters impacted you, your family, and your community? Read this section of the poem again and circle the word "we" each time it occurs. What is the impact of this repetition? Why do you think Gorman repeats the word we here and throughout the poem? How do you see or not see yourself as part of us? Discuss the final phrase of the passage: So let us leave behind a country / better than the one we live in now. What would it look, sound, and/or feel if your generation left a better country than the one you inherited? What specific actions can you take as part of Gorman's call to action? Can anyone help me?
