A Prayer for Our Rich Nation

O God, forgive our rich nation where small babies die of
cold quite legally.

O God, forgive our rich nation where small children suffer from
hunger quite legally.

O God, forgive our rich nation where toddlers and school children
die from guns sold quite legally.

O God, forgive our rich nation that lets children be the poorest
group of citizens quite legally.

O God, forgive our rich nation that lets the rich continue to get
more at the expense of the poor quite legally.

O God, forgive our rich nation that thinks security rests in
missiles rather than in mothers, and in bombs rather than in babies.

O God, forgive our rich nation for not giving You sufficient thanks
by giving to others their daily bread.

O God, help us never to confuse what is quite legal with what is
just and right in Your sight.

  - prayer delivered by Marian Wright Edelman, president and founder of the Children’s Defense Fund, on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, June 1, 1996.