Have you noticed — a poem
![Shoshana Stern](https://images.forwardcdn.com/image/970x/center/images/cropped/stern-1588862705.jpg)
Contestant: Shoshana Stern is a 17-year-old student at Sycamore High School in Cincinnati. Image by Courtesy of Shoshana Stern
Editor’s Note: The Forward is featuring essays, poems and short stories written for our Young Writers Contest. Today’s entry was written by Shoshana Stern, a 17-year-old student at Sycamore High School in Cincinnati. You can find more work from our young writers here.
Have you noticed
“This is a free country”
Has turned from
A prideful statement into
A defensive justification
“This is a free country”
Morphs freedom of speech
Into “I can say whatever I want”
Regardless of who it may mislead
Regardless of who it may hurt
“This is a free country”
Spins the right to bear arms
Into “I can buy an assault rifle”
Regardless of their training
Regardless of their background
![Shoshana Stern](https://images.forwardcdn.com/image/675x/center/images/cropped/stern-1588862705.jpg)
Contestant: Shoshana Stern is a 17-year-old student at Sycamore High School in Cincinnati. Image by Courtesy of Shoshana Stern
“This is a free country”
Changes the wage gap
Into “I pay what I think you earn”
Regardless of progress reports
Regardless of personal bias
“This is a free country”
Whisks walking down the street
Into “Damn girl, why don’t you smile”
Regardless of what she wears
Regardless of whether she “asked for it”
“This is a free country”
Modifies freedom of press
Into “If you don’t look like this, you’re ugly”
Regardless of realistic expectations
Regardless of mental health
Have you noticed
“This is a free country”
Has turned from
A proclamation of independence into
A pitiful excuse
Because I have
A message from our editor-in-chief Jodi Rudoren
![](https://forward.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Jodi-Headshot.jpg)
We're building on 127 years of independent journalism to help you develop deeper connections to what it means to be Jewish today.
With so much at stake for the Jewish people right now — war, rising antisemitism, a high-stakes U.S. presidential election — American Jews depend on the Forward's perspective, integrity and courage.
— Jodi Rudoren, Editor-in-Chief