To young Americans without employ

And lacking purpose: Great adventures wait

For you in distant lands; you'll feel the joy

Of rising from the dust to liberate

The nations who undoubtedly aspire

To be like us, and we'll invoke your name

Upon our chariots of smoke and fire,

And in our colosseums we'll proclaim

Our gratitude in song; heroically

You'll vanquish unknown evils, in defense

Of endless bounty that deservedly

Is ours, and you will reinforce the sense

That for a few of us will come extremes

Of wealth, for others never-ending dreams.

Paul Buchheit is a professor with the Chicago City Colleges, co-founder of Global Initiative Chicago (GIChicago.org), and the founder of fightingpoverty.org.