There is a reason
that we hear about
places like Barcelona
and not about
places like Bulu Sheikh,
Spain colonized and
Somalia was colonized.
I wonder if the terrorists
in Barcelona
saw the statue
of Christopher Columbus
before driving into the crowd
I wonder if it mattered
to the civilians we killed
in Bulu Sheikh
that Americans don’t
consider themselves
terrorists
Source: Break The Silence
Break the silence…
My hands are red
from blood thats shed
my tongue was bitten
another is dead
Betrayed with silence
for too many years
time now to break
from all the fear
Slavery ended
so too Jim Crow
but we quietly watched
the prisons grow…
selective enforcement
of man made laws
now we watch cops kill
without just cause
Another one tonight
and another tomorrow
as I turn out the light
my heart fills with sorrow
because of this empire built
on the backs of slaves
that is putting their children
in early graves…
We pay our taxes
and we wave our flags
we buy the bullets
and the body bags
as we all just sit back
and watch TV
pledging our allegience
while our neighbors can’t breathe…
We pretend that its liberty
and justice for all
but when the cops are killing,
who do you call?
Where do you go
and what…
View original post 34 more words
This weekend has been a typical weekend
for the United States.
In Virginia,
a klan rally gathered around a statue
of one of their heroes,
carrying torches.
They even killed someone
and injured many.
A lot of Americans were at the beach
this weekend
enjoying summer
as it winds down.
Kids trying not to think
about the upcoming school year
where they will walk
through metal-detectors
into classrooms
where they will learn
nothing about history
and everything about patriotism
everything about obedience
and pledging allegiance
and nothing about critical though.
For many, this will happen while
they’re wearing their JROTC uniform,
the others will still learn these things,
and they will learn about teamwork
while on the football field
where they will get concussions.
Some of the others will run
cross-country instead
but they will all
be awe-struck
when they see the ribbons
and medals
the recruiter is wearing.
Many of them who,
at the beach
or in a pool this weekend
dread going back to school,
many of them will be
wearing real uniforms
next year
training to go fight
in many places
including Afghanistan
where, this weekend
US airstrikes killed
16 civilians
and for 16 years now
this has been happening
in Afghanistan.
For centuries now
men have been gathering
at rallies
around statues of their heroes
or gathering at rallies
around their heroes in the flesh
but on this typical American weekend
with American civilians
on beaches or in pools
and American kids dreading
going back to school
and Afghan civilians
under the rubble of hospitals
and schools,
this weekend
the hoods were removed
and pale faces
were illuminated
by tiki-torches
in Charlottesville
bottles fired break
bones more than
bullets or bombs
ever do
then replace
bottles with bibles
and believe
we want whats best
for you
test for you
pass or fail
pail full of ashes
and nails
no proof of you
or your cross
ashes gone with the wind
nails buried somewhere
beneath the heart land
gunpowder soaked
in spirits
hellbent on burning
drink up
now you’re learning
while we’re still turning
graveyards
into boulevards
with cards stacked
by the pope
here’s another
bottle,
this should help you
cope
though,
it would be quicker
with a rope
fire
and fury
shock
and awe
death
and destruction
or
water
and food
medicine
and peace
life
and love
08 August 2017
Sometimes,
during a long layover
following a red eye flight
you have to eat a soggy sandwich
and try to steal
a few minutes sleep
surrounded by the chaos
of the airport.
Sometimes,
during a long layover
following a red eye flight
you get to eat delicious Persian food
and take a refreshing nap
surrounded by peace
and quiet.
