Tuesday, September 28, 2010

a good cause

how does it work then?
is it more patriotic to bury your head in the sand
and not learn the truth

and send young people off to die
and to kill other young people,
and women and children and old people,
who are already poor and trying to survive
in bombed out countries formerly destroyed by other soldiers

for a bunch of lies
and to line the pockets of organized criminals?

but are you still a patriot
if you then cry bitter tears over the flag-draped coffins
no matter how much truth you managed to ignore
while they were still alive?

is that patriotism?

or is it patriotism to learn the truth
and open you mouth and say:
this is evil.

unless you don't think it's evil to kill
for the survival of organized crime?
then maybe you're a racist?
no of course not.


but what if the wars are really not for a good cause?
did you ever think of that?

or is it just
that do you can't handle the truth,
to quote a Hollywood movie star
as he glorified this very evil
for the enshrined American mythology?

12 comments:

  1. that image of the girl child with the corpse - so very powerful.
    could not stop looking at it.
    in awe of that child.
    in that image i saw how she would cope with life - with strength and tenacity.
    what power - and what a shame that she had to discover her strength of understanding so early in life.

    the other image of the corpse child being washed - tears flow.
    what have we done - i am sorry, forgive me.

    ReplyDelete
  2. su i'm honored to have you here.

    the picture is stunning. it's hard to tell in this small size that her hands are waving over the man, as though to protect him, to keep everyone away so they won't hurt him anymore. it's heartbreaking. as is the other one of the girl being washed. when i first saw it i thought she was a doll, her face is so perfect. i don't know su. i wish these pictures made everyone cry like they do to you and me. then maybe we would stop killing people.

    ReplyDelete
  3. the thing is these images aren't seen.
    because how could anyone not weep and question the motive of war.

    ReplyDelete
  4. and just to add not only his her one hand waving over her as if to protect, but her other arm is also doing something profound. reassuring, directing, some powerful stuff from a kid.

    ReplyDelete
  5. yes. children should never be underestimated. they are profound and that is why the death cult targets them, because of their innocence and goodness and divinity. download the pic and make it bigger. it's amazing. i wish i knew who took it i would give the person credit.

    ReplyDelete
  6. AP, thank you for this. Read it last week but didn't know what to say, except thanks.
    Straight to the core/heart of the matter.
    There have been so many photos similar to this, children with parents, children with their friends...heart-breaking and revelatory. Many I have saved, because they say so much more than all words on war ever written.
    (Bumper-sticker on my car says "Matriotic".)
    >onelove<

    ReplyDelete
  7. thank you bho. i learn more from browsing images than i could possibly articulate.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hello Peasant,

    New to your blog.

    This post of yours has touched me deeply. I wanted to make some sort of comment on it but it has left me lost for words.

    May I copy it to my blog? I will give full credit.

    Thanks,
    Celt.

    --

    ReplyDelete
  9. hi Celt,
    of course you can. thank you. it's always an honor when someone gets what i'm saying. i will come and visit over your place. ap

    ReplyDelete
  10. i know. i had a draft recently but didn't finish it.... these ones over here i have to be in a very specific mood which has eluded me lately. not sure if that is good or bad...

    ReplyDelete