I am pretty sure that I have posted this before, but Ima repost it here today, because I watched a great documentary this afternoon. It's called "Loose Change" and it very intelligently and systematically examines the events of September 11th, 2001. You can watch it on Google video.
No one has to work very hard to convince me that there are people in the US who are conducting a war on the rest of us. As an African American and a student of history I know that there have been many times in US history when the government has done some terribly heinous things to the citizens to further it's own purposes.
I truly believe that 911 was an event orchestrated to make the American people accept a campaign of war against made up enemies, justify unprecedented defense spending and usher in a new era of American nationalism based on fear and prejudice. That is what has happened. The emphasis is being shifted now though from Arabs to Mexicans and other immigrants. We cannot allow this to happen.
Monday I was in San Jose, California for the "Day without Immigrants" and I saw tens of thousands of people unified to demand that the US treat them as human beings, not "illegals". The arguments are complex, they demand a lot of thought and consideration. The issues and the people wrapped up in the issues demand that we listen and consider more than we have, more than we have in our own little heads and sets of experiences. If we want a just solution to this problem, then we as a nation have to engage in intelligent dialogue and actively listen to one another, not throw sound bites at one another, yell and scream or rely on our often racist knee jerk reactions. Immigrants are human beings. We are treating them like plague carriers or drones. Their children will grow up and be Americans, just as we have. Who cares if they speak only one language? English is in no danger of dying out. If they have enough infrastructure in their communities that they never have to learn English and deal with English speakers, yet still lead productive happy lives, I say more power to them. It is not hurting me or mine. Nobody is going to suffer because some Mexicans don't want to learn English. Nobody is suffering because they may have had to learn some Spanish. Get over yourselves already.
Immigrants are not my enemy, my enemies are the ones who are making the decisions that are making this world unliveable for the future generations.
My Enemy
My enemy
My enemy does not pray to Allah
Or Jesus
Does not recognize the Holy Authority of the Prophet Moses
Or the Buddha
My enemy does not wear elekes for the Orishas,
Does not fear, love or respect Shiva.
My enemy prays to the small temporary gods
Money and Power
He marches into my home
Brandishing a rifle in one hand
And a bible in the other
(my God does not need to rely on scare tactics)
His forked tongue caresses my ear
With a hot sweet poison
That kills slowly but surely
My enemy is not the guise of fair skin
But those with greedy hearts who would trade my life for cash
Who ruthlessly murder our unborn possibilities
Who lustily slaughter potential
My enemy teaches you and yours
that you were born better
and forever
will be better than me and mine
For no real reason at all, no real reason at all
My enemy drops airplanes on America
With people like congressmen and senators
In them
and then calls it an accident
all in the name of power, patriotism
My enemies renamed greed
"compassionate conservatism"
And imperialism "democracy"
My enemies tell lies as truth
And truth as lies
Spin world crazy world spin
These lies they tell inject themselves into the bloodstream
Slow but sure poison
Hot, yet sweet in my ear
My enemy is preparing the world for
slaughter
Like the fatted calf,
And calling it pre emption
In the names of Safety and Democracy
My enemies are the enemies of
God
Truth
Righteousness
Justice
Love
Life
My enemy does not read poems like this.
It looks like I will have all the money I need to get my car out by this Friday. This whole thing has been a tremendous lesson. I knew I could get by without my car, but what I did not know is how much God smiles on me and allows me to learn these hard ass lessons. What did I learn? Take care of tickets and bills upfront. Paying on the backside is way too damn expensive.
Another unrelated comment. B-I love you alot. I really do. I hope that you have patience with me and that you see me for who I truly am. I love you unconditionally. You have given me some gifts that no one else could have, and I am grateful. You and the kids are my inspiration for being a better man. Thank you for your honesty and your friendship.
I know you read this from time to time and I hope that you will see this and know that I am talking about you.
Power to the Peaceful and those who would make this world a better place no matter what the cost.
M
No comments:
Post a Comment