i have chosen to combine the visual prompt from monday mural, on poefusion,, and the words offered by two for tuesdays in this poetic essay.
photo: artwork, by: nibia 1515
it began as a simple question,
“will you be a part of the problem
or a part of the solution?”
and while we were diligently
swearing our allegiance
to becoming a part of the solution
our freedom was
very stealthily usurped..
while we were dutifully recycling
minimizing, erasing, conserving,
modifying our destructive behaviors
in an effort to save the planet
while we were busy
reading the labels
on packaged foods
carefully screening
that which we put into our bodies
in effort to preserve
our youthful good health
while we were conveniently distracted
with tasks so overwhelming
that we were sure to remain
willingly occupied for quite some time…
we failed to notice
that those who we have entrusted
to do the research
to provide us with the truth
to be working hand in hand with us
to rectify the very real wrongs
that they in fact brought
to our attention
in the first place
have,, driven by their insatiable appetite
for power and money and control
chosen to feather their own nests
with our ignorance
use our unwillingness
or inability
to make decisions
based on common sense
as a double edged sword
with which they have dissected
from our lives
the very freedoms
on which this country
was founded,, in an effort to obtain….
once more i ask you,,
will you be part of the problem,, or stand up for what you know to be right and become a part of the solution???
if there is any doubt in your mind that we have allowed ourselves to be momentarily distracted,, and as a nation have fed into the annihilation of common sense,, i invite you to look again, at this email that has been circulating for sometime,, and i was fortunate enough to come across yet again on trailer park barbies site, tales from the trailer park….
and decide for yourself….
School 1967 vs. School 2007
Scenario: Jack goes quail hunting before school, pulls into school parking lot with shotgun in gun rack.
1967 - Vice principal comes over, looks at Jack’s shotgun, goes to his car and gets his own shotgun to show Jack.
2007 - School goes into lock down, the FBI is called, Jack is hauled off to jail and never sees his truck or gun again. Counselors are called in to assist traumatized students and teachers.
Scenario: Johnny and Mark get into a fistfight after school.
1967 - Crowd gathers. Mark wins. Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up buddies.
2007 - Police are called, SWAT team arrives and arrests Johnny and Mark. They are charged with assault and both are expelled even though Johnny started it.
Scenario: Jeffrey won’t sit still in class, disrupts other students.
1967 - Jeffrey is sent to the principal’s office and given a good paddling. Returns to class, sits still and does not disrupt class again.
2007 - Jeffrey is given huge doses of Ritalin. Becomes a zombie. Tested for ADD. School gets extra state funding because Jeffrey has a disability.
Scenario: Billy breaks a window in his neighbor’s car and his Dad gives him a whipping with his belt.
1967 - Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal, goes to college, and becomes a successful businessman.
2007 - Billy’s dad is arrested for child abuse. Billy is removed to foster care and joins a gang. State psychologist tells Billy’s sister that she remembers being abused herself and their dad goes to prison. Billy’s mom has an affair with the psychologist.
Scenario: Mark gets a headache and takes some Aspirin to school.
1967 - Mark shares Aspirin with the school principal out on the smoking dock.
2007 - Police are called and Mark is expelled from School for drug violations. His car is searched for drugs and weapons.
Scenario: Pedro fails high-school English.
1967 - Pedro goes to summer school, passes English, goes to college.
2007 - Pedro’s cause is taken up by local human rights group. Newspaper articles appear nationally explaining that making English a requirement for graduation is racist. US Civil Liberties Association files class action lawsuit against state school system and Pedro’s English teacher. English is banned from core curriculum. Pedro is given his diploma anyway but ends up mowing lawns for a living because he cannot speak English.
Scenario: Johnny takes apart leftover Independence Day firecrackers, puts them in a model airplane paint bottle and blows up an anthill.
1967 - Ants die.
2007 - Homeland Security and the FBI are called and Johnny is charged with domestic terrorism. Teams investigate parents, siblings are removed from the home, computers are confiscated, and Johnny’s dad goes on a terror watch list and is never allowed to fly again.
Scenario: Johnny falls during recess and scrapes his knee. His teacher, Mary, finds him crying, and gives him a hug to comfort him.
1967 - Johnny soon feels better and goes back to playing.
2007 - Mary is accused of being a sexual predator and loses her job. She faces three years in federal prison. Johnny undergoes five years of therapy.
