"Silence of Us Lambs..."

A real "Thank you for your Service" that isn't just mindlessly mouthed out of a social media's feel good narrative.

There IS a preamble to this poem, sigh.  But my tears for what IS being done in whatever name you, the viewer, uses to define yourself as a person have blurred my vision. 

 

People have begun and fought wars throughout all of humanity’s history by mindlessness and the directed/controlled specific actions of persons by others that were deemed to be their leaders.  Afterwards come the recognition of morals, principles, flailings of consciences that we espouse to soothe sensibilities.  But this one time …this one time - can’t we rise above the bitter truths(?) we continue to be TOLD and talk WITH each other through our “angers and rage” and remember our shared humanity?

 

“Silence of Us Lambs…”

 

There is so much silence …here,

…watching…

…awaiting…

drawn by the palpable sense of the anger.

Anger empowered by biased actors

directing and supporting from and to both sides.

 

What I think…

(but it doesn’t matter what any I …thinks -

now does it?)

People are so convinced that

they are part of an imaginary cosplay game…

and hence are invincible and bear

no personal responsibility

for their actions or presence … a game -

where they willingly throw away their humanity,

relationships, families, …selves.

 

The sides are not talking -

they don’t have too,

after all - both are right,

both are wrong

…and the game’s players

just play on.

 

Who’s right or wrong doesn’t matter in a game,

you just have to win …TOO WIN!

 

Why?  Damnit, why…

“Well, we HAVE to do something” about “…” -

do what about …what?  Tell me?

 

“Well, they are lying! LYING…

Lying about everything!”

K… so your response to this is:

Well, I am frustrated…

Well, orange man bad…

I want Justice!!  It’s been a year - no one is responsible EVER!

I can DO this cause …it’s just a game.

No consequences…

STICK IT TO THE MAN!!

 

But the guns have bullets not beanbags…

no pepperballs...

“Really?”

“They’re not REAL police!

They have no power or authority!

Even our police won’t stand up for THEM!”

It’s just a game…

 

“If I agree, why do I get beaten - literally.”

If I have no opinion - so again …I get beaten.

Hey man, fists hurt, boots hurt …frozen water bottles? -

C’mon Brandon be real.

 

You celebrate my social cancellation, then

push for my job

…to get me to stand beside you?

…to agree with you?

 

Both sides don’t seem to think - anymore.

Neither listens - not even to themselves…

they don’t even SEE themselves -

BUT THEY KNOW!  THEY KNOW…

they know…

what’s right …and not.

 

We’ve seen that language is perceived as a weapon (of choice) -

and it IS so mean-spirited intentionally -

and meant to be personally offensive

and in-your-face.  There is NO personal space.

“Protests are meant to disturb…”

and by that decree,

there IS no place that’s sacrosanct -

and prayer is a sin, and children -

are meant to be afraid and cry?

Fire cleanses the troubled(?) souls,

and glass was made to break!

But PEOPLE break too...

 

The truth is a lie? - even as you watch in witness

and the lies are SCREAMED out as the truth -

from those on high -  of both sides.

 

There is no reason, nor innocence.

Personal opinions aren't allowed,

Being human is not allowed.

 

I’m a Vet. 

I stood up for us as a people and country.

We ARE better than this.-

You guys NEED to talk WITH each other

not AT each other.

 

Chris

Ancient117331

Author's Note

I am leaving this open for any age to read and comment. Think before you let your fingers free.

Reviews

[olla]

WE.. as a people.. have a rich history of putting aside our differences and coming together to achieve a common goal.. and the price of those victories was a lot of blood and gore.. and years of dubious recovery.. and the rest of the world.. the evil doers.. are licking their chops over the idea that they are finally going to defeat us after all.. yes.. we are angry.. we have been beaten.. robbed of our wealth.. been told to shut up and get over it.. that it's for our own good after all.. and we've been conditioned to believe that only THEY can save us.. when the reality is.. only WE can save ourselves. as you said it in your poem.. about being OK.. YOU took it upon YOUR SELF to listen to your own advice.. and you turned out to be right enough to BE OK.. I too know inside myself what I NEED to be ok.. am I going to have to suck it up and suffer some consequences..?? isn't that too my way of becoming OK..?? we as a people had better start sucking it up while there is still something left to save.. and since we live in a digital world.. this is our medium.. this is our platform.. THIS is our town square.. Satan whispered in Eve's ear..

[Chris]

Thank you for pausing and leaving behind your thoughts... and you did it very coherently.

[olla]

chuckling here.. "coherently.."" thank God.. I seem to fall into psycho babble dullpoop more often than not these days. I blame it on advanceing old age.. :)

[Davidgeo]

I'm aged 44, I read it.

I'm also a vet. (army, 13b)

Extreme things are being normalized again. The "overton window" has shifted significantly with respect to public discourse. I don't think it's ever happened like this in America in anyone's lifetime that is currently alive. This is some weird tech bro gilded age oligarchy s**t. Truly an attempt at "post truth reality". I don't think it's going to work though. Maga is too stupid. These people are genuinely incompetent. But... that it is coming this close to a literal white christian nationalist oligarchy should terrify every single person alive right now. Whatever is coming next will not make the same mistakes. The American military, in the wrong hands is capable of bringing hell upon earth. Literally... sort of.

[Stephany]

A poet once wrote…Where have all the flowers gone? Maybe it was a song writer. A poet with lyrics in my mind. I wonder these days Where has humanity gone… Indeed it is long time passing.
Moral consciousness is an integral component of any society or group of people….society seems too nice of a concept today. Society may imply concern for others and that certainly is not the case today. Everyone is concerned with Me…
I remember when for the good of the majority was not a sin and people actually cared for one another. It was not so long ago, yet the memory dims more each day and it almost causes me to wonder Did I imagine that?
To acquiesce would mean the erasure of my thoughts has been completed.. So I struggle in search of something kinder and fight to retain my memories

Chris this is well written and causing me to ramble a bit…. Is it longing or a mind that has aged?
Have a good day
Steph

[Rosie E C…]

This is quite an informative piece.

Cleverly written. I’m very intrigued by the thought process in the making of this.

Lots of strong opinions from the writer. As a reader, I am open to it.

I can sense that writing can be a form of stress a relief on this particular occasion.

Enjoyable to read either way. I’m very interested.

[Chris]

come by anytime... say "Hi"

[ETERNITY]

hi Chris, so many times I wish I could reach my goal without a fight ...Never happens.
Great write.

[Chris]

You are always welcome to pause with me.

[ETERNITY]

That's awesome. Thanks

[Thomas W Case]

Powerful work. This reads like a witness statement carved into bone—no slogans, just a human standing in the crossfire refusing to disappear.
Gritty, wounded, necessary: a voice reminding us that before sides, there were people.

[Chris]

Thank you for speaking...