Freedom Of Speech

Tied Tongues

Our voices restrained
we must not to be heard
among the clamouring many
that strain against  shackles
gagged by letters

as with Tiananmen square
and Maguindanao massacre
we see the fires of freedom
though too far away to discern
who is dancing near its warmth

to speak to need
to offer opinions
are not there yet
there are mediums
but the conduits are closed

until the scales are turned
and the palms reaching out
are no more
until the cross reign
with the crescent
we will be forever locked
in this speechless wonder

humans live leaving behind
voices
the orchestras play without
singers
still we hope for chinks
in the armour.

Thank you, lovely Grace for a fine entry

and another thank you for your fine piece, Al

a few days to go....

Free speech
can only be achieved
when we gather
together
within the darkness
of ignorance
it is then
when we shout
will we shine

Thanks, Mary Walker and Drone
great stuff :)

The Swear Jar

“My mother told me, not to swear…”

And whenever I did,
it cost me.

A dime for “fuck”
a nickel for “shit”
two pennies for “bitch”
and one for “damn”

(we didn’t use “cunt”, back in the 70’s
otherwise that would’ve cost me a whopping
quarter…)

It had to go in the SWEAR JAR,
all the money from swearing
and freely speaking my mind.

If I’d kept up on the SWEAR JAR,
I’d be fucking richer than the Queen of England,
today….. ooops!  

That’s another dime, I owe
(digs dime out of pocket)
and while the SWEAR JAR
faded away,
I paid in different ways
over the years, for
speaking my mind,

such as recently losing a friend
for saying:
“Yes, I do think we should
drive a goddamn pipeline
right through the asscrack
of our Badlands,
through all that native soil,
so we can stop sucking off the tit
of the Middle East’s oil barons.”

(wait—one penny for “damn” and
I’ll toss in two more for “suck” and “ass”
because those weren’t on Mom’s list)

She unfriended me on Facebook,
because she’s Native American
(so am I, BTW, but only half)
and I committed blasphemy
against the Sacred Land.

Oh shit, I forgot
(there’s a dime!)
that make believe spirits in the ground
are far more important
than using our own resources
for sustainability.

It’s too bad, and I miss her—
such is the price for when words offend
and opinions must be selective,
but at least I didn’t post her address
for the pipeline route…

Can't win

A person writes a lot of subliminal messages
some assume sometimes you're laughing at a certain person
that could be in that position
but in reality
you're just trying to describe a particular feeling
and it's real anyway
yet they still shocked

You add names to your work
whether good or bad the remark
you've let them know
who specifically the line is about
you then get lynched
for making more sense than you originally did

i'm Not Going To Leave You Alone

i will say what i want and i always do
no law or social norm will suppress me
if you take offense it's all down to you
and your outrage doesn't impress me

It is rarely my intention to hurt people
and i try to avoid that whenever i can
but when you join a flock of sheeple
this gurl will speak her mind like a man

There's a study called social psychology
controlling the group is easier than one
they steer folks and make no apology
if we stay silent about it they've won

           Pivotal

So what is it worth to you?
Will you stick your neck out for it?
Will you fight for it?
Will you do your duty to your fellow man?
Even if he scorns you for it?
Excludes and labels you for it?
Calls you a traitor for it?
Institutionalizes you for it?
Kills you for it?
Is group acceptance of the highest importance?
Even at the sacrifice of your liberty?
At the cost of taping your mouth shut?
Criminalizing your thoughts even?
Do you know that if you give it up you've given up?
Is your prime duty to yourself?
Do you mean anything you've ever said?
Are you a hypocrite?
Are you afraid?
Are you a sniveling coward?
Do you understand you are being tested?
Do you know there will be a reckoning?
Are you willing to pay that price too?
Have you thought this through?
Do you know that in spite of yourself i believe in you?
Do you know that i'm counting on you?
Will you dare to be a shouter in the desert?
Then i will stand or fall with you
This is a pivotal moment

Tank Man

Some legends need no words ever be said,
Some speak volumes with images instead,
But there’s power behind this metaphor,
When the oppressed won’t take it anymore.

It was on June 5th, 1989,
I remember that day very well,
Not only because it was my birthday,
But because of the events I can retell.

In Beijing China students protested,
Against a suppressive and brutal government,
Asking for freedom of the press, freedom of speech,
Giving the people true empowerment.

But the post-Mao administration,
Released their forces to suppress the movement,
With orders to neutralize and stabilize,
And put a stop to this revolutionary event.

But it turned into a massacre,
Civilians were being killed in the streets,
All across the country, in many cities,
People were killed by the army and police.

And when the military sent in their tanks,
To disperse student protestors elsewhere,
An unknown rebel with immeasurable courage,
Stood in their way to Tiananmen Square.

The row of tanks stopped for a minute,
The images on the news blew my mind,
One man blocked a row of many tanks,
An impression captured forever in time.

The lead tank veered left and steered right,
But the man moved right in front of them,
Blocking their path with his shopping bags,
Stopping the armored vehicles again and again.

He then climbed on top of the lead tank,
Then stood atop of the gun turret,
And spoke with a member of the crew,
The situation they were trying to avert.

This is the true power of the people,
This is a true strength no one can teach,
Because when you stand up for you believe,
Then there’s no stopping freedom of speech.

This is what happens when regimes oppress people,
When basic rights are stripped so you better beware,
Because then revolutions will rise and eyes will witness,
Unsung heroes like the Tank Man of Tiananmen Square.

To this day his identity and fate is still unknown.

http://mediastore3.magnumphotos.com/CoreXDoc/MAG/Media/TR7/c/c/1/b/NYC31046.jpg