deepundergroundpoetry.com
Question the questions (Perspective)
I support the troops,
what they do is brave
but what about their leaders?
And the people in charge of their leaders?
Cowards sitting safe in comfortable mansions,
reaping rewards for using big words,
motivating young men to die
and to murder without batting an eye.
Am I bad if I don’t support THEM?
The way I feel about the police
is the same way I feel about catholic priests;
it only takes a small amount of bad
to ruin the reputation for all the rest.
But as long as the organization
won’t admit there’s a serious problem
it is hard to tell the good from the bad
or even which side is running the show
How are we supposed to know?
Society doesn’t exist in a dichotomy,
not black and white but through a prism
and we yell and we scream
about what’s the right way to see
while people get hurt and die
and innocent children cry
the people they love asking why
but so many just turn a blind eye.
It’s time for a change, it’s worth a try.
what they do is brave
but what about their leaders?
And the people in charge of their leaders?
Cowards sitting safe in comfortable mansions,
reaping rewards for using big words,
motivating young men to die
and to murder without batting an eye.
Am I bad if I don’t support THEM?
The way I feel about the police
is the same way I feel about catholic priests;
it only takes a small amount of bad
to ruin the reputation for all the rest.
But as long as the organization
won’t admit there’s a serious problem
it is hard to tell the good from the bad
or even which side is running the show
How are we supposed to know?
Society doesn’t exist in a dichotomy,
not black and white but through a prism
and we yell and we scream
about what’s the right way to see
while people get hurt and die
and innocent children cry
the people they love asking why
but so many just turn a blind eye.
It’s time for a change, it’s worth a try.
Published 21st Jan 2015
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22nd Jan 2015 2:46am
I think it helps to ask questions on an individual basis given the opportunity. In a war situation, it's not the infantrymen that really call the shots. It's certain members of the brass that need to be held accountable. There are good cops and bad cops, and sometimes it's tough to tell them apart. I think the point is to not condemn an entire group on the basis of component members. Look at an injustice, crime or atrocity, determine who's responsible and act accordingly. Turning a blind eye can be reprehensible. There's no such thing as an innocent bystander.
22nd Jan 2015 4:16pm
Yes. Judgment should be done on an individual basis. But accountability should be enforced in such important matters as abuse and corruption rather than being swept under the rug to "protect the reputation" of a group. Groups would do much better to protect their reputation by keeping the standards of their member high and removing individuals who don't meet those standards. Thank you for the thoughtful comment Crowfly!
