My Big Three

The passage of time lends itself to reflection
and while I never sought perfection
I can say some decisions regarding voting preferences
were just a consideration of all the alternatives

Then there were those votes cast at that point
while not designed to blindly anoint
do say yes these values cut across any one moment in time
and suggest a person whom I felt was a change lasting change agent

So while my vote for Jesse Jackson was a message about
getting beyond capitalism on steroids and the murder throughout
likewise the appeal of Bernie Sanders or even a Jerry Brown
had limitations linked to the lack of acceptable alternatives

I have my "big three" that I absolutely think
would be dedicated to making the violent conflict resolution shrink
the warriors for peace I suggest humbly
three figures that were forging paths so much needed

The first is Robert F. Kennedy, first appearances didn't offer much
when my aunt when to see he was more concerned about his dog and lunch
but events changed from seeing people killed trying to vote
to the death of his brother prompted him to no longer be remote

RFK even saw the tragedy of a war in which we had no place
with Native and Mexican Americans he spoke out about what they had to face
broke bread with Cesar Chavez and talked about those in the Appalachians so poor
asking a fundamental question is violence something we should adore

The night after Doctor King was slain, in Indiana he spoke from the heart
about the suffering and venom that was tearing people apart
no I won't put him on a pedestal for he definitely had flaws
but he was aware of the threat to society when people tune out and withdraw

The second was a warrior who was "unsought and unbossed"
she 1972 race for the White House showed clearly the cost
for a woman to run for president a bigger obstacle than race
gender still used to justify the denial of a space

She decried corporate interest, political celebrities, and Watergate
discrimination ran abundant charges of "vaginal politics" filled with hate
denied from participating in debates the status quo wanted her to go away
still had her voice in Congress and her influence lived another day

The third is the one I got to hear in person on a speaking tour
at a time when I saw politics as filled with nothing but manure
Randall Robinson never actually ran for the office to my chagrin
but his demands for justice and virtue were deeply held within

He spoke out against Apartheid and drew attention to the plight of the Haitian folk
in frustration of the US environment in 2001 his citizenship he broke
always a voice in opposition the wrath of Henry Kissinger's twisted ways
so far from the promise of a decent nation Kissinger did stray

My advocacy for John Edwards and Tulsi Gabbard in retrospect didn't see all they had
Will never be ashamed of 1996 when I voted for my dad
but I will always take comfort in admiration for the big three
I remain optimistic in what the US could turn out to be