Okay, so this piece is about 9/11, obviously 7 years later. But the point of this poem is that people focus on the past, and disregard the present. And when they focus on the past it's all talk rather than action. If people focused on 9/11 the day it happened, rather than sat there accusing people (i.e. muslims/arabs/indopaks) then a lot more could have been done for the security of this nation, but instead we (as in America, because yes I still consider myself American even though i've been ostracize on the basis of my religious beliefs) pointed fingers and played the guessing game about who was the next probable terrorists, ruining people's lives rather than helping those live's that already needed help in the states. So, this is a plea, stop focusing on the past, stop being all talk, and truly try and make a difference in the community you live in. And yes, the means stepping out of your little suburban lifestyle and giving back to the greater community, your metro area. So, all those people who live in the suburbs of metro-detroit, your parent's make money from working in detroit, and yet you turn your back on the city that has given you so much: your nice big house, your car, your tuition, your friends, your lavish lifestyle. The least you could do is address the issues that concerns detroiters the most, currently it's foreclosure! So, all those Palestinian children you were thinking about, think about them in Detroit not even 20 miles away from you. Anyway, so this poem is to remind us (me first and foremost) that injustice wasn't 9/11 or the isreali palestinian conflict or the iraqi war, no it's INACTIVITY, SILENCE, DENIAL, SELFISHNESS, NOT HOLDING YOURSELF RESPONSIBLE!
On a side note, did you know if your house gets foreclosed, if your homeless, or get evicted you lose your ability to vote, you're stripped of your citizenship, you lose your American identity in a way.... Hold that thought.
http://www.michiganmessenger.com/-----
September 11th 7 years later
She sat in the 3rd row, 7th seat in her 10th grade class room
One September morning. She waited as the principal relayed the school news
Instead of hearing about pep rallies, competitions, and student groups
She listened to him talk about crashes, death, towers, deployment of troops
She watched as the TV was rolled in
Cringed at the sight in front of her, goose bumps erupting on her skin
Tears blurred her vision, a dam had broke
She turned to her best friend, who gave her a fearful look
She eyed her English teacher who stood domineering at the front of the class
Who’s eyes stared back at her, cutting, accusing like she caused the crash
From that moment on she knew her future would change
Sighing in surrender, hands extended in front of her, ready to give in, her life would never be the same
Between those 7 years till this very day
She waged verbal war against ignorance, battled psychological demons,
She the knight, ignorance the slay
Her words served on a tray indiscriminately to anyone who would take
Her knowledge and put it to their lips, tasting a drop of wisdom, everything at stake
Her hands were callused from holding wooden signs
Marching through the years, protesting to end the open-ended wars and fights
Her shin-splintered legs carried her through 7 years of time
She spent 7 years in worn out shoes, soles giving out, covered in the grime
She spent 7 years ignoring harassment, ignoring hate crimes
She spent 7 years fighting accusations hurled about her kind
She spent 7 years deconstructing every hurtful lie
She spent 7 years building relationships greater than the infamous twin towers
More complex, more architecturally defined, bringing hope to the hopeless and courage to cowards
Every year she stood carrying a candle into the night
Standing strong in solidarity, unifying under the banner of peace, bringing forth a bit of light
She volunteered to teach those who couldn’t afford to learn
And planted seeds of faith, hope, optimism, in those who thought that life could never turn
Around. And although she was like an energizer bunny, eventually she’d crash and burn
7 years later after all the random checks, searches, keyed cars, slashed tires, she mourned
For the increased warfare, attacks, death, deception, and the futureless youth
She mourned for the insecurity of the masses, the voice of silence, the fear of speaking out the truth
She mourned for the relapse back into the dark ages
Where people blindly attacked, with swords, cannons, guns fueled by hatred
And on this September morning she let her tears fall
For fallen angels, fallen soldiers, falls from grace, fallen women, for it all
Her tears flooded her city, hurricane the world
But no one seem to notice the cries of this hiccupping girl
She stood remembering those who were buried in the earth
Buried with merit, buried forgotten, buried heroes, buried happiness and mirth
Jealous that they didn’t have to witness freedom become a curse,
Witness love become a curse, witness hope become a curse,
Witness hatred and ignorance plague the earth
She wiped away her tears, waiting for her sobs to subside
She walked up to the people gathered, her voice clear, her eyes wide
Reminding her people of these last 7 years, she said:
“I remember a time when water was less abundant that tears.
A time when songs of hope filled the air, rather than battle cry cheers
I remember a time when people were on the rise
Empowering themselves, rather than setting up their demise
And although I stand before, a sister of this era and time
Who stood with you frozen, motionless, seeing the surplus of crime
I also stand before you as a voice to remind
That there is still more pain in the world, it has not died
Under the collapse of the two towers, not buried, it still rampant and alive
There’s still homelessness, bigotry, racism, and lies
There’s still oppression, underpay and healthcare denial
There’s still hate, manipulation, stereotyping and racial profiles
So, I stand before as a witness of these crimes
That happened not only 7 years ago, but before then and till this day, this moment of time
And I ask you to remember all those you have denied
Because injustice is not just a past moment in our time
It is recurrent, current, happening in front of our eyes
So hold that thought closely, tightly to your mind
Because the only battle that should be fought is the one with your soul
By pretending injustice doesn’t happen, remaining aloof, untouched, cold
I ask of you to remember the stories of those left untold
Because injustice is everyday when you don’t hold
Yourself accountable”
She walked away from the stage, away from the crowd gathered
Prayed that change was near, that faith and hope wasn’t shattered
She closed her eyes one last time thinking this was it
Another anniversary of that infamous day, and maybe today would be the day that reality will hit.
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