A Poem For Barack Obama
I am not a poet. In fact, while I've been writing for years, this is my first attempt ever at this kind of thing, so I ask your indulgence. Bad poetry it may be, but it's how I feel. I offer it in the hope that its message will supersede its failings in style and format.
As your big day approaches
I hope you realize
The hurt that you have caused us
Our feelings brutalized
As millions cheer your victory
We cry for what we've lost
To return an invitation
Is it really worth the cost?
We know you just don't get us
We're those who you avoid
I say this as a Lesbian
Transgender
Unemployed
For all your talk of changing things
For which you are renown
Did you really have to do it?
To kick us when we're down?
We thought that you knew better
We thought you'd understand
How you'd rip our wounds back open
By honoring this man
The message you have sent us
As clear as clear can be
Fairness, freedom, and respect
Are not for those like me
I will not come to Washington
Can't bear to see that day
When the values of a bigot
Are put upon display
I will watch it on TV
But I will tune in late
For I am an American
I will not honor hate
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6 comments:
Meet the new boss
Same as the old boss.....(sorry P.T.)
Please say it isn't so...please?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/melissa-etheridge/the-choice-is-ours-now_b_152947.html
I still don't care for Warren. His beliefs cannot rationally be described as anything but despicable. However, Ms. Etheridge makes an undeniably good point. It will be interesting to see if Warren will be willing to make any such statements outside of the confines of a semi-private telephone conversation.
Wow your post is so unbelievably shortsighted and selfcentered. Our first black president is facing the worst economic crisis since the great depression, two overseas wars, massive failures over the last 15 years to do anything about climate change, and you think he's abusing you because he chose Rick Warren to do something at the inauguration??? He's going to be President of the US and there are going to be compromises. Welcome to the real world of real politics.
But why compromise on this Ariel? Why is it necessary for Obama to choose such a divisive figure for a ceremonial event that's suppoed to be welcoming and in clusive of all Americans?
Sure politics is the art of compromise, but this isn't politics it's showmanship and unworthy of the values Obama spent two years campaigning on.
The point that's pissing me and many other African-Americans off is that Obama has yet to even take the oath of office, and many of you (and I'm gonna say it) white peeps are already trying to compare him to Bill Clinton.
Give the man a chance to enact policy and judge his presidency on that before you start criticizing him for BS ancillary issues.
C'mon Monica, this isn't about race and you know it. It's about credibility, about Obama being consistent in adhering to the values he said he believes in.
So far post-election he's shown us zero respect and zero regard for our feelings, by appointing a divisive, openly homophobic preacher, particularly in the wake of Prop 8. I see no reason to blindly trust any politician, and particularly not one who's shown such a lack of empathy for our community as he has.
Did we learn nothing from the last 8 years, from that guy who claimed to be a "uniter not a divider"?
In all honesty, I didn't expect any better than that from George Bush. I do expect better from Obama.
If we can't even count on him to be respectful to us during a party, how is it reasonable to expect it from him once he's President?
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