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Regional Apathy
| Corner Pub #2 |
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Regional Apathy |
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Street Heart Member
since 2002-09-05
Posts 349Pennsylvania,USA 
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Thick melange,the masses, an ever boiling stew, raising up a cult of gasses permeating me and you. The influence of affluence so betwixt the shuttered eyes of structures and the asphalt, seems all innocence there dies. There's nothing new about New York and as much in most our urban realms. But it seems the hardness of Metropolis most times will melt amongst the elms and streams of many one-horse towns where the smiles of rural denizens replace the inner city frowns. But now I find such well-disposing oft times extinguishment of clarity. All is taken much for granted never seeing singularity. For many masks are set in place to hide distinctiveness from norm. So many go about their lives trying to keep from any harm that may ensue by gossip-swapping or ignorant intolerance. Never ceasing,never stopping, on both sides holding vigilance. Repression is the key to what is never being told. Volcanos thought as sleeping soon explode when love is cold. For the natures of ourselves all crave acceptance,unity. That's why so many search in places they should never be. And so the cycle turns with shattered dreams along the ways... that lead to lasting alienation. When nothing's understood, love is locked in subjugation. There's nothing new about facades. Welcoming smiles are much a given,so it seems. And along the dappled country lanes, communities are riven,and so are dreams. For welcomes only are allotted with a catch... You are accepted for the sameness that you match. I have travelled many places in my life,it was my fate. I have seen so many faces,much has been laid upon my plate. And I never cease to wonder why our culture tramples trust, why we live by stereotypes that are impractical,unjust, why we never open closets,fearing someone just might see. We are identical in needs,and our expression should be free. You may ponder of my wanderings, and of my wonderings,you may too. I've learned there's few the times of black & white, more often grey and blue. You see,I've never hated anyone; their creed,their ways,their hues, their gender nor expression, their culture nor their views. Although,I may not always coincide with certain ideology, blighting pious attitudes and false religiosity. Or blatant disregard for other's feelings and/or love. You'd think that after all this time we would have risen far above the days of accusatory fingers, but the stench of hate still lingers and unforgiveness' poisoned stingers. There may be much I question for my life is fully mine; my goals,my past,my morals all tint the fabric of design that decorates just who I am. But what gives me the right that I would damn someone who struggles just like me? I've never learned to live within the regions of Hate and Apathy. If a man has not discovered something he is willing to die for,his life is not worth living. Martin Luther King,Jr. Detroit,1963 [This message has been edited by Street Heart (05-27-2004 12:32 AM).] |
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| © Copyright 2004 Geoffrey Sonnen - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Street Heart Member
since 2002-09-05
Posts 349Pennsylvania,USA |
It is with great regret that I leave this site.After one whole week of not even receiving one response from anyone in reference to this offering,"Regional Apathy",I can only surmise that I have "hit a nerve" and/or have "hit too close to home" with many here on this site.How ironic that this "Regional Apathy" would actually find apathy in this region called "Passions...".I have found it many other times in my life. Whether I was homeless on the streets witnessing the uncaring of humanity or involvement in organizations such as Mission SUCCESS (which no longer exists due to apathy) where I witnessed many having no interest what-so-ever in regards to cultural unity and caring for others(You would have thought that at least curiosity would be a motivator for others to get involved...the mayor and many representatives of the other cultures who lived in my hometown were there...and largely ignored at the downtown mural presentation.)I assume people love the comfort of their "boxes" much too much...and only retreat further back in those "boxes" when their conformity,"sameness" and apathy are challenged or questioned. I have witnessed one of the most educated and caring people I have met on this site, from Scotland,being "booted out" of Passions for his beliefs and comments despite the large instruction at the top of the Reply page which states,"Be tolerant of other people's beliefs and comments.",and have found out recently that he was shunned for a second time while he used another moniker.I even found out that another poet here was threatened with expulsion for HIS replies to one of this writer's offerings.When I witnessed the first time of expulsion for him,I was horrified by the intolerance,the viciousness of the responses.Seemed all were pointing fingers and none were even trying to be civil...none trying to understand,all on the defensive...very much like children having their ball taken away or having their finger-paintings criticized.We live in a hateful world with much of the hatefulness being rubbed off on others.I saw a caring and highly educated man...even despite perhaps myself holding a few differences in views.I was educated and enriched by him...despite the few times he went "over the line"...but those were times when he himself was under attack by those who blindly held onto their defensive views (views on our government,for example) and desparately clung to the inside of their "boxes".Seems the skin is thin on far-right Bush backers.One word about protesting this government of ours-"Perhaps the case was best made by a Republican president -- Theodore Roosevelt -- who said, 'Patriotism means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by the president or any other public official.' Roosevelt expanded on that theme when he wrote in an editorial for the 'Kansas City Star' newspaper on May 7, 1918 -- while World War I raged -- that: 'The President is merely the most important among a large number of public servants. He should be supported or opposed exactly to the degree which is warranted by his good conduct or bad conduct, his efficiency or inefficiency in rendering loyal, able, and disinterested service to the Nation as a whole. Therefore it is absolutely necessary that there should be full liberty to tell the truth about his acts, and this means that it is exactly necessary to blame him when he does wrong as to praise him when he does right. Any other attitude in an American citizen is both base and servile. To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public. Nothing but the truth should be spoken about him or any one else. But it is even more important to tell the truth, pleasant or unpleasant, about him than about any one else.' " He was one of our greatest,most sensitive and intelligent presidents,and HE said this... while so many "Amerikans" follow blindly and shun with their intolerance anyone who does not agree precisely with their own views. Be-that-as-it-may,I feel that I am going to lose much by not being apart of this site any longer.There will be several people here that I will miss greatly,and will also miss the opportunity to write here.I have been a member since July of 2000...joining when I was going through the most horrific time of my life,and two months prior to my last "street" time.Two weeks back,I finally found the notebook I carried with me loaded with poems and writings about my last time on the NYC streets.Was ready to sort through and pick what I felt were the best...but now I find that I just don't care to. Apathetically,Street Heart |
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