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Do we know them well
| Critical Analysis #1 |
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Do we know them well |
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Titia Geertman Member Ascendant
since 2001-05-07
Posts 5182Netherlands 
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This is one I wrote in Dutch long time ago, I recently translated it into English. (Some of you might have read it on Open #15) People live together but do we know them well or are we just assuming we do appearing it is not that true People work together but do we know them well if someone needs our care are we truly willing to share People believe together but do we know them well brotherhood is what should be but holy wars is all we see People talk together but do we know them well do we listen in such a way that we hear what they've to say Maybe if we could stop to be less superficial we would see that although we thought we knew we really haven't the faintest clue We should really take more care we should really try more to share cause if we really think it's worth we have a chance to a peaceful earth After the events of today sept. 11, I wonder if we will reach peace ever. People lived together we didn't know them well they came and took the lifes of so many husbands and wifes It didn't help that we took care it didn't help we tried to share they took away all we thought worth will this ever be a peaceful earth A rose is a rose is a rose...I guess... Feel free to use the pictures on my website. http://communities.msn.com/Titiasplace/ [This message has been edited by Titia Geertman (edited 09-11-2001).] |
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| © Copyright 2001 Titia Geertman - All Rights Reserved | |||
paladin
since 2001-08-05
Posts 930Pensacola,Fl. |
I invite you to read my poem "Peace". paladin |
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aries_luv_ppl Senior Member
since 2001-09-20
Posts 1448Universal Mind |
Hi, I think your poem is very nice. I'm not very good in English and I'm new here. (English is my second language. I like the meaning of your poem. Please visit my website http://dreamcity.faithweb.com/poetry/ and sign my guestbook=) Nice to meet you. Love, Vivian |
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Titia Geertman Member Ascendant
since 2001-05-07
Posts 5182Netherlands |
I will paladin that is....if you'll tell me where to find it  Vivian, thanks for your reply Titia A rose is a rose is a rose...I guess... |
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Duncan Member Ascendant
since 2001-08-07
Posts 5455 |
Titia---I read this poem when you first posted it in 15, though, I don't believe I responded. And I have no 'critical analysis' now, simply my thoughts and feelings. When I read it then and now, my first thoughts were of my girlfriends relationship with our neighbors. She is the social one, the one to welcome, make casual conversation, take a plant to a new neighbor. I remember thinking the first time I read this, how glad I was that she'd outgrown much of the 'learned' behaviour she'd picked up from her less than liberal family, for we live in an area of the city that is highly diverse in culture. Now she is afraid and trying so hard not to let that fear color her response to a new face or accent. I think the essence of your message here, is still true. If we get to know one another, as human beings just like ourselves, we aren't so likely to get stuck in stereotypes or fear. But that has taken on a whole new dimension now, hasn't it? I wonder about the neighbors of the terrorists who had been living in this country for years. Did they speak as they passed on the sidewalk outside their apartments? Or were their eyes diverted? Anyway, Titia...all that to say, I appreciated your write then and I ponder it more deeply now. Again, so glad you're back amongst us. Maybe a sheep and/or roses pic soon? If I ask really nice? |
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Titia Geertman Member Ascendant
since 2001-05-07
Posts 5182Netherlands |
Dear Duncan Thanks for your sincere and open reply. I wrote this poem years ago after I discovered that in the response of something that happened, it appears I didn't know a friend I thought I'd known for eighteen years. She had put up a face all that time and showed her real face at last. Friendship ended there as did her marriage too for the same reason. As for the deverse cultures, I've worked couple of years in a shelter refugee's camp overhere, teaching people who had fled from their countries the standards and norms common in this country. It was a refreshing time, for I learned quite a lot from them too. There I learned that so many simple things could arouse a distance and irritation between cultures. For instance the giving of a present. In our culture we open the gift in presence of the one that gives it but, in so many other cultures that appeared to be a real unpolite behaviour, they open their gifts when people are gone. When I visited some of them in their room in the shelter, they always offered me something to drink or eat, even if I did tell them I didn't want it. They just put it besides you, just in case you will change your mind. In their culture it's polite to say no at first when offered something to drink and they couldn't understand when visiting with us, they didn't get anything anymore after they said no. On the market we pay the marked price without questioning, they're used to bargain over the price, wich made the marketpeople say: 'I don't like foreigners, they always want something for nothing', and so another culturegap was born. It was quite fun to do, we were sitting in a circle, throw in a subject and we discussed the different ways of acting in different cultures. So they learned our way and we learned their way I think the neighbours of those terrorists must feel terrible, being deceived as they were, but they would have been too when their neighbour was a nice American who appeared to be a vicious criminal. So please try to convince your girlfriend it's not the culture that's bad, but just some people in that culture and there are bad people in every culture. Thanks again and you will see some sheep and roses soon, I promise. Titia A rose is a rose is a rose...I guess... |
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