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Achille's Heel
| Open Poetry #22 |
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Achille's Heel |
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Mistletoe Angel 
since 2000-12-17
Posts 32816Portland, Oregon |
(Again I am out of my usual style, the news of Nike and their use of child labor in producing their products upsets and frustrates me greatly and I just had to get these feelings out both of sympathy to the children and anger to those who fail to reply to these actions!  )Achille's Heel By: Noah Eaton 9/7/02 Who's wearing kleats? Who's socks are being worn inside-out? Who is limping? And who is strutting around? And which hands are holding up These business monsters As their hands are free and waving Not pushing down these levers? You say you're into comfortable footwear I suppose it's easy for you to say When you have our children holding your feet up So you can go about your own shameless ways Sooner or later we'll review When you step on the broken glass cluelessly We'll see how comfortable comfort really is Does that sound comfortable to you, tell me! Upholsterized Anesthetized... They're all hypnotized... Pardon me, your shoe's untied Don't make me remind you again, this is the last time I will attempt to justify to you How you're trampling on young helpless lives You stand so mighty and tall Yet your head is so small You can't see over your brawny shoulders Where your gladiators struggle on and crawl Making pieces of leather that only costs fifteen dollars to create Selling them at nearly ten times the rate You're rolling up the dough but you're an unfortunate cookie Train yourself as hard as you can, but you'll never be Prefontaine Upholsterized Anesthetized... They're all hypnotized... Mesmerized Petrified They're all sterilized If Nike really is the God of Victory He's lending one last breath to these kids Challenge him to a marathon, Mr. CEO And see how far you can go the distance Can you feel the chaffing A chaffing not even Dr. Scholls or vasoline can feel Better be vigilant Because they know of your Achille's heel... Upholsterized Anesthetized... They're all hypnotized... Mesmerized Petrified They're all sterilized Whose shoes are you really wearing? "Underneath your clothes there's an endless story..." Shakira [This message has been edited by Mistletoe Angel (09-07-2002 12:33 AM).] |
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| © Copyright 2002 Nadia Lockheart - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Zall Member
since 2002-08-25
Posts 214London, England |
Did you only just find this out? These corporations have used child labour for years. The corporations are not entirely to blame though. The fact is, the world we live in is a dark and terrible place and we are very fortunate to live in the countries that we do. Even though to us the idea of child labour is morally wrong. One hundred years ago it was acceptable in our countries. The developing world is that ammount of time behind ours. Most of the world is gripped by total and abject poverty, and if there were no shoe factories in these places the people would starve. If at ten someone gave me the choice of make shoes or your famliy goes hungry, I would have made the shoes. Sad but true. Zall |
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Zall Member
since 2002-08-25
Posts 214London, England |
PS - its a great piece by the way, these issues are very close to my heart. Zall |
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Krishankins
since 2002-06-23
Posts 972Texas |
Way to speak out, Noah!! I like this one! Hey dog, did you see the size of that chicken!? |
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Nightshade
since 2001-08-31
Posts 13962just out of reach |
Excellent Noah....you are on a roll!! Enjoyed this. Chris  Life is not measured by breaths you take, but by moments that take your breath away. |
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VAS Member Rara Avis
since 2000-11-16
Posts 7450Oregon |
Your poem is powerfully stated with strong feelings behind it. I too wonder if you just learned of this...I actually thought since it was discovered so long ago that it was remedied by now. Would be good to check into it. If it's not been remedied, do you plan on getting this poem out where it can do some good? Whether on the shoal or on the shore, |
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paladin
since 2001-08-05
Posts 930Pensacola,Fl. |
Money is not the root of all evil.The lust for money is the thing that corrupts.The exploitation of child labor is only one of the ways soul less people feed on the world like parasites.Humanity has the power to stop this but alas I think they will not.Greed is a ancient disease. paladin |
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Mistletoe Angel
since 2000-12-17
Posts 32816Portland, Oregon |
 (big hugggssssss) Thank you all so much for your comments, perhaps I should clarify something. I have known that throughout history this has happened, through slavery and through the Industrial Revolution, and during those times it was acceptable, but what bothers me is how this still is recurrent today! And I too agree, though I don't want to say it, is that this greed may never end and that is heartbreaking to me! There is barely anything we can do about consumerism and its expansion into third world countries, but I feel eventually more and more shouts will be heard and consumerism may begin to feel its "Achilles Heel" and then it can be modified so it can give children justice. Again, thank you all so much, you are such wonderful friends! Love, Noah Eaton "Underneath your clothes there's an endless story..." |
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Seymour Tabin Member Empyrean
since 1999-07-07
Posts 31720Tamarac Fla |
Noah, An excellent write, it can't be said enough. |
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Earth Angel Member Empyrean
since 2002-08-27
Posts 40215Realms of Light |
Noah, Noah, Noah! I can't tell you enough, how much I love the versatility you display as a writer. This impassioned plea to eradicate child labour is another example of your brilliant social commentary! VERY well done! Earth Angel |
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Singing Sparrow Member
since 2002-05-12
Posts 94 |
very poignant, shame on the unethicality of companies who support child labor!  SS |
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CSKpoet Senior Member
since 2002-07-12
Posts 845Island in Paradise |
Ohhhhh I love this stand up side of Noah! I can hear the rap in that and it says it where it's at. You did hit the nail on the head. excellent! Cher Poetry is: |
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vandana
since 1999-10-22
Posts 10463USA |
enjoyed |
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Madame Chipmunk Member Rara Avis
since 2001-12-05
Posts 8296Michigan |
I love it when you write this way, Noah... When you get up and stand on that soapbox... You speak so well... so intensely... It makes me want to vote for you for President..... This is an important poem.... and you wrote it so very well... soapbox and all  ~ politically correct hugsLyra |
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