tp52.xml

tp52.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2003-02-24

One Year Later: Still Sleeping

Wake up America!
We've been misunderstood
Again.
Time to get up now
So as to not be missed
When our leaders call roll
In that class called
""Patriotism 101"".
C'mon now,
They'll help you study.
There isn't much to know
or understand
or question.
It's all reflex,
Recitation,
Regurgitation.

Did you already forget
""Citizenship 101""?
Let's review:
Vote.
Consume.
Class dismissed.
No homework tonight.



Wake up America!
Just for a little while.
This is a democracy
Isn't it?
You have to participate now.
Fly that flag,
Say that pledge,
Weep as the sad country song
drones on
in the background
at the office.
You are getting on with your life.
Aren't you?
That's what ""they"" hate, after all.
Keep buying! Keep selling!
You can watch the official version
Commercial free
On your break.

Who are they?
Why do they hate us?
How inquisitive,
but...
That's a class for more advanced
citizens.
""Freedom 101"" I think it's called.


Wake up America!
It's time to retaliate.
You can stay in bed
if you'll be more comfortable.
Answer that phone!
The pollster general
needs to verify
your support,
needs to ratify
the decision
already made.
Never mind the protestors
chanting
in the background.
The C's
in a flood of A's and B's.
Can't they see you're
trying to participate!
Shut the window!
They might disturb your sleep.

Nightmares come.
""Warfare 101"" but,
No!
There is no border?!
no army?!
no front!?
Just an idea.
Just men.
Just Women.
Just CHILDREN!
Allies become enemies.
Poverty becomes strength.
Famine becomes a weapon.
Dissent becomes appeasement.
The slow fire that was anger,
fed by bombs,
and hunger,
and ""collateral damage"",
grows to an inferno.

Soon to leap the fire line
Again.


****



Wake up America!
C'mon,
Wake up!
They recognize the flag.
They've seen it before.
On the bombs
They recognize the Eagle.
It's landed before
On their backs.
Dollars from your pocket.
Can't you hear the knocking
at your door?

Guilt by association
With the ""greatest democracy on Earth.""
They see ""Old Glory"" on your porch.
United we Stand
They won't stop to burn it.
Wake up!
They see the dollars in your wallet
on the nightstand.
Theft is not their aim.
Wake up!
You should feel their pain
An eye for an eye,
Like the Christian traditition teaches
in ""Religion 101""
They were innocent too,
once upon a time,
Before eagles and flags
Wake up!
You are responsible.
Wake up!
Will you seek justice?
Wake up!
The alarm is sounding
Do you hear?