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The First Amendment Died This Year
| Open Poetry #31 |
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The First Amendment Died This Year |
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icebox Member Elite
since 2003-05-03
Posts 4383in the shadows 
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Words fail often when I need them most; when they do, I feel empty, dissatisfied with everything, a ghost in a world which has no place for me, as if suddenly I'm French toast without the toast. When words fail I'm left with unformed thoughts, or worse with thoughts so palpable they feel fleshed out in steel, animated by a raging spirit alone, real passion without a single bone of judgement, or remorse. If words fail, it always seems I let my dreams take over and life dissolves in poignant signs, then reforms in cartoon outlines, where the artist draws blank thought balloons to be filled in at someone else's later date. The words fail pouring from politicians' mouths, thick streams of honey coated compost, regurgitated reams of calculated lies massaged by hired trolls, in images fluffed up by convoluted polls. Those words fail, even before they slide through the blenders of the press, the real pretenders of truth justice and the opportunistic way. No wonder words fail, when Justices decide free speech belongs only to the people after everybody else has lied, the politicians and the press have told us what to think, without a chance to raise a voice and its too late to change a choice. Words fail when there is no more a voice that can be heard, unless it has been sanctified by predetermination. ©2004 by icebox |
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| © Copyright 2004 icebox - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Seymour Tabin Member Empyrean
since 1999-07-07
Posts 31720Tamarac Fla |
icebox Words are like birds, without them it would be a petty dull world. LOL |
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MARK V SHELDON Member Elite
since 2001-06-21
Posts 3015In a corporeal internship... |
Amen. Blatant words of wisdom here... However, perhaps in certain instances, words have lost their effect, buried under habituation and must be superceded by action... -MVS You CAN make a difference: |
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Mistletoe Angel 
since 2000-12-17
Posts 32816Portland, Oregon |
 (big angel hugs) It's very sad, it's very sad to see the very foundation of our democracy being bulldozed down like one of many trees Bush has chopped down! All throughout history democracy has had its struggles and leaders have expressed arrogance but Bush's administration takes the sour cake, with Bush only making 12 addresses to the people, while making many more secretly behind closed doors where the general public can't hear, misleading a nation to war without answering questions, and...lies, lies, lies! (sad sigh) That frustration makes me ramble, God Bless You, let's hope this year we can get a new leader who can be a peoples president, who can lend a ear to his people, we all love you so much! You have such a beautiful heart, sweet friend, thank you for sharing! May love and light always shine upon you! Love, Noah Eaton "You'll find something that's enough to keep you |
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Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
icebox Words fail me all the time as I struggle to find meaning ....and yet I know I need them to fasion some kind of order our of the chaos of feeling and sensations that are part of living. As for politics...I am trying to make some sense of so much, and still believe that one person can make a difference. Hugs! |
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passing shadows Member Empyrean
since 1999-08-26
Posts 45577displaced |
good write |
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Enchantress Member Empyrean
since 2001-08-14
Posts 35113Canada eh. |
Well done poet sir. Hugs~ In the midst of winter.. |
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bbent Senior Member
since 2001-01-07
Posts 521Alaska |
Yeah...hope this one stays in view and opens a few eyeballs.With names like patriot act and homeland security how could they be anything but for our own good?....hearing you from whats becoming the land of the misled and the home of the paranoid. [Profanity edited] Live like it's your last day... Dance like nobody's watching... Love like you've never been hurt... [This message has been edited by Denise (01-26-2004 09:33 PM).] |
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JamesMichael Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336Kapolei, Hawaii, USA |
Nice writing...James |
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ice Member Elite
since 2003-05-17
Posts 3404Pennsylvania |
Bravo! I stand and applaud you, sir! As long as poets write words like these the first amendment will stay alive... Well done...enjoyed _______ice ><> |
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icebox Member Elite
since 2003-05-03
Posts 4383in the shadows |
Thank you all for reading this poem. This is a political poem which I posted here because there is no Political Poetry Forum and because politics includes obscenities which should be washed in the open. This poem, written with poor attention to form, was the product of anger that has simmered too long. What triggered it was a single catalyst, but the energy grew from a larger base. Freedom of speech is the real life blood of poetry. Several laws have been enacted in the U.S. which directly or indirectly are cutting away at this freedom. With apologies to PiP readers who live in other countries, the 20th Century saw some remarkable assaults on the U.S. Constitution by our elected officials in the name of protecting us (usually protecting us from ourselves). Until the 21st Century, the politically pesky amendments have included the 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 9th and 10th amendments to the U.S. Constitution. In various ways, the citizens of the U.S. have condoned, accepted and sometimes demanded laws which"protect" them from the freedoms outlined in these amendments. It is statistically true that most people are frightened by freedom; it is anecdotally true that most politicians are opportunists who prey on people's fears. Now, in our shiny new century, the 1st amendment has been added to this list of dangerous freedoms. McCain-Feingold/Shays-Meehan Campaign Finance Reform Bill has been described by one of the dissenting Supreme Court Justices as "...a law that cut to the heart of what the First Amendment is meant to protect: the right to criticize the government." --Justice Scalia Like most laws that redefine (progressively restrict) freedom, this one has been called a step in the right direction. Well, only if you agree that the right direction is tyranny and subjugation. Freedom very much is the proverbial frog which must be boiled very, very slowly so that it does not notice it is dying. Free people are citizens; people without freedom are subjects. Any reader is free to disagree with me, but please do it by email or in one of the discussion forums. |
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serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738 |
M'friend? I have been sleepwalking a very long time, but I'm very interested in what you have to say about this. Tell me more, please? The e mail is the same. Thank you.  |
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Denise
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-08-22
Posts 22648 |
I couldn't agree more, icebox. And you said it so well. Well done! |
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passing shadows Member Empyrean
since 1999-08-26
Posts 45577displaced |
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jwesley Member Rara Avis
since 2000-04-30
Posts 7563Spring, Texas |
couldn't agree with you more . . emphatically more. "We" are not a congress by, for and of the people anymore, but one of and for the lenght of the buck, the brightness of the coin and to hell with everyone else.. Well done, sir!! jwesley |
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Midnitesun
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647Gaia |
"thick streams of honey coated compost, regurgitated reams of calculated lies massaged by hired trolls, in images fluffed up by convoluted polls" a great snapshot of the disgustingly all-too-common reality of politics sorry I missed this one when it was first posted please keep both pen and lips moving, never give in to the powers that attempt to stifle freedom of speech |
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