FW: [Peace-discuss] A sad poem.

[LAURIE SOLOMON]

Traditional protests may be falling on deaf ears; but I am not sure that poetry, while nice and creative stimulants to emotion and thought, would be very effective with respect to getting the attention of most  of the common men and women on the street.  Street theater and teach-ins use to be a creative way to gain attention; but alas, they too have become passé for the most part.

Civil disobedience which disrupts the normal course of daily life for both the common person on the street, businesses, and government officials still commands attention - both positive and negative.  If you accept the proposition that any publicity - positive or negative - is beneficial, useful, and productive, then civil disobedience of one form or another would be something to be considered seriously.  Being nice in the US does not cut it and never has; it only leads to being used, abused, and ignored as bleeding hearts and ineffectual do-gooders by a large number of the public and by the media.  Consequently, those who are being appealed to feel they only need to throw a symbolic bone or scrape to those who are raising the fuss to make them go away or to render them invisible or merely a pain with respect to how the public will view their actions. Much the same way that Obama has treated the anti-war movement, has made his appointments, and/or has proposed undertaking to roll back the Bush/Chaney tax cuts for the rich (reneging on his campaign promises to the masses). 

While poems may stir the emotions of people - especially those who are open to having their emotions stirred, it all too often does so in a highly intellectualized and abstract reflective level but not in terms of actions or concrete involvement (except possibly if the poem is put to some rousing music like the protest songs of the 20's, 30's, and 60's).  It gets treated as a form of spectator entertainment - like watching a movie or tv show, listening to a lecture or concert, or attending a sporting event or organizational meeting.

-----Original Message-----
From: peace-discuss-bounces at lists.chambana.net [mailto:peace-discuss-bounces at lists.chambana.net] On Behalf Of Rachel Storm
Sent: Thursday, December 04, 2008 11:48 AM
To: Morton K. Brussel; Peace Discuss
Subject: Re: [Peace-discuss] A sad poem.

http://www.climbingpoetree.com/live/

Alixa and Naima use poetry to urge social consciousness. For those of us who were privileged enough to see them at Allen Hall, they truly have created a platform for creative protesting. 

I think we should brainstorm our own creative protest measures. Traditional protest is falling on deaf ears.


---- Original message ----
>Date: Thu, 4 Dec 2008 11:39:25 -0600
>From: "Morton K. Brussel" <brussel at illinois.edu>
>Subject: [Peace-discuss] A sad poem.  
>To: Peace Discuss <peace-discuss at anti-war.net>
>
>   We must not forget…
>   Begin forwarded message:
>
>     Do you still remember us?
>
>         Posted by: "Romi Elnagar"
>     bluesapphire48 at yahoo.com bluesapphire48
>
>         Date: Wed Dec 3, 2008 5:31 am ((PST))
>
>     Do you still remember us?!
>
>     We are still under siege,
>
>     darkness.....
>
>      
>
>     And hunger.....
>
>     Do you still remember us?!
>
>     To get water we have to walk so far.....
>
>     To fill a bottle or a jar......
>
>     Do you still remember us?!
>
>     We still have No food.....
>
>     Or medicine to be fed.....
>
>     Our kids.....
>
>      are dying every day.....
>
>      in their beds.....
>
>     And many have just tears to shed.....
>
>     Do you still remember us?!
>
>     Death!
>
>      is everywhere.....
>
>     that sometimes we have No place,
>
>      to make Our prayer.....
>
>     Do you Really still remember us?!
>
>     We have nothing but pain.....
>
>      illness.....
>
>     And daily sadness......
>
>      to Share.....
>
>     So do you still remember us?!
>
>      At least in your prayer?!
>
>     Gaza children implore you!
>
>     They are dying due to the blockade!
>
>     There is 'growing humanitarian crisis,'
>
>      happening in Gaza.....
>
>     There is an EXTREME restricted access,
>
>      to food, water, and medicine!!
>________________
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