I Challenge You, World!

We live in potential...... I believe that this world can be an incredible place if we didn't put our own personal needs, and greed in front of peace.

“Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery!

None but ourselves can free our minds……”

     - Bob Marley, “Redemption Song”

 

 

 I CHALLENGE YOU,

          WORLD!

 

 

By Bridgey “SwamiPeaceBringer” McLovin

 

 

 

I CHALLENGE YOU, WORLD...

           TO BE GREAT!

AND TO IMMEDIATELY REMOVE

  TOMORROW

FROM YOUR VOCABULARY!

I CHALLENGE YOU, WORLD…

TO STOP DREAMING and BE AWAKE

BECAUSE TODAY IS NOW!

AND NOW CALLS FOR ME & U

TO SEE THE WAY THAT PAST GENERATIONS

                WEREN’T ABLE TO!

TO VIEW EACH OTHER

WITH ACHROMATIC IRISES

   THE WAY THAT CHILDREN DO!

TO SEE SKIN COLOR AS PRECISELY THAT

BUT EVEN UNDER THOSE COLORS,

TO SEE YOUR NEIGHBORS

      OF OUR SHARED LAND

AS YOUR SISTERS

AND YOUR BROTHERS!

TO LIVE, TO LAUGH, TO DANCE, TO LOVE,

TO FIGHT, TO GROW, TO BREAK BREAD,

& TO BUILD A LUMINESCENT

PATH OF INTEGRATION

WITH AND WITHIN ONE ANOTHER!

 

SO I CHALLENGE YOU, WORLD...

TO VIEW YOUR INHABITANTS

WITH RESPECTFUL INTEREST & INTRIGUE,

WITH UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY BLEED

THE SAME COLOR HUE AS YOU DO!

TO NOT FORGET PAST ATROCITIES

BUT TO TREAT SAID ATROCITIES AS SUCH

TO ALLOW THE PAST TO METAPHORICALLY

AND PERHAPS LITERALLY BRIDGE US

    OVER A TORMENTED SEA OF

ANGER, HATE, CONFUSION, MALICE, FEAR, IGNORANCE

         & UNSPEAKABLE PREJUDICE!

 

I CHALLENGE YOU, WORLD…

NOT TO ALLOW YOUR GOD TO BE

COLORFUL PIECES OF PAPER YOU RECEIVE,

AS YOU PRAY ON BENDED KNEES AT

THE CHURCH OF

       ATM MACHINES!

I CHALLENGE YOU TO STOP WORSHIPING YOUR ACCOUNT BALANCE AND COUNTERBALANCE YOUR OWN NEEDS WITH THOSE OF THE NEEDY!

FEED THEM NOT ONLY BREAD,

BUT WITH GENUINE EMPATHY!

 

I CHALLENGE YOU, WORLD…

TO LOVE WITH A STEADY OPTIMISM THAT BRAVELY & CONTINUOUSLY

PULSATES EVEN AFTER REJECTION

& DISAPPOINTMENT!

TO LOVE WITH THE STRENGTH

THAT SOMETHING LIKE

    FORGIVENESS POSSESSES!!

I CHALLENGE YOU,

TO LOVE DEEPER THAN THOSE WITH

YOUR LAST NAME!

TO LOVE DEEPER THAN THE SHADE OF THE SKIN THAT LOOKS LIKE YOURS!

DEEPER THAN THE PATRIOTISM

   DRENCHED WITHIN YOUR NATION’S FLAG!

DEEPER THAN THE LOVED ONES RESIDING

             BEHIND YOUR OWN FRONT DOOR!

 

I CHALLENGE YOU, WORLD…

TO PUT YOUR FAITH BEHIND

& IN FRONT OF OUR FUTURE!

TO EDUCATE YOUNG MINDS AND INFLUENCE THEM TO BE OPEN, AND ORIGINAL,

    AND INDIVIDUALLY UNIQUE!

TO ENCOURAGE RATHER THAN DISCOURAGE

NOURISH AND THEN

WATCH THEM FLOURISH

OUT OF THE NO GOOD, DARK WOODS AND DANGEROUS NEIGHBORHOODS THAT YOU’VE KNOWN US TO RESIDE & PERISH INSIDE OF

UNDERSTOOD!?!?!

AS THE SAYING GOES…

You can take the girl out of the trailer park…

BUT I CHALLENGE THAT YOU CAN ALSO TAKE THE TRAILER PARK

OUT OF THE GIRL!!

YOUR STREET ADDRESS

DOES NOT

HAVE TO DEFINE YOU!

I challenge you to take pride in, yet not be defined, REPRESENTED & HELD CAPTIVE INSIDE OF what you had no choice or any VOICE in deciding in!

Such as…

ENVIRONMENTAL UPBRINGING!

OR RACE!

   OR GENDER!

   OR CLASS!

      OR SEXUALITY!

    OR NATIONALITY!

     OR PHYSICALITY!!   

etcetera & all limitations in or between!

 

SO, I CHALLENGE YOU, WORLD

TO REMEMBER THAT YOUR GOVERNMENT

SHOULD WORK FOR YOU!

YOU ARE YOUR NATION'S LEADERS AND WORKERS AND SCHOOL TEACHERS, AND FREE THINKERS AND BRINGERS

OF TRUE DEMOCRACY!

YOU ARE THE WARRIORS

OF PEACE & PROSPERITY  

THE DESTROYERS OF

PROMISES &  HYPOCRISIES!

 

I CHALLENGE YOU, WORLD...

TO ENTERTAIN DIPLOMACY

BEFORE YOU GO DESTROYING THINGS!

I CHALLENGE YOU NOT TO

FIGHT FIRE WITH FIRE

BUT INSTEAD,

FIGHT FIRE

WITH FIRE EXTINGUISHERS!!

TO KNOW YOUR ENEMY,

   BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY…

TO TRY GETTING

TO KNOW YOUR ENEMY!!!!

YOU MAY FIND THAT SAID ENEMY

THROUGH LACK OF DIPLOMACY

         MAY HAVE NEVER CAME TO BE!

 

I CHALLENGE YOU, WORLD!!!

TO MAKE THE IMPOSSIBLE AS TANGIBLE

AS A TUESDAY

TO SHOW CHILDREN TODAY

THAT LIVING IN PEACE ISN’T TOO LATE

TO ADOPT LOVE, AND TO TEACH THAT IT’S NOT LOVE WHEN WE’RE CONSTANTLY FIGHTING EACH OTHER

OVER WHO’S GOD IS UP ABOVE,

NOT TO CRUSADE, BUT INSTEAD RESPECT THEIR RELIGION AND THEIR WAYS, MAKE LOVE & NOT WAR, GREET A STRANGER, OPEN DOORS, HUG ONE ANOTHER, HELP EACH OTHER, DIFFERENT COLORED SISTERS & BROTHERS,

RESPECT OUR ELDERS, LISTEN TO KIDS

& LOVE WILLINGLY WITHOUT AN AGE,

TRY TO LOVE WITHOUT SIGHT,

& TRY TO THINK OUTSIDE THE CAGE

THAT OUR MINDS OCCUPY TODAY,

AND WE CAN MAKE IT TO THIS PLACE!

I BELIEVE IT!

YOU KNOW WHY?

BECAUSE TODAY…

     CAN ALWAYS BE

THE GREATEST DAY

       OF YOUR LIFE!

TODAY CAN DO SOMETHING

TOMORROW CAN NEVER, EVER DO!

TODAY CAN BE NOW!

NOT NOW! BUT RIGHT NOW!

TODAY CAN CHANGE TOMORROW,

JUST BECAUSE IT'S TO... DAY!!!

 

SO, I CHALLENGE YOU, WORLD

TO BE GREAT

AND TO IMMEDIATELY REMOVE TOMORROW

FROM YOUR VOCABULARY

TO STOP DREAMING and BE AWAKE

BECAUSE TODAY IS NOW!

Author's Note

I love life. And when I see people genuinely looking to help one another, when I see acts of kindness and respect and love, it almost angers me to mildly taste the possibilities of what this world can be! It's still a work in progress. Maybe you'll hear me read the finished version at Obama's 2nd term Anauguration in three years! LOL

Another note; I had to change "greenback paper" to "colorful pieces of paper" giving that this address is on a international level. Stupid of me to forget that monies across the world are of various hues.

Reviews

[Lalli]

Bridgey, can you hear that?...... can you hear it?....

I can, its the sound of snapping fingers, the sound of inspired applause. This piece will get your audience to yell out that.. "preach on, mmmmhmmmm(in aggreeance), an amen, and many other interactive expression amidst the performance.

I will choose the preach on, and amen! i couldn't agree with you more. This is written brillitantly with so many clever phrases and unique twists to cliche's or familiar expressions... you hit it dead on. i love the message, I CHALLENGE YOU!

*snap snap

much love n' respect

-Lalli

[Jared Hughes]

Wow. I'm speechless. This was really a wonderful piece. I almost didn't want it to stop. If only the world could hear this piece then maybe they would start to listen. Yes, let's hope we hear Obama's second inaugural address!

[QuietPoet]

Amen!

Wow, this was truly amazing. I enjoyed this. You expressed your feelings and got to the point. If we only had more people like you...

Great write. Loved it.

[Anita B Jacques]

A awesome write, I love the essence of it, I'm with you all the way. Not all is lost, we can rebuilt on the ashes of our past. This is my first review of your pieces, I'm a little overwhelmed by the strength. Thank you for sharing. God Bless

[Nik]

Aww... this is so heart-warming. At least someone has faith and hope for humanity right now.

[Shadow Writer]

The wisdom of words that are spoken by the heart and penned by the soul. Well done. Phantom.......

[Kelsey Desmond]

I love this! Very inspiring!

[Collette]

I really, really dig the message you've got going on here. We've got to let go of our own biased perceptions in order to get beyond the blocked way "tomorrow" runs our lives. I can't even fathom how many times a day I think about tomorrow...or worry about tomorrow...or rely on tomorrow to get me through today. I think you've got a good point here, perhaps if I quit worrying about tomorrow, I'll be able to do more today.
SICK lines:
SO,
I CHALLENGE YOU, WORLD��.
TO LOVE WITH A STEADY OPTIMISM THAT BRAVELY & CONTINUOUSLY PULSATES EVEN AFTER REJECTION & DISAPPOINTMENT!!!
LOVE WITH THE STRENGTH THAT
'FORGIVENESS' POSSESSES!!

I think the hardest thing for people in our time is to just let go and move on. Rejection and disappointment seem too foreign to people, even though they are a permanent presence in our lives. Excellent write...mail me a ticket for that inauguration!

[EmpressPoetess]

I'm jumping up and down with delight! You're a fine talent, indeed! You put so much emotion into your words, one can really experience the joy, sadness, excitement you fell! Great writing, my friend!

[An owl on the moon]

Moving and powerful in every way, challenging the pain and loss we have inflicted on each other for countless centuries. Could this be the year, the month, the day that we make a difference? I hope and pray if not us then the generation that follows behind. It isn't an impossible or hopeless desire... I believe we are closer than ever... Thank you for saying it so well (and truly believing in it)!

[Kena Dawn Augustine]

Brilliant!!! you are like the MLK of cafe, you are so profound, and really make a difference with your poetry. my fav part:

I CHALLENGE YOU, WORLD��..

NOT TO ALLOW YOUR GOD TO BE GREENBACK PAPER YOU RECEIVE, THAT YOU PRAY FOR ON BENDED KNEES AT

THE CHURCH OF ATM MACHINES!!

I CHALLENGE YOU TO STOP WORSHIPPING YOUR ACCOUNT BALANCE AND COUNTERBALANCE YOUR NEEDS

WITH THOSE OF THE NEEDY!

FEED THEM NOT ONLY WITH BREAD,

BUT ALSO WITH GENUINE, EMPATHY

oh man, i loved that part!!!

ONLY THING? i thought it was a tad bit long. bec you got your point across earlier than that, but hey, that's my only criticimsm. otherwise this was award winning to me!!!