"these" people

this was written as my reaction to watching the documentary Farmingville. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in the Immigration issue and hiring halls.

 

I can’t imagine being owned or bought

Feeling like a slave being a slave

What does that all mean?

Who do people think they are, believing they can treat other people that way?

 

If you do not follow the rules you are not human

If you do not sign on the dotted line you do not fall fit to be paid

If you are an “alien” you deserve to have your house lit on fire or your face

slashed while you watch your buddies get beaten. 

People are afraid for their daughters because they might get raped

People do not feel “these” people should be invading their town

“Did you think about the people in our community?” they ask.

 

I did not know the men here looking for work were also running around looking for women to rape and pillage then and there on the streets.

And when these men are working hard for their children and wives and mothers I am sure they will stop to think of you when you are honking your horns and screaming out your latest well thought out racial slur.

 

Humanity comes before all else.

We are not animals

These people are more than aliens, illegals, and “those” or “them”

They have names, faces and families

They work hard to keep your foundations steady

Fight for solutions

You are offended by the name racist,

But you do not see with  proper eyes

Open them

Open and allow the love in

Solutions with power for all

 

 

Author's Note

think before you comment... this is not a political article... it's a poem, written from emotions.

Reviews

[R J Askew]

Your poetic reaction to the film is a humanitarian one and shows your heart is in the right place. It is fascinating how the language is chaning also...words which are now not acceptable and are obvious racial slurs have been replaced by new words of insult such as 'THOSE people'. The word 'those' is perfectly innocent but when linked with 'people' it changes, chameleon-like, into something very different, carrying a whole layer of implied meanings, mostly negative.

[Emily B]

stunning write!

[E. M. Murren]

I just read in one of Blackbirdsong's poems that Sitting Bull once said, "People do not own the land. The Land owns the people." I firmly believe this. You wrote a brave work well stated and powerful. Many cheers.

[Chad Wesley Allbrett]

"Well, Americans got nothing better to do, why don't you kick yourself out, your an emigrant too" -The White Stripes.
Thank you for your poem, do you think that people are naturally cruel? It seems to me that inhumanity comes naturally to all of us, what is the remedy?

[Chloe..Across the Unive..]

i meant to say a great title .. 'these' people..

[Chloe..Across the Unive..]

I love your writing Danielle.. i see the emotions that watching the program brought out in you ... i feel for these people .. a well done poem and a good message i think..

Chloe
xoxo

[SweetPeachesAlways]

Very well written! A very dynamic point of view on a current powerfully charged issue. Good job!

[Cece]

i feel great deal of emotion
in this piece alot more
then i am to realize
this is more than anyone

i think it is a really good write.
i have changed from a political
comment. i realized that is not
what this is, a political statement

[thecoolone52]

you know i enjoyed this.... but everyone has a different take on illegals and people who travel over the boarders..... i mean i agree with you about the hate but sometimes its like.... why are they here you see what im saying??? I dont know i wish i could see it through your eyes!!

[JC Fox]

What an awesome piece! Great job