The Problem

Spoken word.

Sometimes

People say that it's nice

To make a list of things they're grateful for

Before the day ends

But I find it just as nice to name the things I hope will someday shift

Things that are so awful, so abominable

No part of them can be dismissed

And people behave like the problem's the individual's

When in reality the problem is residual

Of society's desperate hold on the pleasure principle

So, listen to your neighbors

Don't just feel pity, behave like the guilty,

React with some amity

And it makes me angry when people blame the poor by screaming “lazy”

Are they truly?

Did they get three min-wage jobs to be unruly?

Or are we, are the rich simply slacking in our civic duties?

As a nation, how will we survive if the high keep getting higher?

And if below us there's only fire, and above us all we see are liars?

It's easy to condemn those with variety

And give in to a male-dominant society

In church we're told that peace is right war is wrong

That if a woman is ever given a choice, one answer may give her hell and the other will send her there

But how can everything be so black and white?

If a girl gets pregnant, does she really need us there to harass and embarrass her into a set snare?

And even in college they teach us to love each other

To embrace our brothers

And to cherish our mothers

But they won't let those who do all these things and further,

Be our teachers, just because they'd rather go on dates with people of the same gender

And the wars, the wars, people fighting for property

Or the powers bombing buildings 'cause people who live there think differently

Can it ever really be rationalized? I've heard arguments over the game, to and for

Because it is a game; how can it not be

When every day at home people find pleasure in shooting, stealing and maiming

For the sake of a high score

To save humanity we must not alienate

We've got to regenerate

Like the Doctor and communicate between each other more

I see everything I've written here is quite true

At least for me, if not for every one of you

And the last thing I have to say despite our less-than fine behavior

is may the odds be ever in the world's favor

Author's Note

I realize that not everyone will agree with the opinions expressed in this piece. Please base comments on the writing, not just the subject matter :)