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

[M. View]

Yo! Bridgey
You did it again I like this so much I don't know what to say but I love it.

Great Write

[Shellie]

I have the same beliefs as you mister! This is a work of art....hopefully you will read it there!
APPLAUSE APPLAUSE APPLAUSE.
This makes me wanna get up n go...to what you say...listen to kids, hug peple...dont small acts become big ones eventually. i love this...very powerfully written and you can tell your sincere in the way you wrote it. its really good...bet ur dead proud of yourself! u shud be!

[Helen Woodward]

YES!!! Spell it out!!!! You have pointed out the obvious that people don't wish to see Bridgey IN HUGE FORM!!
A statement, a declaration of independence on its own merit. I totally get it and I hope that your one voice reaches millions.
Nurish...Nourish
Congrats on a stirring piece of writing.
Cheers,
Helen :-)

[LisetteCanWrite!]

Oh yes.. oh yes.. oh yes.. I am a believer!!! Everything you say is soooo true.. what a passionate write and you pretty much covered almost everything.. so much that needs to be worked on in society.. at all levels.. people have to start taking responsibility for their makings.. take precautions.. know and embrace the enemy.. let forgiveness in.. so much truth here.. if only others would take note.. your writing pumps me up! Thank you so much for sharing this invigorating piece!! =)

[.]

Great words of humanity ....

I loved the way you wrote 'I CHALLENGE YOU WORLD' each time ... it really gives a great emphasis on what you are trying to say, and indeed there are great messages of optimism in this write

Lovely done, I appreciate it

Thank you for the request !

[Kathryn]

I like this piece, also.
Favorite part:... AS THEY BLEED THE SAME COLOR RED AS YOU DO!

The only thing I would suggest is thinking about not doing the whole thing in caps. I felt like it made it very "in your face" and "yelled" at the reader, rather than "challenged" in a manner that most people can take without being defensive.

I like the message and the repetition of the "challenge to the world"; felt like the "I have a dream" phrase. Overall, nice piece and well written.

TYPO: "You can take the girl [out] of the trailer park�"

[sisyqueen2008]

I'm inspired! no more sittin' doin' nothing, i'ma get right to it! thanks for the read request because i really need to read that! :D

[Luna]

"SO,
I CHALLENGE YOU, WORLD
TO LOVE DEEPER THAN THOSE WITH
YOUR LAST NAME!
DEEPER THAN THE SHADE OF THE SKIN THAT LOOKS LIKE YOURS!
DEEPER THAN THE PATRIOTISM
DRENCHED IN YOUR NATION'S FLAG!
DEEPER THAN THE LOVED ONES RESIDING
BEHIND YOUR OWN FRONT DOOR!"

Wow, I have to hand it to you. This was truly amazing. I wouldn't be surprised if I did hear this at the inauguration. This was absolutely brilliant and inspiring!!!!!!!
Very nicely penned.

-Luna

[Lady V]

Im with you on that one. Look out White House cuz Bridgey is coming to repaint and remind everyone what words can do.

Bridgey you are such an inspiration when you write and this one says just that. We are the individuals that can bring about change and understanding. We can rewrite history and we will.

Live, Love and Learn

Lady V

[R J Askew]

Well done, cracking stuff! Optimism lives! Your heart is in the right place.