We the Complicit

When we are inert.

We the Complicit

We watch the news of Syria,

Iraq, of Palestine and detach

from our feelings for humanity.

Even empathy is a thin veil

without action.

News of West Africa and

Ebola sends shivers down our spines

but to us the residents of Guinea, Liberia,

Sierra Leone, Senegal and Nigeria are

simple numbers, not people of flesh

and bone such as we. Not people

with sons and daughters

and souls that live and love and bleed.

We live with desperate poverty

in our midst. With revolving news

reels of child trafficking and elderly

abuse within our own institutions.

With the neglect of the mentally ill

in our communities.

With corrupt politicians and a political

system stained in the red brick dust

of the Westminster elite; a system

of pseudo democracy that simply

serves the syphoning off of resources

and power from poor to rich.

And still we remain silent

and motionless.

 

12/10/14

Author's Note

Reviews

[Lydia Shutter]

There is a huge attitude of "NIMBY" (not in my backyard) in our world. We think events on the other side of the globe will not effect us, but they do. Ask not for whom the bell tolls. You have written a powerful poem here....and one that many will avoid reviewing. Kudos to you. Lydi**

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Yes NIMBYism is rife and is infact an infection that is far more destructive than ebola. Every race and culture is infected. Many thanks Lydi.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Amen, John...you surely know how i feel about this write, considering our conversation...you tell it so well...we detach, displace, with that "it's not me" attitude...

it's them...

great stuff.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thank you Jacob and it is good to know there are some of us who are prepared to put our heads above the parapit!

[Rene Salinas]

Great stuff this John and I happen to agree with you wholeheartedly. I even wrote something on the same subject but as it is always my endemic fault it came out a little too bastract and well leftfield while this points out with singularity the nature of the issues. The latest debacle of UKip in and out of politicians gets to emphasize even more some of yor strong lines here. Full of Poli - Tricks everywhere and indeed the mockery that politics is which borders on a legal form of crime. No interest in human or the humane.

Great intricate write John highly relevant to where I stand.

Thankyou

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thank you so much Rene and I am pleased to know you are another who feels strongly.