You Can't Say That On Television

Some call me mad; others say that I'm didactic....I just say I'm too damned strong-minded to bother with addressing any of it. I'm on a mission

For all of the perfected posture that these

politicians seem to present,

you'd think they'd pay more attention to the truth

of the Constitution and it's Amendments.

There was always a resentment over the integration of schools,

so they got us back crazy good....

a generation growing up without the proper tools.

This isn't the crack era, yet children still kill over shoes;

they just consider these kids b******s and blame beauracracy

for their being nothing new.

And as evidence and proof, I offer you metal dectectors,

defective heating and air, and drop out rates in the depths of despair.

How dare you part with nothing financially,

then say schools are just our parents' fault, and that we came up without loving.

If this really is the case, shouldn't the government be our shoulder,

so we can cry a little something?

Even the bad seeds lack the motivation....

you don't see them go into suburban communities and start buggin'.

Police checkpoints in neighborhoods and still crime kills daily...

how about a hot breakfast for their hungry bellies?

That's right....

damn gas prices just about double the cost of some bread, peanut butter and jelly.

Far from a sitcom and just out of the way from roadside bombs,

these are notes from the underbelly.

Homes have been broken, but how does that equate to our schools failing?

They must go by a different math to keep suburban institutions from ailing.

Five books in a class of thirty, ensures that the other eighty percent are just

mailing it in.

Due to constant and unfinished construction they can't even run to the bathroom,

literally not even given a pot to piss in....

there's some kind of....

reverse...ology....

because they have better accomodations in prison.

Get a degree for free, just give up your Freedom!

Until you realize that most of the prisoners still struggle with their reading.

Meaning that the quote is true....

you know...the one about being free; but in chains everywhere.

The home of the brave, where better-off's play small parts; but mainly

turn their backs and don't care.

And here I am, saluting the red, white and blue as it waves in the air....

all the while remembering how they say that life isn't fair.

Author's Note

The picture is actually a part of a library in D.C.

Reviews

[BEEGE]

Well done Peoples!
"they just consider these kids b******s and blame beauracracy
for their being nothing new.
And as evidence and proof, I offer you metal dectectors,
defective heating and air, and drop out rates in the depths of despair."
This really got me going. It reminded me of the schools I went to in Memphis and
Really touched home. Great job on this one.

Beege

[Murphy]

Truly enjoyed this piece. You have uncovered and exposed so much here... an eye opener for sure. My favorite line... "The home of the brave, where better-off's play ((with their)) small parts; but mainly turn their backs and don't care". Right on, my friend... sad, but all too true.

[Ivory]

I respect that fact that you felt the need to express ur opinion where other might have kept quiet.
Thank you for writing this, i agree with your view point and I am always a fan of your work... : )

[J.P.O.et]

The more affluent the community, the more tax dollars involved equals a better school system.
It's the dirty 'underbelly' of capitalism that noone wants to see, the absolute inequality of it all.
As always you do not disappoint in providing a thought provoking piece which cuts to the core of
some of our social ills, however I would also like to note the philanthropic efforts of those such as R.I.'s
own Allen Shawn Feinstein amongst many who have given large amounts of their own money and matched all charitable donations aimed at underfunded and failing urban school systems. I agree that the government
should be way more accountable and love the flow of this, just wanted to say some people do give back
just not enough. Keep up the good work.

J.P.O.et

[A LaDy NaMeD D]

Even the schools in D.C. our nations capital aren't up to par, and it's sad. This poem was tooo true.

Danni J

[T]

The title of your poem is true. If you say that aloud, they will call you unpatriotic. But limiting the voice of citizens is unpatriotic, itself.

Anyway, I love the following lines:

Homes have been broken, but how does that equate to our schools failing?

They must go by a different math to keep suburban institutions from ailing.

Good job! We need more people to speak up, but on television. Lol.

[Jonathan Escoffery]

"literally not even given a pot to piss in....

there's some kind of....

reverse...ology....

because they have better accomodations in prison.

Get a degree for free, just give up your Freedom!"

My favorite part, right there. You use some good alliteration, especially in the opening lines, without it seeming forced.

I also liked this message which stuck out to me:

"Even the bad seeds lack the motivation....

you don't see them go into suburban communities and start buggin'."

That's so true. I could write an essay right here about how I feel about that situation; people who feel they can do whatever to their own people/neighbor but wouldn't dare act a fool in suburbia, as much as they claim to loathe the "ruling class". I'll leave it at that. Great peice of art, right here. Thought provoking.

[Silent Kim aka mizmetap..]

Meaning that the quote is true....
you know...the one about being free; but in chains everywhere.

And with cameras on every corner, the policing of the masses chains are becomeing longer.

Great vent write, throwing my fist in the air, fight the powers that be.

[shiloh jennings]

I'm not American but I've had the (dis)pleasure to live for extended periods in KY, KS, CA and VA... and I wouldn't raise my daughter there is they paid me! I don't speak down about ameriCon's in general - I don't like sweeping generalities at all, but across the board, the prevailing sense ...... is truly what you've picked up in your poem. One of the bigger problems I seem to run across, however, is the extreme lack of AWARENESS. So many better-off people actually think things are fine in the US. They have no clue that there are entire "towns" in various states that are actually 3rd-world status -- no running water, no electricity, hardly a proper roof over their heads and nearly no food or clean drinking water. This isn't some other place in the world I've just described, this is WITHIN the continental borders of United States. Crime, Ignorance, Apathy -- the country is falling apart from the bureaucracy on down to the common man.....

sorry, just had to put in my two cents ... your poem sparked it! great piece.