Raw on Terror

 

This is not a war.

 

However long or short,

the word ‘war’ tends

to suggest a beginning,

middle and end.

 

How can it end, when we have lent

favour to one bickering child

over the other for so long;

rewarding Israel with supportive treats

and condemning Palestine for being wrong?

 

However disillusioned it may be,

the word ‘war’ implies

some kind of victory

when tallying up those who’ve died.

 

Which volunteers will pick their way

through the mountains

and deserts, search the caves

for what, in theory, should be shredded remains –

the bloody results of expensive missiles;

destructive toys in a guesswork game?

 

However obscene it might sound,

the word ‘war’ translates as

involving non-renewable resources

i.e. the ones who finish in the ground.

 

Technically, doesn’t there exist

an unlimited supply

of people believing in the Middle Eastern cause

so much so, they volunteer to die,

as those angry or young enough to be  influenced

can forever be taught

that the only solution resides in violence?

 

However discarded our dictionaries,

the word ‘war’ is defined

by two sides in conflict,

of different nationalities.

 

What is wrong with Western society,

that we find it so hard to conceive

of citizens all across the world

identifying with a wronged community;

that we are unwilling to swallow our share of the blame,

instead labelling their attempts to resist

thoughtless interference – deployed in our name –

as ‘acts of extremists’?

 

However biased or ignorant,

the word ‘war’ often produces

one side that emerges as righteous,

the other dubbed as villains.

 

So how will the roles be divided,

blurred as each commits its atrocities,

showing disregard for human life,

freedom and open-minded compromise;

when hostages are decapitated, and bodies

forever fall from flaming towers; when broadcast soldiers

drop bombs and racial slurs simultaneously;

while we fail to halt extradition to torture;

when, overall, the initial causes are discounted shamelessly?

 

This is not a war.

 

Author's Note

Let me know whether it flows ok, and also what you think of it in general. Thanks.

Reviews

[Hedra Helix]

all you had to do....you could've even had the tv on mute, all you had to do (4 yrs ago) was see Bushs face and those expressions he makes and couldn't you just tell, just by that alone, that he's a dumbass? I could. (4 years ago. Woot)
Cus then you unmute, he stumbles we listen and its like "yea, that pretty much nailed it."

the world and its works are insane I say.

and now theyre saying theres no global warming. moronz

;)


it flows

[Bubo]

A very intelligent piece.......inluding the title.......and many points in this strong write that spesk such
truth..........the wars of the world, western, eastern..........and there has always been wars and always will be, now even the growing teen trend wars.......wars over issues that can be seen as futile,

However disillusioned it may be,

the word 'war' implies

some kind of victory

when tallying up those who've died.

And the wars of past that shaped many men, my father being one, and yes, many tallies of bodies..........young young men, while the pompous arses sat in their stately homes, one war after the ear was declared over my dada was still fighting............it was never over for him.
Such a great read............
War brings two things. Death and Power.

[Emily B]

A thoughtful write this morning. I've considered the violence in this area often. I've watched documentaries that related the stories of both sides victims. I've always supposed I didn't know enough to have an opinion as to the right and wrong of it.

Thought-provoking work this morning. I'll have something to consider today.