To Distinguish Rhetoric From Knowledge

Individuals do not question politicians and media based on the assumption that nobody lies...

Polemical journalism thrives within a country
that claims to have free press and speech.
The policies of more powerful countries
our media and politicians happily preach.

Individuals, as we believe us to be;
yet we band together in mob mentality;
to fight against injustice to protect democracy
without being called out on the obvious hypocrisy.
Danish media show only a partisan reality,
not caring or aware of our own brutality.

Without question, without independent contemplation,
we accept: "cause we've got freedom of information".
A country with free education, conceited we simply adhere;
to actions in other countries with self-righteousness and cheer
Of our moral superiority we do not doubt or fear
democratic values will conquer and persevere.
By our collective identity we feel certain and empowered;
- as information served on a platter is easily devoured!

Yet we do not know our own minds’ oppression
As we do not discuss or ask any real questions;
Scholarly views dismissed as soft, delusional suggestions,
Yet mainstream information we swallow without digesting.
The privileges that paradoxically ought to set us free
instead encourage us, simply to nod and to agree.

An invisible prison that numbs any urge to engage;
from questioning our so-called democratic stage.
With freedom of expression we take democracy for granted;
which pacifies, distracts us from becoming disenchanted
with the illusion that our democracy is bullet proof and solid;
As we do not distinguish rhetoric from knowledge

Mai L. Nissen, 8th of February 2015

Author's Note

Art by Ditte Løfgren
ditteloefgren.com

I welcome any constructive criticism and suggestions

Reviews

[stansg]

I completely agree with what you have written, people just don't question anymore, the people who disseminate information in many ways control the people who consume it. I especially loved the third and fourth verses.

Without question, without independent contemplation,
we accept: "cause we've got freedom of information".
A country with free education, conceited we simply adhere;
to actions in other countries with self-righteousness and cheer
Of our moral superiority we do not doubt or fear
democratic values will conquer and persevere.
By our collective identity we feel certain and empowered;
- as information served on a platter is easily devoured!

Yet we do not know our own minds’ oppression
As we do not discuss or ask any real questions;
Scholarly views dismissed as soft, delusional suggestions,
Yet mainstream information we swallow without digesting.
The privileges that paradoxically ought to set us free
instead encourage us, simply to nod and to agree.

Amazing work.

[Mai L Nissen]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Stansg. I appreciate it!

[Jamestown]

I really enjoyed this piece, I agree with you in much of this write, the stanza that grabbed my
attention is how freely we accept mainstream bs to be accepted as truth in our society.
I could go on for days about this moronic state that people fall prey to, but I'm sure you don't want
to hear me for the next couple days, lol! With that being said, anything that comes out of the media's
mouth is in on ear out the other, like someone saying trust me, yeah right! Great piece of work and b-blessed!

[Mai L Nissen]

Thank you. I am glad you enjoyed it!
Haha... I would much rather listen to someone else rant about the media than myself...

[Jamestown]

I had to read it again, I have to say to be able to have a flawless flow on a political
write, is kinda mind boggling, that's why I read it again! Your talent really shines through!

[Mai L Nissen]

Thank you, JT! really appreciate your words.
- And I appreciate that you could be bothered to read it twice, most people barely read it once... Haha..