Politicians

A rant about the political situation, the rhetoric in debates in Denmark and the rest of Europe. What can I say!? - I am just a disappointed fellow human-being. Revised version in black, original red

Revised 2nd of September 2015 - a more accurate account though more clumsily written :

They compete with one another
In public debates
Dehumanizing immigrants
As lesser, greedy, hostile beings
Suggesting effective action
To ensure the vermin keep out
Playing on people’s fear
Suggestions such as attacking
Suddenly seems a reasonable idea

Using military ships to prevent
The boats containing immigrants
Fleeing from war, famine and torture
Safety of our boarders 
Rationalized as being the solution
To our social, financial well-being
As we cannot afford to help
Yet we find money finance
military expenditures
At sea and on land
Sending in land troops 
To destroy the boats while docked
To allow further tragedy and death
Whilst assuming our moral superiority
- A contradiction within the same breath

We do not know war
Though we happily play at it
- In someone else’s backyard
We are better than them
To thrive and succeed
This is what better humans do
Though subject of own privileges
we conveniently eschew

Humans do inhumane things
To remain amongst the better humans

Revised 29th of August 2015:

They compete with one another
In public debates
Dehumanizing immigrants
As lesser, greedy, hostile beings
Suggesting effective action
To ensure the vermin keep out
Playing on people’s fear
Suggestions such as attacking
Suddenly seems a reasonable idea

Using military ships to prevent
The boats containing immigrants
Fleeing from war, famine and torture
Rationalized as being the solution
To our well-being and safety of boarders
To cause further tragedy and death
Whilst assuming our moral superiority
- A contradiction within the same breath

We do not know war
Though we happily play at it
- In someone else’s backyard
We are better than them
To thrive and succeed
This is what better humans do
Though subject of own privileges
we conveniently eschew

Humans do inhumane things
To remain amongst the better humans

Original:

They compete with one another

In public debates

Dehumanizing immigrants

As lesser, greedy, dangerous animals 

Suggesting effective action to ensure 

The vermin keep out 

Playing on people’s fear

Suggesting preventing

With our military ships

The boats containing immigrants

Fleeing from war-zones, famine and torture

We do not know war

Though we happily play at it

- On someone else’s playground

We are better than them

So let’s show them what better humans do

To thrive and succeed

Humans do inhumane things

To remain among the better humans

28th of August 2015

Author's Note

thoughts and criticism is well received

Reviews

[Terrence Chang]

Wise write Mai. It is really good and well revised

[Mayank]

I agree with your thoughts, it also in the context of the book that I am currently reading, the book is 'The Ministry of Pain' the book tells you about Yugoslavia partition and how the chaotic situation was created. Well, no doubt, only politicians wants to divide and play the horrid game of blood.

[Mai L Nissen]

Yes, it is really awful when bigger countries or states interfere in affairs only to make things worse for the struggling country. Uh, Yugoslavia is a messy business! So many conflicts escalated because of outside countries fueling the fire for their own purpose. It is always the people who pay the price for politicians' game of chess :/

[JMKane117]

Great topic to write about. I wished more people would chose something other than love to write about. And yet, oddly, that's exactly what you did here too. It's very evocative. Keep it up!

[Mai L Nissen]

Thank you, glad that you are open to the topic! Though, I am sure some people think that I write too many things critical to the socio-political constellation that we are part of :)

[JMKane117]

No worries. Spoiler alert. I know what you mean. The story I'm writing that you just read, gets pretty hard into the socio-politicial eventually.

[Alex Paulsen]

Please enter at least 25 characters.

[Mai L Nissen]

?? Not sure about this message...

[Terpsichore]

The greatest pity of all, is that there is actually such a thing as immigration. It was man, rather than the higher hand that gifted this lovely planet to us, who has false created borders.

How stupid we are not to embrace the whole of mankind as one. T

[Mai L Nissen]

- agreed! Thank you for taking the time to read and comment :)

[Winslow Des Totes]

STRONG AGREED. Politicians are among the worst that humanity has to offer and yet they represent the masses? Where does that make any sense; I do not know and I doubt I ever will. Very thought provoking and well written. I especially like the lines "The boats containing immigrants
Fleeing from war-zones, famine and torture
We do not know war," a very good and current topic to be discussing right now and one that should be in the news more than politicians petty squabbles, in my opinion, and what's being done by ordinary citizens to help those poor souls. Those are the stories the news should show and not just sensationalized shock pieces designed to promoted fear and rage to keep citizens inside their homes and out of the streets in protest... Okay I've gone off on a bit of a rant here but that's what good writing does; it inspires! Well done Mai, very well done. I applaud your efforts to write work of quality and character it is very much appreciated.

[Mai L Nissen]

Thank you for your kind review!

Nothing wrong with a rant now and again - like you said it is a sign that you feel inspired, that you see what I am trying to say :)

[Winslow Des Totes]

I'm glad you see that! Haha have a great day!

[A. Amos]

The last two lines were the essence of your powerful poem...bravo!

[Mai L Nissen]

Thank you, A. Amos! :)

[A. Amos]

You're most welcome...

[jacob erin-cilberto]

love the last two lines....such truth...but the whole poem works because that is what political campaigns are all about...advancing fear of the other candidates as well as fear of the situation of the states or the country or whatever it is...and yet we all know things are bad...we need a salve...we need solutions not mud slinging.

[Mai L Nissen]

Yes, unfortunately this is not an isolated case... Thank you again for sharing your thoughts! It is a comfort to know that there is still a lot of people thinking for themselves :)