"Beds Are Burning"

...some of those 80's songs had meaning and beat...

“Beds Are Burning”

“how can we dance

when our Earth is turning,

how do we sleep

while our beds are burning..”

~~ Midnight Oil, 1987

~~~

no matter where you look,

no matter where you go;

spin the globe

and point anywhere,

our Earth is burning,

humanity is hurting...

Sleeping beds burn

in human atrocities’ dancing

on the misery and bones,

the living poverty,

all the while,

sucking on illusions and allusions

of “freedom;

while thinking everyone,

everywhere

must live as we,

in blue pill ignorance

and selective amnesia

arrogance.

Let’s get real-

we live in the

“Land of the Thief,

Home of the Slave!”

When will we put all this

in long ago past museum history?

Or do we really think

it is fun to dance

while our beds are burning

and humanity is hurting!?

Aztec Warrior / redzone 7.5.16

(Note: the quote under the title and title are from the song "Beds Are Burning", 

by Midnight Oil. The quote toward the end of the poem is a word play on the lie,

"Home of the Brave, Land of the Free")

Author's Note

...thanks for reading... one of the things we really must learn is the true ugly history of the U.S. it's meaning and how it continues today to commit to most heinous crimes against humanity... and to learn this without the "yes, but"... perhaps then we can begin to see how to change things for the better..

Reviews

[Einstein Noodle]

yes ... i would venture to say that all lands as we spin and point have been taken from someone ...and slavery certainly belongs among human veins and arteries ... denying it is the worst of starting points ..no wonder our "talks" have yielded little .. one can vote with conscience ... (in America at least) and work on our own back yards at best ... the world of human beings is not fit for the light .. we seem to kill it every time :( but for me i do retain hope ..and faith ...together they can not be defeated eh!? i wonder why Spain is never called to the court of liberalisms' eye for what they did to the Inca ;) a curious thing says i! ...i must agree... strong and clear voice here Redzone! well done
E.

[Beccy]

There is an inequality in this world that saddens me greatly; and you are right when you say that we can move beyond a 'me first/right is might society;' the question remains however, is will we ever?

These are thought provoking lines.

Beccy.

[barleygirl]

Humans suck . . . that's why I'm into animals. You've expressed your views with power & clarity. I love the imagery in your first stanza: "No matter where you look . . . spin the globe" . . . oh so true-to-life -- lately especially. I also think "Land of the Thief, Home of the Slave" is one of the most brilliant political comments ever crafted. Please don't let Trump see that line . . . *smile* Nice spin-off from the song lyrics, I love the way your free associative mind works with lyrics.

[Lydia Shutter]

I remember that song so well. Your political views come through loud and clear in this one, Curt. I will not say more for it would only start a major debate! :) Oh, wait, I can say this is so "nice". Lydi**

[Lyn Anderson]

A great song and a very effective poem. I especially like the land of the thief, home of the slave line. point to me a human utopia, and I will go there. Where humans gather, there is strife. The only thing we can do is find a peaceful corner and try to do our own little part.

[redzone]

there is NO utopia to go to, it is and always has been up to us... and yes, because we ARE human and have both diversity and differing experences, we will always "squabble", but we can move beyond a me first society and beyond this "might makes right" thinking and live as voluntary associating human beings, living for the common good of all humanity!!! right now, this very moment we have the ability to feed, clothe, house and cure/treat most diseases... what stands in the way IS this look out for # one, me first system of capitalist production and social relations based on it and where everything including life itself is determined and promoted based on how much money can be made.... lets move beyond this kind of world, we humans can and must do better than this...

[Papaya]

I cannot disagree. If we understand ourselves better then we can influence change more effectively.
No more 'yes, but...'. We make excuses too often. I sometimes do too so I can't play the high card exactly.

[redzone]

we all make excuses, the yes.. buts, at times due to wrong headed thinking.... no one is born or created thinking great things, though look at how at times our children see the world often without prejudices or preconceived ideas it is drilled into them by family and schools and society at large to think this me first way... we are born into a society and it is up to us to change it, or to put it in how you are describing this, to make the chpices needed to have a better world no matter what the personal risks may be... and because sometimes this risks are heavy we compromise or stay silent and them makes excuses for doing so... the thing about many people that is so great is that for most once they do understand things even if they have made excuses before decide to no longer do this and play a role in changing everything...

I do not know you that well Papaya, but just from reading your poetry and the back and forth in a few comment, it seems to me that you often play the "high card"... you do the best you can and that is often a very good thing... no I don't know you well and I am just saying what I do see from a distance and I am not "buttering you up or something, just my observations...

anyway, I am really happy for your review and your visit, I appreciate when you give your views on more than music... thank you..

[Papaya]

Thanks red. I appreciate your kind words. :)