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Tuesday, January 19, 2010

The Box

With their backs rigid,
and their hand to their forehead,
the draped box passes by.

With their uniforms crisp,
and their eyes steely fixed,
the draped box passes by.

Gone are the "ho-yahs",
and the high fives.

Gone are the beers,
and the bitching.

Was it about freedom,
and democracy,
and making us safe?
Or were we pawns,
in a zero sum game?

Now what?
More violence?
More death?

Is there a higher lesson to learn?
Should we seek understanding,
or just blow the bastards away?

The draped box passes by.

2 comments:

Unknown said...

Thanks for writing on this subject. I often think of the caskets I have saluted going onto the plane when I am back home with people thanking me for my 'service'. I wonder, "service to what?" I'm wondering if it could be considered service to an Idol of 'life, liberty and pursuit of happiness'. I wonder if we aren't literally 'serving' an Idol when we go kill for 'our country' or 'freedom'.
I think you are correct, war is slavery, and just as slavery was integral to the formation of our Nation (so they thought at the time) violence is considered integral to our nation today.

Arnold Stieber said...

Thanks Bryan!