I Read the other day
That Four Hundred and Fifty Seven members
Of the United States armed forces
Have died since the beginning…
Of a war that was unwanted, unnecessary
And a violation of our illusion of Democracy
457 unnecessary deaths, unnecessary loss
That’s 457 mothers
457 sisters, daughters, uncles
sons, best friends, first loves
457 lives, souls
Drafted by poverty in to the Army
Drafted to die
For what cause, who’s cause, who’s loss
457 reasons to never forget…right
When can our people, our country
Move forward, Advance, look towards the future
Look towards hope
When everything reminds us of September 11th
We are constantly reminded of the loss and pain of that day
I always see stickers, signs and tee shirts
That demand ‘never forget’
I regularly hear stories of lost loved ones
Stories of death.
Don’t forget, I can’t forget
Everyday is filled with the loss of life and we can’t forget
9-11
Don’t forget 9-11 We can’t forget 9-11
Because 9-11 is the day America was introduced to the world,
Introduced to reality
Introduced to reality like everyday in Palestine
Introduced to reality like young women in Africa
Introduced to reality like Ammadou Diallo, like Rodney King
Like Assata on a New Jersey turnpike.
Introduced to reality like a stray bullet, like an innocent bystander
Introduced to reality like Emmit Till…Don’t Forget
Iraq, Afghanistan, Mexico, Panama,
Introduced to reality like Hiroshima
Welcome America...
To a reality
Where 9-11 lives or lost in
Nine Hundred and eleven lies
And People continue to die
There are nine times eleven ways to die
But only one way to survive, Fighting
Welcome to Reality America
We can only survive Through Fighting, through struggle
Too long have we lived in an American Dream bubble
Protected by consumerism, bad movies
And lies, lies and more lies
Protected in our Starbucks, in our offices, in our homes
Attached to a box or a phone
Waiting
For an answer to a question that was asked for us
Our Freedom is limited to choices
Of Ice Cream, Hair Styles, Exotic Coffee Flavors
And…oh yeah, bad movies
Like is it so hard to see
America needs improving, serious reconstruction
Like the kind made from the bottom up,
Like the kind made through struggle,
Through REVOLUTION, Through REVOLUTION
Welcome to reality America
Now its time to change it.
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Dynamic Magazine
