VIOLENCE IS AMERICA

Violence is as American as apple pie.

This country was born in violence,

nursed on violence, and raised in violence.

It feeds on violence as prey.

 

This American way was the beginning of our violent society that exists today.

It is taught and learned and passed on

as the method to challenge for personal gain –

(brute force to take control).

 

The American dream is to possess

what it considers the good life,

even at the expense of life (man, animal or nature).

It has been taught, it has been learned,

it has been passed on.

 

“Possess what you desire!” the American voice proclaims.

“It matters not how or why!” has been the American cry.

Take what you will – kill at will

Who cares that you die.

So, now that you have stored your horde, violence is something you can’t afford.

 

But he who lives by the sword will die by the sword.

It comes cheap. It’s your reap.

So, why is there such an outcry and dismay,

as if this is some new day?

 

Violence has been man’s way.

It was he who made the weapon to slay.

As an extension of himself, I’d say, to be bigger.

His trigger to extend his war power.

And sit in his ivory tower.

 

It appears that to war is the nature of man to wage.

This drive to fight – this mad-ness to challenge –

This temperament to rage.

It is thought that no man can effectively lead

unless he is prepared to war.

 

War is learned, it is taught, it is passed on.

Human beings are given intellect,

as opposed to animal instincts, savage and thought-less.

Yet, his warring spirit is created in his making

as nature with her tornadoes, earthquakes and floods

that rage at will.

And they too kill.

 

But man is given the reasoning capacity by which he makes choices, 

for which he is held responsible still.

Violence has been the way of America’s past

and it has been passed on, as it is today,

learned and taught.

 

As for tomorrow, who can say.

Will we still be feeding off her pie?

It is as simple as choosing to live or die,

and placing the blame where it should rightly lay.

 

Like my mama would say,

”You made your bed, now lie in it.”

This is the price you pay.

 

First printed in the Chelsea Journal, NYC (early 90s)

 

"Earth - The Institute of Learning"

5x7 booklet Ruth Ce. Jones@amazon.com