so let's take a
snap-shot, a snap-shot
let's take a snap-shot
of today
of my day, of her day
your day, their day, our day

let's take a snap-shot
of our values
our desires, our principles
our dislikes, our necessities
our love, our hate,
our ambivalence

child of the 20th century am I
living now in the next,
child of the Amercian way
however that be defined,
child of cold-war era, of Vietnam-war era,
witnessing yet another on terror

so what of these values?
what of this American way?
what of our free-market?
in this moment of government bailout...
what of Capitalism?
when mis-managed companies can't be allowed
to fail...
what happened to habeus corpus?
what of travel without papers?
what of freedom from persecution?
what of separation of church and state?
and why can't he marry him, anyway?
what happened to our naive belief -- that we could walk our streets
without concern of sudden restraint? of shackle?
of the black hood?
what of timely legal representation?
what happened to our ideals -- our humility, our pride?

a young child picks up a shiny 'toy' in Southern Lebanon
loses a leg and both arms, and the side of her face
cluster bombs a-plenty, seeded by the godly neighbors

a farmer walking home to his children, in Cambodia
steps on mine, no time to say his last goodbyes
no more hugs shall his family receive

nuclear bans are applied to the majority of nations
who would wish to represent their own twisted ideals
only Americans can be trusted with such power --
is that not so?

AIDS claiming lives
cancers on the rise
cholera providing freak entertainment to the
war-torn famine-riddled helpless
polution unchecked
global warming just another marketing term
health insurance attainable only by the rich
health itself unattainable on
personal, psychological, social levels
every vitamin, fibre, carrot and berry the next
cure-all

a freedom-fighter, terrorist
sits naked in the chair
water poured on his head
he prays
as the torture continues
he bleeds
as their questions linger
he suffers
as their mock-justice
slips beyond the boundaries
of right or wrong
their pretend morals
shift beyond the sensical
confusion blending with
confusion

a woman approaches the market
bathed in the scent of honor
dressed in garment and shawl
clothed in wire and plastique
and fuse
she smiles at the guard
she smiles at the children at play
just before she presses the button
heaven is promised to her, for her sacrifice
hell is all she leaves behind

who is responsible for these actions?
responsible? recognition? respect?
responsible?
responsible!?
RESPONSIBLE!!!???
what ask you of 'responsible'?
what the fuck means 'responsible'?
are we not ALL responsible?
am I not the one pressing that button?
are not you?
are we not all pressing that button --
damning us all in return?

wars are started to defend oil pipelines
young, brave men "die for a good cause"
while others are on patrol to protect the poppy fields
lest some terrorist destroy the addictive wealth
paid for by gangland blood,
on our very own inner-city streets

we live in the persistent shadow
of two tall constructs
which no longer exist
we live in the shadows
ever-more

our shrapnel-congested testamonials
our corrupted values providing
constant shade
to our waning hope

our lovely snap-shot
is dark and gray
never
black and white