The Right to Remain Silent

This is a message
to all who are blessed with
family and friends who weren't selfish
but selfless

and stood up for a cause
that all you deemed senseless
now you protest against conflicts
that don't seem to have endings

young women and men
serve a president's beckon
while he's sending more children
to do his dirty deeds for him

whether in agreement or not
they fight with ferocity
and they don't give two shits
about sharing democracy

hypocrisy hovers
over every essay
that someone else wrote
for him to read on the tv

and all they believe in
is that they're doing what's right
until they turn on the news
and see you every night

hypocrites march on
the lawn with their pickets
as they play the life lottery
and cash in losing tickets

because to them this is life
and this isn't a game
and you are the reason
they're all dying in vain

while you wave white flags for them
with yellow bows on your cars
with nothing but papercuts
as your own battlescars

taking for granted having
both feet and both hands
while you're standing in line
soldiers make their last stand

ex-soldiers/now cops
try to get you to disperse
"but these are my rights!
and this amendment, the first!"

but nothing you say
could ever stop all the violence
while they defend your "free speech"
you have the right to remain silent