Saturday, January 29, 2005

THE PRAYER BIRDS by Jake Berry

What the Caliphate left undone
stumbles naked out the mosque.
A great Mouth
opens in the wires,
roars down the ruined streets,
populates the cafes
with massive grotesque angels
the color of an exploded chest
or a face half torn away –
the color of shattered skull
and exposed brain
spread across their sullen wings.
They are the voice embodied,
vulture proof
of a promise delivered.

On this cold day in Alabama
I feel the brush of their feathers
against my face
and study the swollen moss
and the bare overhanging limbs
leaved only by wrens
and a bright red cardinal
falling to the damp ground
to feed
on the seed I spread.

Jake Berry 1.29.05

Sunday, January 23, 2005

THOUGHTS ON THE INAUGURAL ADDRESS

THE IMPUGNITY OF CONDOLEEZZA RICE
By Anna Pages

Today, I watched the body language, I heard the inflections, and listened to the speech, written by someone else, as they AGAIN turn the knife in us re: 9/11, and BUSH called his pre-emptive, aggressive actions righteous and ordained by GOD.

I hear the shrill hate coming from the radio (the only thing MORE shrill are the commercials that are paying these talk shows hosts' salaries), calling Barbara Boxer all sorts of names, and saying how could she ask such questions and create such doubt at such a time as when we are at war?? How dare she “impugn the character” of CONDE RICE? (IMPUGN=attack/blame)

Conde, she couldn't IMPUGN your character if, in fact, you and the rest of the white house gang had not LIED TO THE PUBLIC in the FIRST PLACE. She is just bringing to the fore what you hope will stay in the aft.

Conde's condescension: "Don't ask me hard questions that make me look bad or shed light on my questionable actions, and the questionable actions of this administration"

Conde Rice's condescending attitude is the tone we have to look forward to for the next four years. Any questioning of their actions is to threaten their character...well, a character that hasn't done anything wrong has no fear of being impugned. She was cornered, and lashed out in defense with a smoke screen of "impugning her character", instead of answering the questions! Any dissidence will be tantamount to criminal actions.

The White house crew is to be viewed above reproach. Any question can be viewed as questioning their character? Why did she even go there? Just answer the questions, Dr Rice. YOU are OUR public servant.

Dissidents can look forward to their credit ratings being smeared, the IRS audits taking everything or making the dissidents spend years fighting them. It's not prison that I worry about, it's the corporate stymie...try to get someone who knows what is going on in ANY customer service number. Wait for hours to talk to them, send certified letters and dispute their claims against you on your credit report...after you do all of this, do you have time to PROTEST, or time to follow the legislative rulings, spins, subterfuge?

THIS IS BY DESIGN. THANKS TO OUR POLITICIANS...THEY HAVE CREATED A LITIGIOUS SPECTOR OF WHAT USED TO BE OUR COUNTRY TIS OF THEE, SWEET LAND OF LIBERTY OF THEE I SING. SO SUE ME.

PEOPLE...WATCH, LISTEN, AND LEARN AS MUCH AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN ABOUT WHAT IS MAKING YOUR CITY/STATE/COUNTRY TICK.

FOUR MORE YEARS OF THE FORCED SPREAD OF FUNDAMENTAL CHRISTIAN VALUES INTO AN ISLAM COUNTRY. FOUR MORE YEARS OF CORPORATE GOV'T PARADING AS RIGHTEOUS AND PIOUS.

RETOOL FOR NEW FUELS! DON'T LET IT BE ABOUT OIL OR MONEY, OR POWER, OR OWNERSHIP. WHAT HAPPENED TO "GIVE UP ALL POSSESSIONS"??

WHAT IF A CHRISTIAN DOES NOT BELIEVE IN GOING TO WAR? What WOULD Christ do, Mr.. Bush? Ms Rice? Mr.. Rumsfeld? Mr.. Rove?

Perhaps if the USA gov't was not trying to convert everyone to Christianity AND get into their oil fields, we might not have such massive and fanatic opposition to Democratic elections in Iraq.

GOD BLESS THE WORLD, MR. PRESIDENT.