|
|
 |
Contests : War Poetry Contest : Past Winners : 2005 : Reggie Marra
THE EYES OF THE BEHOLDER
The Iraqis are sick
people and we are the
chemotherapy. [1] We stand
for human liberty. [2] We
shoot them down like the
morons they are. [3] Freedom
is beautiful and when
people are free they
express their opinions. [4]
They are killing us and
nobody's talking about
it. We want Saddam
back. At least there was
security. [5] You got to go
in there and bust their
chops badly, and let the
speed and momentum
and violence overwhelm
them. [6] Our nation and
our coalition are proud
of this accomplishment. [7]
Fire a warning shot! Stop
fucking around! Stop
him. Red 1, stop him!
Cease fire! You just
fuckin' killed a family
because you didn't fire
a warning shot soon enough! [8]
Ours is the cause of human
dignity; freedom guided by
conscience and guarded by
peace. [9] I did what I had
to do. I don't have a big
problem with it. I think
they thought we wouldn't
shoot kids. But we showed
them we don't care. [10] This
ideal of America is the hope
of all mankind. [11] Then once
you release the weapons, that's
a good feeling. It's a good
feeling to have the bombs
come off the jet, because
you know you're aiding someone
somewhere by striking a target. [12]
Society is a better place because
of the American troops. [13] Amid
the wreckage I counted twelve
dead civilians who had been
trying to leave Nassiriya
overnight. Their mistake had
been to flee over a bridge
that is crucial to the coalition's
supply lines and to run into a
group of shell-shocked young
Marines with orders to shoot
anything that moved. One man's
body was still in flames. It gave
out a hissing sound. [14] We believe
in human dignity. We believe
every individual has worth. [15] Wait
'til I get hold of a friggin' Iraqi. No,
I won't get hold of one-I'll just kill
him. [16] We believe in respect. We
believe in tolerance. The best way
to secure America is to get the
enemy before they get us. [17] We
ought to be beating our chests
every day. [18] If we are an arrogant
nation, they will resent us. [19] We
ought to look in a mirror and get
proud and stick out our chests and
suck in our bellies, and say, "Damn,
we're Americans!" [20] If we're a
humble nation, but strong, they'll
welcome us. [21] The invading troops
in Iraq are not Christians, and those
who sent them are not Christians, and
have nothing to do with Christianity. [22]
That's the interesting thing about being
the president. Maybe somebody needs
to explain to me why they say something,
but I don't feel like I owe anybody an
explanation. [23] Terrorism is in the eyes
of the beholder. [24] My answer is
bring them on. [25]
________________________________________________
[1] Corporal Ryan Dupre, US Marines, UK Times, 3/30/03
[2] G.W. Bush, 5/1/03; USS Abraham Lincoln, San Diego, CA
[3] Brig. General, John Kelly, 4/9/03, Sydney Morning Herald
[4] G.W. Bush, 4/20/03, http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/04/20030420.html
[5] Zahra Yasin, hospital in Mosul with wounded son, 4/17/03
[6] Army Gen. Barry R. McCaffrey, 3/25/03
[7] See note 2
[8] Capt. Ronnie Johnson, Army 3rd Infantry Division
[9] G.W Bush, 9/11/02, Ellis Island, NY, White House Press Release
[10] Army Private Nick Boggs, 4/8/03, Karbala, after killing a boy with machine gun fire
[11] See note 9
[12] B-1 pilot, Capt Chris Wachter, 4/8/03
[13] G.W. Bush, Little Rock, Arkansas, 5/5/03, White House Press Release
[14] UK Times reporter, Mark Franchetti, 3/30/03
[15] See note 13
[16] See note 1
[17] See note 13
[18] Retired General Jay Garner, 4/30/03, Reuters
[19] G.W. Bush, Campaign 2000, http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/politics/july-dec00/for-policy_10-12.html
[20] See note 18
[21] See note 19
[22] Orthodox Church Spokesperson, Archimandrite Attallah Hanna, 4/1/03
[23] G.W. Bush to Bob Woodward, 2002, interview for Bush at War
[24] Nidal Sakr, Spokesperson for The March
for Justice
[25] G.W. Bush, 7/2/03, in response to attacks on US troops in Iraq (quoted throughout media)
This poem won an Honorable Mention in the 2005 War Poetry Contest sponsored by Winning Writers. Author Reggie Marra received a $75 award. Copyright is reserved to the author.
About Reggie Marra
Reggie Marra's books include Living Poems, Writing Lives: Spirit, Self and the Art of Poetry (2004); Who Lives Better Than We Do? (2001); and The Quality of Effort (1991). "The Eyes of the Beholder" will be included in the forthcoming This Open Eye: Seeing What We Do (March 2006), a collection of poems that emerged between 2003 and 2005 in response to the conflict in Iraq. An educator for 30 years, 21 in secondary and higher education, Reggie now brings his Integral
Journeys programs to venues around the country.
|
|
