chrishancock789

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I was confused today by the use of “us” and “them.”
The polarizing use of pronouns came as I relaxed,
Watching waves come in and out
While my heart rate settled into a super slow calm.

Further discussion continued to cause greater dismay
When questions about “ours” and “theirs”
Started being floated as I felt the sting of a social ocean breeze
Supercharged by defensive, albeit subtle, reverse racism claims.

Disappointment burned my skin, my thoughts, my heart
For I never expected to be having that kind of conversation
On vacation, with the people I was with, on the side I was on,
Which was nearly alone, my words floating like foam in a Nor’easter.

I find the victim mentality of cultural being to be insulting for all,
Erasure culture doesn’t work either, although, as my daughter said,
“There aren’t any statues of Hitler in Germany.”
So maybe the hateful in history are getting their just deserts as statues.

History should not be erased, it should be studied,
All my Social Studies classes said we studied history,
“To learn from our mistakes.” Racism, classism, zealots, dictators…
It seemed from our conversation that WE aren’t learning.

I know because people I listen to talk of loss,
Loss of their culture, status, or worth, misguided thoughts on statues,
While muddying the dialogue with stuff learned in incomplete schooling
Or from the last “breaking news” or trending post.

How do we take the hatred back from personal pronouns?
How do we teach people to be tolerant?
How do we get people to understand what has happened outside of “theirs?”
Be the waves and just keep coming with tolerance and acceptance…

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Took a break from the sand today,
The deck was just fine,
Sunny, breezy, not messy,
Socially distant,
It was perfect.

Of course the world went on,
Bad weather, bad leaders finally wearing masks,
Bad people sporting guns,
Socially ignorant,
Not so perfect.

Tomorrow, I’m back to the sand,
Waiting for the waves to crash around me,
Maybe even some intermittent fasting,
To let go of a little weight,
It’ll work, I know it will.

For I’m going to cut out some news,
All of the news, avoiding the manipulation,
Denying the negativity,
The heaviness of the bull shit that is conditioning us.
Don’t worry, I’ll have my mask, just no media.

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Shutting down the computer last night
Kept me from breaking an addendum to an exercise rule,
“Never run angry,” because the time it took to boot up
Allowed me a moment of peace
To find some understanding.

Maybe it was Big Country on the little speaker,
Maybe it was my petting my dog,
But the extra little bit of time got me past that point
Where I would have been drilling the keys
To make my point about that which had sent me over,

Over an edge of politics, religion, knowledge of an audience,
As people in my circle are sending me emails
Hidden in educational programs
That omit the horrific examples of treachery of some religions
In the guise of teaching children their “right way.”

Now, I’m not one to bash another’s religion,
Believe what you want, just don’t put your shit on me, AND
Acknowledge the things done in the name of your god that
Have been pretty effed up throughout history, especially
The hypocritical puritanical convenience believing practices.

Leave me off your email chains,
I’m politically independent, an issue-crat, leaning to the left,
I believe in something higher than myself, just not sure
Who’s getting it right, so much out there is appealing, but
I’m pretty sure most bastardize the good and make it wrong.

So as the Knack plays, after Modern English, and
Whoever comes next with the playlist that is light and “summery,”
Probably recorded by someone who runs afoul of your
Blinder-wearing religious pie in the effing sky glasses, please
Leave me email free. I should reboot, my temperature is rising.