McCarthyism in Our Midst

We say that we are now color-blind, but ignore hatred.
We say we're standing up for justice that was belated.
What do we do to the groups we have always scorned,
Not in the group we accept and embrace as "the norm"?

When we try to punish, drug, and kill people for not fitting in;
This is where most justification of evil  seems to begin.
Those who disagree with "the norm" must be silenced;
There should be no thought of , for injustice, recompense.

We have entered a new age of religious McCarthyism.
Our religions and our government desperately need a schism.
The horrors of the old religious ways of controlling others
Makes enemies, masters, and slaves of sisters and brothers.

Have humans learned anything in three thousand years,
That lack of understanding is what begets most fears?
The thing most destructive is the fear-fueled aggression
That seems to be our nation's most dangerous obsession.

If there is a Spirit of Wholeness, it seems very plain to me
That this, not religion, is what we must pray for and seek.
The religious should go back to the words of Genesis,
Or admit that "In Our Image and Likeness" is a myth.

Secrets and the Sacred

I'm always suspicious of those who are very secretive about their lives;
Community knowledge of people's acts is how communities thrive.
We have become a nation that seems to me to be quite immoral
Because none of us have knowledge of each other that is useful.

Going home to closed windows and doors, nobody hears the screaming;
There are no community penalties for relationships that are demeaning.
Not even the families who are falling apart and committing acts of violence,
In our privacy above all else society, stand even half a chance.

Where is the governing body to protect and guide the vulnerable?
We even fight to keep abusers from using conception control.
What is the point of increasing evil, no matter the root cause?
The sins of the parents to the fourth generation should give us pause.

We are born with animal natures; some have had their Spirit spark killed.
The degeneration of humans into animals is not what The Spirit willed.
But parents who give birth by force or as a result of inebriation
Are not likely to produce children open to the Spirit of salvation.

Even those we call heathens who cherish their spouses and their young
Have the hallmarks of the God image of which the sacred songs are sung.
But those who procreate as an exercise in earthly power or wanton pleasure
Are not likely to add to the fulfillment of The Sacred's endeavors.

How I hate acts of killing, be it murder, war, self-defense or abortion;
Until we accept that we can't control others, this will be our portion.
We live in judgement of "others" without real knowledge or justification;
Fear and hatred, instead of understanding and consensus, kills nation after nation.

Piety and Promiscuity

I have a confession to make about the Hindu sacred scripture;
I thought about naming it, but I wasn't quite sure.
The Kama Sutra isn't quite "The Song of Song's".
How does it, in the annals of sacred scripture, belong?

It's not the illustrated version, only the text,
To calm those who may, to the pictures, object.
I think I would belong in that group of "prudes"
Flaunting copulating bodies to me seems plain crude.

I have burning curiosity about what others deem sacred,
And I know that much art depicts people who are naked.
But I never have been much of an athlete or acrobat,
And there are lots of these poses I don't want to look at.

One thing I can say is that if there's a moral message here,
It does not in any way, to me, seem to be made clear.
And the mental pictures I'm getting from the prose
Seems to be a source where pornography arose.

Forget the many religious meanings of morality;
This text definitely promotes sexual promiscuity.
The men who wrote it seem to have no ability
To see the results of not taking responsibility.

To think that we have to teach young people pleasure
Misses the point of innocence by a very large measure.
When the time is right and there's a friend they can trust,
They will find ways to, each others wants and needs, adjust.

We make a mistake by putting romantic love first;
Seeking sex before friendship is a relationship's curse.
Even small children are encouraged to entice sexually;
Their lack of protection is frightening to me.

And the poor duped people who think they have learned
How "all" men or women feel, and then they are spurned.
Unless we are willing to open our souls to another,
The sex is simply animal action with each other.

It seems to me that the most important function of this unity
Is to allow our hearts, minds, and souls to be, from fear, free.
But unless we get to really know each other well,
Promiscuous sex will simply harden our protective shells.

Isaac's Inspiration

Compassionate responsibility is what morality means to me.

Those who seek to scare us are not what I believe Christians to be.

And those who refuse to admit that we are all equally vulnerable

Continue hurting others with their contrived “pull”.

Here I sit in “Santa’s Sleigh” waiting out Hurricane Isaac.

The van has the most important thing, to me, that we lack.

Electricity’s gone out; there’s no hot water for dishes or showers.

I’m reading an  Indian sacred scripture, but can stand it only a few hours.

I’ve watched seagulls sail over the storm-tossed harbor,

And brave (or stupid) sparrows actually flying backwards

I’ve watched lots of people dressed for Nor’easters,

Though we’re actually tropical storm and hurricane receivers.

Some have left the property, probably in search of power;

I don’t know where they think they’ll find it at this late hour.

The worst will be the humid heat in the calm after the storm,

But I know in our vehicles, we can always be cool or warm.

Our niece having trouble facing adult responsibility,

Seems ready to begin thinking about what her life should be.

The storm slowed down her release into her new world;

It remains to be seen if she’s ready to bring woman forth from girl.

A beloved nephew, that we hear from too little, texted me;

How sweet for him to be concerned, though he has a wife and baby.

A very dear friend, who’s relationship shy, has now reported

That she has actually, to a neighbor’s company, resorted.

Yesterday morning, upon awaking, I walked across our bedroom,

Thanked engineers and architects that there was no spot of gloom.

There are windows on both sides to let in light and fresh air

Allowing us to read and write from our bed and favorite chairs.

The building seems quite sound, though walls creak occasionally.

Though the van shakes from side to side, sometimes rather violently,

There are no great trees to fall on us, in the condo’s landscape.

All of this seems to be planned simply for our safety’s sake.

I am so grateful for those who use their skills and talents

To organize all the blessings that we Americans are sent.

We would not be able to trust even the roofs above our heads

If not for the oversight of “the government” that we dread.

Our taxes are a way to make sure that we are all safe

From the half-baked schemes and plans that our neighbors make.

I do not want to depend on corporate honesty during a crisis;

I prefer an informed, involved citizenry to, on justice, insist.

I felt that everyone should have national disaster insurance

When, with Hurricane Katrina, all of our belongings went.

So many chose not to share the burden of the unknown;

From this selfish culture, so much irresponsibility has grown.

None of us know who is next in receipt of natural disaster;

There are to those who think they will continue in their laughter.

No person or population will ever be truly immune

From fires, floods, tornadoes, mudslides and typhoons.

Our taxpayer dollars provide shelter and meals to eat

When the hurricanes flood our low-lying streets.

Our community system is based on Judeo-Christian justice;

All Abrahamic religions, on helping our neighbors insist.

The old notion is that rulers and clergy were next to God,

And deserved special favors, while on the vulnerable they trod.

In a democracy we understand that what I do affects you;

During crises we see who, to these values, holds true.

Sharing burdens with “the government” acting as arbiter

Is what, I believe, our rules of citizenship are for.

We must start holding responsible our friends and neighbors,

Rather than allowing the “connected” and “pitiful” special favors.

Get a Grip

This week is full of drama, none of it for a good cause;
The media likes any reason to, into our fears, sink their claws.
Because we all remember Hurricane Katrina's destruction,
The reporters are building frenzy, with no moral compunction.

It took me all of two minutes to prepare for the storm;
I moved my lawn chair and birdhouse from potential harm.
We purposely downsized our property obligation
When we moved back here, to a tropical location.

We lost all but our lives and loves when Hurricane Katrina hit;
We've again accumulated more than we need, bit by bit.

We will not spend our senior years hanging onto strife,
Hysterically buying the unfounded fears of the old wife.

We now have the great pleasure of watching nature's fury;
When storms threaten, there is no reason to hurry.
The whole area takes a holiday from everyday endeavors
Every so often, it's true, we are a bit too slow and clever.

We seem to have become a country energized by fear,
No longer working to protect what we say we hold dear.
We sit around like old women of past ages complaining,
Building fear and hatred; that is so energy draining.

Fear mongers create a sense that there isn't enough;
We need more people who have minds that are tough.
To soothe the masses by organizing community;
Only then will our country, from hysterics, be free.

What happened to the citizens who didn't seek to blame
"Acts of God" on someone on whom to make legal claims? 
Are we soon going to sue our own country's taxpayer base
For all of the problems of being part of the human race?

All of these fear-mongers want to be prophets of doom;
Causing citizens to act in fear gives them a power bloom.

Fear brings us back to being purely instinctive animal;
Then, they move in and set themselves up as the rule.

I will not be reduced to a quivering mass of fear;
My posesseions were never what I've held most dear.
My  family has only ever been lent to me;
Even property has been, from true ownership, free.

Because I have lived so in the here and now,
I will not, to the fears of others take a bow.
Never will I stop questioning the opinions
Of those who seem to be fear and hatred's minions.

Where is our compassion without drama; where is our faith?
We find too many to blame ; we're all part of the human race.
We convince ourselves that if we, ourselves, behave well
We will enjoy heaven while those we blame will go to hell.

I don't have the arrogance to believe I can pray away
The forces of the universe that are already in play.
I do not believe or accept that my Spirit of Divinity
Is busy planning all these disasters to punish me.

I believe it is my duty, as every day comes to pass
To live it in love, as if it may be my very last.
This way of living keeps me free of the guilt
On which I believe all fear of loss is built.

Secrets of Success

Understanding inspiration is more important than
Adhering to the rules of another generation's plan.
Assimilating the past is an important part of progress;
Without knowing history, we continue to regress.

But, when I question our ways, I continue being pointed
To historians, rather than to the new prophets anointed.
Do we really believe that Divinity hasn't "spoken"
To anyone since Jesus, Muhammed, or John Smith were god/men's tokens?

Has "God" been a misogynist since that beginning of time?
If so, to what plateaus should women attempt to climb?
I cannot see reasons for continuing to try following Christianity,
If from, the voices of wisdom, my presence will be free.

The religions have fought mothers' power to their own detriment;
They've destroyed all honor of authority, their disrespect was constant.
Aren't we tired of the swing of the pendulum from gods to goddesses?
Are we ready for the conversation that each faction may dread?

We all lose when we deny the strength or value of another,
We all have a place, be we father, mother, sister, or brother.
But each place is dependent on individual talents and grace
That makes us each a unique part of the whole human race. 

Let those who have only past ways and scriptures to adhere
Stop destroying the values that we now hold most dear.
The problem is that most don't reveal their failed experiments;
They only publish the successes that they are sent. 

Suffering in Solitude

We all must eventually accept the rights of others to suffer;

My objection is when they want me available as a buffer.

People often say they love another, and still do wrong,

While throwing tantrums or whining in a baby's sing-song.

Do they know what they do to the other's compassion,

When they style their behaviors in a false victim's fashion?

Consequences for one's own actions is the way to learn,

But our lack of consistent values is reason for concern.

We have created a society in which we're expected

To support others in following behaviors we've rejected.

I am not angry; I don't hate; but I'm finally done

With those who don't respect what I have become

Jesus was very clear that he wanted his disciples to stay

Away from his final suffering, as he began to pray.

This is compassionate bravery of the highest kind;

Claiming one's chosen suffering as simply mine.

Why do others become angry with our solitude?

Is it because we don't please them with our mood?

I am happy for those who see "God an an old man,

And for those to whom Jesus is their best friend.

I simply seek the light in the eyes of all of those

In whom justice and compassion together repose.

No more will I allow false words to fill my ears;

Positive action is the only "voice" I will hear.

I have gone into the emotional desert to pray,

To find the answer to where my new mission lay.

The path seems to point to where my faith began,

Before it was perverted by words and actions of man.

I am free from their guilt and have thrown off the shame;

To my manifestations of The Spirit, I now lay claim.