"J'Accuse"

[villager]

J’accuse
by Amitai Gross
© 2014

For those who cried for Eyal, Gilad, and Naftali,
weeping, pleading, “not the children!”
For those who said it has gone too far, sent prayers and condolences
by email and social media -
but shed no tears for Mohammed,
spilled no ink for Tariq,
quieted your voices when we were the murderers,
the torturers,
the animals,
the morally bankrupt -
J’accuse.

For those who boldly dropped accusations of
nazis,
fascists,
apartheid,
oppressors,
killers,
soldiers -
but avert eyes from the children
hiding in bomb shelters,
the mothers who
clutch them to their heaving chests,
the fathers who weep in fear,
wondering how long until the missiles hit -
who forget that the same soldiers they despise
are children,
voiceless,
given no option,
forced to carry a gun,
frightened,
indoctrinated,
canon fodder -
J’accuse.

For those who claim they know reality,
they have accepted truth,
their understanding is holy writ,
and there is no redemption for the enemy -

For those who blame the other
they’ve never met,
who speak with an authority
granted only by fear and hate
and repetition
and repetition
of the same
fear and hate
and fear and hate
and fear and hate
and fear -

For those who say talk is cheap,
that actions speak louder than words,
maybe it’s time you learn to BE SILENT.

For those who pick the gun -

For those who pick the bomb -

For those who fight
by sword or by word
and say it’s for peace -

For those who see monsters on the outside,
but not the ones on the inside -
J’accuse.

[King_David]

1. Got a link ?

[villager]

3. posted by a family friend (himself the son of Rabbis) on his Facebook page!

This DU posting may serve as a link for others!

[Mosby]

6. cool story bro.

[King_David]

7. Well IP rules say OP has to have a link

[villager]

8. Well, it's an original composition, by the son of Rabbis

Sorry if the poem itself offends you.

[King_David]

9. Doesn't offend me I'm indifferent was not great piece

Hardly an original piece and not earth shattering .

Tell your friend not to give up trying.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

10. Don't you give up trying as well dave.

With luck you will achieve total consciousness some day.

[Jefferson23]

2. The families get it, not sure how many others do:

Families of Slain Israeli and Palestinian Teens Turn to Each Other for Comfort

Read more: http://forward.com/articles/201500/families-of-slain-israeli-and-palestinian-teens-tu/#ixzz37s3cEk85


Thanks for the poem, villager.

[villager]

4. Thanks for the post from "Der Forvitz!"

[Jefferson23]

5. You're welcome.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

11. Thanks for posting. Don't let the mouth breathers dissuade

you from exercising your right to free speech.

[Israeli]

12. wow ...

kol hakavod to Amitai ....

[cali]

13. ack. I hope this writer attributed Stephen Vincent Benet. This is such a direct riff

it verges on plagiarism.

http://www.swans.com/library/art6/zig053.html

[villager]

14. a "riff" in the sense of jazz, maybe - each on the same theme

Scarcely plagiarism.

Thanks for posting the Benet, though!

[cali]

15. I don't think the poem you posted would exist without Benet's poem

but you're right it isn't plagiarism.

[villager]

18. Are you actually saying there are *influences* in literature, Cali?

[4now]

16. Very powerful

Thanks for posting.

[villager]

17. You're welcome

I'm sure Amitai wishes such a poem wasn't necessary....