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Katrina read her poem at the National Lawyer's Guild picnic for progressive groups who are fighting the good fight in the twin cities. She graciously allowed me to post her poem here. She is a very gift written and hard core activist in the Twin cities. If you come to the the Twin cities for the RNC convention next year I'm sure you will run into her work. Her articles make it into several progressive online newspapers in MN.
Break Away by Katrina Plotz (written August 15-17, 2007)
August 1, 2007 vehicles slowed by endless construction on the surface of a highway raised above a river under weight of neglect the foundation starts to shiver… and shake brake lights came too late no escape in the wake of a man-made earthquake
Now a frantic search and rescue for anyone alive witnesses disbelieve the scene before their eyes victims whisper their goodbyes camera flashes light the sky sighs of relief still beg the question Why?
Same day, far away near the Tigris and Euphrates explosions detonate among panic-stricken faces sidewalks crack bridges collapse lungs trapped beneath concrete heave and breathe their last
No one rushes to the rescue on streets plagued with danger no savior for a people occupied by strangers no relief in their sighs just grief in their eyes no surprise just anger as they fight for their lives
Back in the states leaders struggle to explain shake hands and shrug shoulders but refuse to take blame “Bridges in America aren’t supposed to fall,” were the words of a lawmaker laced with shock and awe
For war and occupation they allocate billions poor priorities are killing infrastructure and civilians
After four years of war what lessons have we learned? can we salvage any pieces of the bridges we have burned?
In the aftermath of tragedy we can’t reverse the damage but the bandage of denial doesn’t serve as an advantage
We can’t force our will with perpetual war we can’t fix what is broken by breaking it more we can’t claim to be humane while delaying an end to a brutal occupation can we honestly pretend to value security with overpasses crumbling to celebrate democracy with apathy abundant?
“Wait and see” is not the strategy we need procrastination won’t change the nation we need money for human needs not for guns we can’t afford to fund wars for corporate thugs we can’t cross this bridge when the time comes
The time is NOW To make each other proud From the streets yell it loud Bring the troops home now!
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