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Sic transit gloria Americae

What a sad degraded world it is we live in:
Violent, adulterous, hypocritical cruds
Masquerading as celebrities, Hollywood heroes,
TV entertainers and basketball studs;
And that's just the half of it.

The once noble and respected USA
(slogan: e pluribus unum, not that anyone
Would ever have worked that one out,
not spotting 13 letters = 13 states,
mainly because they can’t count that high)
Now is ruled by a load of criminal neo-cons
And hard right racist misogynist nationalists,
Some flourishing impenetrable regional drawls
Spouting banalities and half-truths
(if you’re lucky - they’re mostly blatant lies,
at least as far as Trump and his cronies go).

I vaguely remember a golden age, (ah! halcyon days)
When the rest of the world liked Americans
And when American naivety was forgiven as being charming
And innocent and indicative of goodness.
But no longer. Now America is hated more than any other nation
In human history - except for the Israelis of course
(but everyone hates them – they even hate themselves).

And how about TV? Once there was a day when anchormen
Assumed their audiences might have a brain
But nowadays? You’d be lucky to find a TV show
With the intellectual content of the 50s Perry Como hour
And finding a news channel which is able to distinguish
Fact from fiction is like looking for a needle
In a field of decaying haystacks.

And now of course, in freedom's name,
Everyone can go to a so-called college or university
As long as you’re from a PC-approved minority
And can play basketball like holy fuck
(the OC Simpson Campus Technical University
of Baseball Management, Assisted Homicide
and Public Bathroom Maintenance is mighty fine
for prime-time retards I do hear, yee ha),
Provided you can half-spell your own last name (second attempt will do),
And as long as your Daddy can pay the bills;
And the average person's fondest dream
Is to win Big Brother or Fantasy Island
And to have sex with a soap star's illegitimate sister.

Sic transit gloria Americanae.

Style / type: 
Free verse
Review Request (Intensity): 
I want the raw truth, feel free to knock me on my back
Editing stage: 

Comments

Powerful read, sounds like we here in Britain have the same illness. Regards Roscoe...

Roscoe Llane,

Religion will rip your faith off, and return
for the mask of disbelief that's left.

Nice doggy!

xxx
Edna
Poet(ess) to the Stars

author comment

ell non-citizens

Apparently

America used to be beloved by all....back when we were supporting and defending the world free of charge. and now we have a prez who has the temerity to as that you all pay your fair share and engage in fair trading practices. Our education system could use improvement but why is it that so many countries send their young people here for post secondary education? But you are correct that the so called news people have become propagandists.

I think "beloved by all" is a bit of silly exaggeration. And "free of charge" is just plain ignorant. The price paid by those "defended" was financial enslavement. Britain only finished paying off the costs of American "aid" quite recently. The main aim of American aid was to put other nations in the USA's debt,

You ask, "Why is it that so many countries send their young people here for post secondary education?" I assume you mean tertiary education. And the answer is I really have no idea, but I don't think any civilised country would send people to be educated in a country which can't spell English correctly. Maybe they are just plain stupid?

xxx
Edna
Poet(ess) to the Stars

author comment

A LOT of people overseas are just plain stupid

A lot of people EVERYWHERE are just plain stupid. Some are stupider than others.

xxx
Edna
Poet(ess) to the Stars

author comment

and I thought that we defended all these other countries because we wanted to spread so-called Democracy, [really it's Republicanism] LoL Quite the rant there! ~ Geezer.
P.S. Speaking of spelling... The word is spelled civilized!
.
.

There is value to commenting and critique, tell us how you feel about our work.
This must be the place, 'cause there ain't no place like this place anywhere near this place.

"Civilised" is correct.

xxx
Edna
Poet(ess) to the Stars

author comment

in London it is, but not according to my edition of the Funk and Wagnall or the Second edition of Webster's New World Dictionary or The New Comprehensive A-Z Crossword Dictionary!

There is value to commenting and critique, tell us how you feel about our work.
This must be the place, 'cause there ain't no place like this place anywhere near this place.

As far as I am aware, standard English is "British" English. All other versions are mere variations, some of them deliberately foolish. I suggest you invest in the Concise Oxford Dictionary (the biggest selling English dictionary in the world which gives American variants to standard spellings. I am not surprised that the dictionaries you mention are inadequate. They are naturally unavailable and unused in the world outside the USA. You may be amused to know that in Germany one can buy two versions of the main German-published German/English dictionaries; one is sold as "German-English", the other is "German-American English".

With kind regards from the heart of the English-speaking world.

PS Yoo shood noe that "geezer" iz ann "English" English wurd. I spoze it'z spellt "geyser" in parts ov the werld.

xxx
Edna
Poet(ess) to the Stars

author comment

Standard English is American Southern lol

At least you have a sense of humour. Or do I mean yumor?

xxx
Edna
Poet(ess) to the Stars

author comment

And I always assume most people do also.

Geezer is an American word meaning [old guy]. My name in French is "Gee" I am an old guy.
I regret my ass umption that your spelling is faulty. Please forgive my backwoods, barbarian ways, I apologize.
Geezer.
P.S. I am amused at the thought that we have our very own variation of a German dictionary!
Seems that we are coming up in the world!
.

There is value to commenting and critique, tell us how you feel about our work.
This must be the place, 'cause there ain't no place like this place anywhere near this place.

There is no need to apologis(z)e.
Although I love the backwoods irony bit.
You have your own weird spellings and we have ours.

xxxxx

xxx
Edna
Poet(ess) to the Stars

author comment

.

.

I would be slightly interested in a translation of that into English.

A foreign code?

xxx
Edna
Poet(ess) to the Stars

author comment

Let me try my comments again, at the risk of stirring the proverbial pot!
1st of all, it would be a Very good thing for
individuals to learn the meaning of humility. Arrogance is not a kind picture to paint. Just because something is DIFFERENT or deviates what one might be use to, does not make it the only "right way".
Now, on to the poem. We all have our own opinions and views, agreed. There are times though, when the content of our words are truly offensive. For "shock" value, the poem succeeds. For TRUTH and exceedingly generous category grouping of people.....not so much. I always feel an overwhelming amount of anger/sadness/disbelief when I read opinions from the least informed! AMERICA is the GREATEST nation on the face of the Earth. That is not arrogance, just plain truth. We don't help other countries for solely political reasons, but on basis of humanitarian aid. Who gives aid to more places/people than any other country? USA! Who is the first county asked to provide aid? USA! I could go on, but I believe I've made my point. I look forward to reading more of your work. And I will do my best to be more constructive on your work. I've been away a long time and realise that this is not the best way to return. I apologize for that.
~Tonya

You write "AMERICA is the GREATEST nation on the face of the Earth. That is not arrogance, just plain truth." No dear, it is a stupid and arrogantly ignorant and pathetic boast based upon lies. Greatest in terms of what? Obesity and greed? Difference between the lives of the rich and the poor? Gun violence? Bad TV? Political dishonesty with the nastiest president in history? Militarism and military aggression? Fanatical religious lunacy? An appalling criminal and justice system? Race prejudice? Lowest educational standards for a 1st world nation? Ignorance and denial of climate change? Pollution? YES to all of those. Sadly on everything else, a poor third world showing. You really need to get out more and stop slurping up your nation's media falsehoods, Tonya. The USA may well donate to various international charities, but PER CAPITA it is low down in the listings and one of the so-called "humanitarian aids" is actually military aid to the unlawful and racist state of Israel which revels in bombing hospitals and schools and killing Palestinian children whilst churning out hatred and abuse to anyone who criticises its loathsome politicies.

I find it amusing to hear people attempt to lecture me from the point of view of wilful ignorance - not the best starting place, dear.

xxx
Edna
Poet(ess) to the Stars

author comment

taxes, than the rest of the world combined.

Glad you are still around Scribbler!

Good to see you back. Yeah, I'm still here but not writing as much as I used to. One reason is deer season being open and taking a bit of time off my schedule. But I'm running contests now with some help from geezer and doing a workshop now and then. Hope to keep hearing from you

What is the World's Most Charitable Nation?

Indonesia, though not a very rich country in terms of financial wealth is the richest in terms of generosity of its citizens. The country tops the list of World Giving Index, becoming the world’s most generous nation.

Countries of the World Giving Index

Rank Charitable Countries
1 Indonesia
2 Australia
3 New Zealand
4 USA
5 Ireland

Source: World Giving Index.

Also it all depends what you mean by "giving". Donating to pay for arms is hardly "charity"!

xxx
Edna
Poet(ess) to the Stars

author comment

you are using data to tip things your way. You are looking at per capita instead of total numbers. You are also likely excluding money and material given through religious organizations.

At least I have specified my source. You haven't specified yours. Since Indonesia is a strictly Muslim country I would imagine that religious contributions are included.

"Tip things my way"??? No, merely to set the record straight and to refute your totally unproven and unsubstantiated claim.

xxx
Edna
Poet(ess) to the Stars

author comment

Wow is right! What a mouthful of HATRED YOU SPEW! It's starting to come back to me, some of the reasons I quit writing! Because of loud mouth ignorant people that don't know what the hell they are talking about! Ya know...on second thought...maybe it is with arrogance I speak. I KNOW what kind of a country I live in. Yes..we have our problems, just like everyone else. But I wouldn't want to live anywhere else. You ... Make me laugh with what YOU BELIEVE is your superior knowledge..lol..I don't think so. You really are clueless about the lives and working of the majority of the CITIZENS of the United States! A pity!

Your crude and bigoted comment is not worthy of a reply. Please go away and keep your childish views and ill-informed nationalism to yourself.

xxx
Edna
Poet(ess) to the Stars

author comment

Dear Tonya,

May I draw your attention to the site guidelines. I quote: " Neopoet will not tolerate comments regarding a member’s race, sex, sexual preference, religion, disability or any type of personal derogatory comment aimed at a member. Personal attacks will be dealt with harshly by the AEC."

I would have thought accusing me of spewing out a mouthful of hatred, and of suggesting I am ignorant, arrogant and clueless is a derogatory personal attack. I shall be happy to accept your apology. After that, I should appreciate your not being rude again.

xxx
Edna
Poet(ess) to the Stars

author comment

The United States: The Most Generous Humanitarian Country?
ON SEPTEMBER 22, 2018WORLD NEWS
SEATTLE — The United States provides foreign assistance to 96 percent of the world to promote peace, security, provide humanitarian relief in crises and stimulate economic growth. Aid levels are at their highest since the period immediately following World War II. Despite the $18.6 billion budget cut requested by the Trump administration, funding for international affairs remains at $55.9 billion in 2018, compared to $59.1 billion the previous year. The World Economic Forum listed the U.S. as the most generous humanitarian country in the world, outspending any other OECD power by an average of $10 billion.

To Tonya

The WEF lists corporate and governmental spending. Corporate and governmental donations are nothing to do with the generosity of citizens. Companies give money in order to smarten up their public images of greed and exploitation. Ditto governments. Don't try and twist statistics whose criteria are dubious to say the least. Goodbye, hopefully for ever.

xxx
Edna
Poet(ess) to the Stars

author comment

you have the tally you requested and this doesn't even include private donations yet you refuse to admit you are wrong. I'll not argue the point with a brick wall.

Why are so many Americans, residents of the world's wealthiest and most heavily armed nation, so keen that the rest of the world should love them despite their greed and violence? Maybe you should look at the numbers of children who get shot in your nation each month because you love guns and meditate on whether your society is so effing wonderful after all.

PS So, the independent source I quoted is lying? Ah well, they would do, not being paid for by the US Govt.

xxx
Edna
Poet(ess) to the Stars

author comment
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