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See? They deserve it...

How could a man who is sworn to protect and serve
kneel on another man's neck
until he was dead?
How could anyone stand by and do nothing?

It happened because
that man has no empathy
It happened because
no one wanted to be on the wrong side

How could people burn their own blocks?
Why did people loot and riot?
It happened because
they let their ignorance show
instead of their struggles

How could there be protests
and there was no violence?
Because people do care
about what happens

And no one can say
See? They deserve it...

Style / type: 
Structured: Eastern
Review Request (Intensity): 
I want the raw truth, feel free to knock me on my back
Review Request (Direction): 
What did you think of my title?
How was the beginning/ending of the poem?
Editing stage: 
Content level: 
Not Explicit Content

Comments

policing has to be peopled. As we all know, there are many types of people and many variables within any profession. Just as there are good doctors, there are bad doctors and so and so. There are many people on police forces around the world and most, the majority of them are good, honest people who are trying to "Protect and Serve". I deplore the President's stand on many things and indeed, his rhetoric on minorities and immigrants. He does not help by stating that the media is fake and aligning himself with violent activists. George Floyd had never been convicted of a violent crime, was not being combative and was pleading for his life! Three other officers stood by and did nothing, because they did not want to be perceived as being against
a fellow officer. They also should be charged with the crime of aiding and abetting, much as a person who participates in a robbery that results in a death, is charged. I for one, would have cheered the officer that pulled the other off from that poor man and saved his life. So would the whole world! ~ Geezer.
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author comment

I like the interesting title, poem starts with a question, leading to more that provokes more thought about law and order, murder, recklessness, violence begets more of the same sadly, only way to make some sense of what the rest of the world is watching from America.

for your comments. I am glad that you understand what I was thinking of when I wrote this. It is not easy to live in a country that is so full of violence. But, not all of us are violent and advocate violence. On the whole, our people are kind and compassionate, caring people. Let's not let some people be the representatives of the whole country. ~ Geezer.
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author comment

I've read your poem a dozen times and could never sit and visit with it. I'm having trouble right now. I'm struggling with the image of George Floyd's merciless death. It is beyond horrific. And then we watched as the riots unfolded bringing two additional deaths to my home town. Like many cities, we now have curfews due to threats of more violence. I'm a simple-minded sort: there is love reinforced by compassion, empathy, and understanding and then there is hate driven by arrogance, fear, and suffering. This past weekend brought some very hopeful expressions of respect and love for one another, but it was ruthlessly taken over by hate fueled from so many different directions. The only hope I feel is that we are now at a point of no return. This past weekend was too costly to not move ahead, but to keep trying to listen and extend an empathetic hand. The more I listen, the more I realize there is always more to hear.
(Oh, by the way - great title, strong beginning, perfect ending. Is this Eastern structure?) :)
Peace for us all, please.
L

I would classify it as free verse. Thank you for your diligence in reading my work and for trying to understand the incomprehensibility of what is happening, in a sane manner. I fear that this is still not over as the violent factions that are trying to sow discord and put the blame on others continue with our President's benediction. I am sure that he will try to put a different spin on the whole thing, instead of pleading for peace and calm, he will tell the governors and state leaders, to call out the National Guard and put down the violence with more violence. A sad state of affairs all the way around. ~ Geezer.
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author comment

...to tell Americans what is wrong with their country, but that won't stop me from expressing an opinion.

When you have a government which lies, blusters and threatens on a daily basis, when you have a government which encourages gun violence and refuses to control gun ownership, when you have a government which only cares for its wealthy supporters and for those foolish enough to have been convinced by its neo-fascist nationalistic breast-beating bravado, when you have a government which disregards its international treaty obligations thus trashing the rules of law, when you have that sort of government then why would anyone be surprised when policemen kill innocent black men on film, why would anyone be surprised when the poor and oppressed take matters into their own hands via violence and looting?

And now local governments and mayor are exhorted to act tough, bring in the troops and start shooting or else be called weak jerks by your elected leader! It's Orwellian. It's beyond Orwell.

It's how the Russian Revolution started - riots in the streets, troops firing on protesters and the disadvantaged, some might say..
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xxx
Edna
Poet(ess) to the Stars

I think that you bring up valid points and I am not adverse to you giving your opinion; even though you are not an American.
I also agree that we could do much better with our gun-control laws. I would not go so far as to ban firearms from the general populace, but agree that we need much stricter laws:

1]. Convicted violent felons are banned from possession of firearms
2]. People who are convicted of domestic-abuse banned from possession firearms
3]. People that are under investigation for these crimes are banned from possession of firearms until the matter is resolved.
4]. All purchases of firearms are held up until background checks are completed.

As to the President, he should be voted out of office and/or impeached. The checks and balances of government should be reviewed and revised. We are still one of the best countries in the world and we are not all criminals and ruffians. There are many people in our country who are selfless and do the best job they can protecting and serving the people. It is the few that make the headlines and make everyone look bad. " The Ugly Americans". ~ Geezer.
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There is value to commenting and critique, tell us how you feel about our work.
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author comment

...that we agree on most of the points above. I have met many charming Americans (and indeed shared a bed with a few) so would never generalise. I might also add that the only serial killer I have ever met was also American; he was a former business colleague and was absolutely charming (to me anyway!). However, I digress!

The appalling US political system is in serious need of total reform - being able in effect to buy high political office (via immense advertising spending) is a disgrace and exists in no other country in the s0-called free world..But sadly, it's not in the interests of either major political party to effect any changes.

Not to leave Britain out of it, our political system is also unfit for purpose, although not actually corrupt in the same way. There is no legal way of getting rid of a bad government and a dishonest prime minister (unless there is a revolution in the majority political party). The only time this has happened in my lifetime was in 1990 when Thatcher was thrown out of Number 10 not because she was evil or corrupt but only because the Tories realised she would lose them the next election, her policies having led to riots in the streets and battles between thousands of police and striking miners, so they ganged up on her. In fact she probably had the beginnings of her dementia.

I'm glad we have sorted out world politics so easily.

xxx
Edna
Poet(ess) to the Stars

Hi Gee, I can certainly emphasize with what's happenning in the US. When Trump was first elected, I predicted that he would become, or try to, a dictator. In Argentina we've had lots of that. Peron's third wife, Isabel, was chosen by him as his vice president. When he died, she took his place. Then terrorism began, with locals and imported ones sent by Cuba. She called out the armed forces to erradicate the insurgents in a northern province, but they were too clever to be caught in jungles and forested hills. Once the business was done, the armed forces overthrew Isabel and the dictatorship began. Most people were in favour of it, they thought the country needed a strong leadership...But elections were never called, so we had the armed forces in control for decades. I was an adolescent and believed it was good, because most people thought so. Anyway, it was the beginning of what was called "the dirty war", with terrorist and dictators committing horrendous acts. About 30.000 people "disappeared", often tortured and thrown from helicopters into the Río de la Plata.
Then the mothers of the disappeared began to march with white handkerchiefs around the Plaza de Mayo, in front of Congress. The military tried to shoo them away, but didn't dare to harm them. So began the long road back to Democracy, with the mothers becoming grandmothers with white kerchiefs and joined by thousands of protesters all over Argentina.
I don't know whether the US military will obey the Constitution, it remains to be seen. But the situation is so similar to ours, that I worry about your wonderful country becoming a dictatorship, either under Trump or the armed forces. I pray neither will happen...
Back to your poem, Gee. Civil wars or revolutions always turn ugly because enemy countries send in their own trained terrorists, who in turn seduce young people to join them, promising equality for all, like the communists do. I myself had a hard time convincing my daughter not to join a "community" that pretended to be a hippie style one. Fortunately, she listened to my warnings and did not join them. The rest is history...but we're having riots of our own now. I think poor people would rather risk getting C19 than starving to death. And so it goes.
Let us pray. Tx for sharing your poem about these tragic events. Gracy

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"My soul is painted like the wings of butterflies; fairy tales of yesterday will grow but never die, I can fly, my friends.” – Freddie Mercury

about America becoming a dictatorship! Americans don't like ANYONE telling them what to do! I do fear that there will be a
lot more deaths from the civil unrest that is currently on the rise here. The factions that support Trump may be willing to start another civil war, in order to fulfill their own goals. ~ Geezer.
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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.

author comment

...Did the old one ever REALLY stop? It just got paused and the violence toned down a bit!

But I fear your predictions about many more deaths could come true.
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xxx
Edna
Poet(ess) to the Stars

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