Login   Sign Up 



 

Proud To Be Human

by The Walrus 

Posted: 13 May 2004
Word Count: 207


Font Size
 


Printable Version
Print Double spaced


I don’t read the newspapers anymore.
I deliberately choose to avoid the ‘news’.
I have abandoned Radio 4, the news at 9 and 10
and every other bulletin-ridden hour -
in fact the whole plethora of extensive and varied
technology-driven information.

I don’t read the newspapers anymore.
I don’t need to see the never-ending supply
of blood-spattered images that feed our morbid lust,
the vainglorious politicians trotting out their well-worn stuff,
and I am sick of being told we need
to be informed to change things.
‘Knowledge’, ‘education’, ‘communication’
have never been so widespread
yet hatred and destruction grow, unchecked.
Our ‘development’ has only enabled us
to kill and destroy on a larger, more impressive scale.

I don’t read the newspapers anymore,
because I don’t need to be reminded
that we have never learnt from history.
I don’t need to have my faced rubbed in the fact
that the testament to our ‘advancement’,
as the ‘intelligent’ life form on this planet,
was the murdering, in the last century alone
of over one hundred million fellow human beings.
We are so clever.

I will read the newspapers again
when I can raise my head and be proud to say
that I am a member of the human race.







Favourite this work Favourite This Author


Comments by other Members



Fearless at 19:58 on 13 May 2004  Report this post
Honest, strident, with a velvet-clad punch in the final stanza. You write very well, so write on,

Fearless
x

roovacrag at 22:07 on 13 May 2004  Report this post
This is a wonderful piece.
Each stanza said all.

Loved how you said...I don't read newspapers anymore.

Last stanza was pure genius.
That put the poem in he right place.

Well done.
xxxxxxxxx Stan

miffle at 22:10 on 13 May 2004  Report this post
Well said in more ways than one! Perhaps provoked by recent images of torture in both American and British camps (?). Yes, I boycott the news until it becomes good news and for the time being I am proud to be Me but find this concept of 'human' alien too - I can see you in the Houses of Parliament taking on Tony! Miffle

Mooncat at 13:37 on 14 May 2004  Report this post
This is great. I am sure these thoughts are on a lot of people's minds right now. I try to avoid reading the papers and watching the news if I can.

I agree - you write really well.

Best wishes,
Mooncat

The Walrus at 14:30 on 14 May 2004  Report this post
Fearless, Stan, Miffle, Mooncat, thanks for your kind comments.

The Walrus

Lawrenco at 21:30 on 14 May 2004  Report this post
A powerfull emotive piece.The colective shame of the human sausage factory.If it helps people to be awash with indgnation ,then you have bathed well.
The hopeless political devolution,with humans evolution,leaves a gapping wall of powerlessness,that we have to endure through our very effective media.
A really good performance poem perhaps?

The Walrus at 08:36 on 15 May 2004  Report this post
Thanks Patrick, collective shame, yes; powerlessness, absolutely. Funny, your comment on performance poem - really enjoyed reading this one aloud (spluttering with indignation lol).

The Walrus



gard at 19:03 on 16 May 2004  Report this post
HI Walrus

a strong and forceful work, with a vibrant message. I agree with Lawrenco, perhaps a strong perfomrmace piece?

The Walrus at 19:14 on 16 May 2004  Report this post
Thanks Gard, comment appreciated.

The Walrus


To post comments you need to become a member. If you are already a member, please log in .

 






Other work by The Walrus:      ...view all work by The Walrus