'GETTING MY WAY DOWN THE BARREL OF A GUN’
“Listen to me”, the terrorist screams.
“I want the world my way”, he selfishly decrees.
To justify the bomb planted in the city’s busy square,
he blames everyone else for the reason it’s there.
Craving attention for his own view of the world.
Causing fear and destruction, to make his point felt.
Parading hostages, with a gun to their heads.
Threatening to behead them, unless his demands are met.
Forcing his views down the barrel of a gun,
or with a threat of contamination, until his battle is won.
But does he really want his struggle to end?
As without it, what is he, who is he, with no cause to defend?
So many people, craving to be heard.
Wanting the world their way, whether rich or poor.
Exploited, manipulated, displaced, or just greedy,
if aims can't be won quickly in more peaceful ways,
let's take it using violence, who cares who pays.
But just as terrorists threaten with conflict and fear,
our governments use violence as a so-called “legitimate” means.
Using fear of each other, to justify their attacks,
the battle continues with the same old tit-for-tat.
We preach that using violence is not the way to go.
Telling children it solves nothing, then using it ourselves.
Setting an example that it will achieve a response,
then surprised when others use it to get what they want.
Murder is acceptable, when a State calls it ‘war’,
where killing anyone seems possible, the innocent, young and old.
If you kill a street attacker, you face going to prison.
But send a jet to destroy a village, and be hailed a hero.
Bombs carry on being planted, obstructing debate.
Guns still sold to make money, to kill and intimidate.
Threats will be made, to scare and confuse.
More words become uttered, but no useful outcome will ensue.
Killing those in the way, to get rid of their views.
Going off to battle, on a “war against terror”.
Using fear and threat, to justify restrictions to freedom.
Curtailing our liberties, killing those that we hate.
but missing how fanatics develop and their beliefs perpetuate.
Both sides claiming that they are the only harbingers of truth.
Bombing each other, for a brighter tomorrow, if only we could.
If it really was so easy, let’s just bomb everywhere to bits.
Then start this world again, but with more common-sense.
The circle of destruction revolves yet again,
a retaliating response, creating more hate.
As the rich get richer from the bounty they take,
the power-crazed seek glory, at the expense of the rest.
When communities become unstable, leaving a gap to step in,
opposing forces seize the chance to take whatever they can win.
Leaving the poor, the weak, and those who get in the way,
to be targeted, got rid of, or to just run away.
But as anger grows deeper after each missile has landed,
and resentment increases with each new innocent's death,
another manipulated and deluded recruit, frustrated and vengeful,
straps a bigger bomb to his chest.
But when will it end, this cycle of hate?
Where different Gods and beliefs fight each other, believing the other is wrong.
Never giving up till the enemy is gone.
Drowning in words, accusations, and lies.
Suffocated by manipulation, frustration and threat.
Crawling over corpses, until everyone is dead.
As another atrocity, hits the headlines today,
is it just too big to cope with, so easier to look away?
Copyright: Gordon Warren (2014)
“Listen to me”, the terrorist screams.
“I want the world my way”, he selfishly decrees.
To justify the bomb planted in the city’s busy square,
he blames everyone else for the reason it’s there.
Craving attention for his own view of the world.
Causing fear and destruction, to make his point felt.
Parading hostages, with a gun to their heads.
Threatening to behead them, unless his demands are met.
Forcing his views down the barrel of a gun,
or with a threat of contamination, until his battle is won.
But does he really want his struggle to end?
As without it, what is he, who is he, with no cause to defend?
So many people, craving to be heard.
Wanting the world their way, whether rich or poor.
Exploited, manipulated, displaced, or just greedy,
if aims can't be won quickly in more peaceful ways,
let's take it using violence, who cares who pays.
But just as terrorists threaten with conflict and fear,
our governments use violence as a so-called “legitimate” means.
Using fear of each other, to justify their attacks,
the battle continues with the same old tit-for-tat.
We preach that using violence is not the way to go.
Telling children it solves nothing, then using it ourselves.
Setting an example that it will achieve a response,
then surprised when others use it to get what they want.
Murder is acceptable, when a State calls it ‘war’,
where killing anyone seems possible, the innocent, young and old.
If you kill a street attacker, you face going to prison.
But send a jet to destroy a village, and be hailed a hero.
Bombs carry on being planted, obstructing debate.
Guns still sold to make money, to kill and intimidate.
Threats will be made, to scare and confuse.
More words become uttered, but no useful outcome will ensue.
Killing those in the way, to get rid of their views.
Going off to battle, on a “war against terror”.
Using fear and threat, to justify restrictions to freedom.
Curtailing our liberties, killing those that we hate.
but missing how fanatics develop and their beliefs perpetuate.
Both sides claiming that they are the only harbingers of truth.
Bombing each other, for a brighter tomorrow, if only we could.
If it really was so easy, let’s just bomb everywhere to bits.
Then start this world again, but with more common-sense.
The circle of destruction revolves yet again,
a retaliating response, creating more hate.
As the rich get richer from the bounty they take,
the power-crazed seek glory, at the expense of the rest.
When communities become unstable, leaving a gap to step in,
opposing forces seize the chance to take whatever they can win.
Leaving the poor, the weak, and those who get in the way,
to be targeted, got rid of, or to just run away.
But as anger grows deeper after each missile has landed,
and resentment increases with each new innocent's death,
another manipulated and deluded recruit, frustrated and vengeful,
straps a bigger bomb to his chest.
But when will it end, this cycle of hate?
Where different Gods and beliefs fight each other, believing the other is wrong.
Never giving up till the enemy is gone.
Drowning in words, accusations, and lies.
Suffocated by manipulation, frustration and threat.
Crawling over corpses, until everyone is dead.
As another atrocity, hits the headlines today,
is it just too big to cope with, so easier to look away?
Copyright: Gordon Warren (2014)